tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20848548626578421832024-03-18T10:48:11.145+01:00Michael AbayomiFilm Critic, Video Game Addict, Jedi Master, MCU Scholar, Batcave Dweller, and author of the epic fantasy series, Guardians & The Lost Paradise.Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.comBlogger557125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-69148342942050826592024-03-02T00:23:00.025+01:002024-03-07T20:49:14.130+01:00Dune: Part Two (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jAT8ecM10_Y/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jAT8ecM10_Y?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br />The 2024 moviegoing season begins in earnest with the release of Dune: Part Two, the second half of Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2013/04/dune.html">Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi epic</a>. Originally slated for an October 2023 release, the film was unceremoniously bumped amidst last year's writers and actors strikes. And now that it is finally here for all to see in all its glory, you can bet that many will be doing just that over the course of the next couple of weeks. But does the film itself warrant all the hype surrounding its release or is it merely another tease for greater things to come?<br /><br />The film picks up exactly where the first part left off, with Paul Atreides and his mother forced to seek sanctuary with the Fremen on the desert planet of Arrakis. Meanwhile, the Harkonnens have regained control of its immensely profitable spice production business. But Paul would soon learn the ways of the Fremen, and prove to be a thorn in the Harkonnen's side through coordinated attacks on their spice harvesters. Except he is also haunted by visions of a holy war that could very well claim the lives of billions across the galaxy. And so he must decide whether or not to accept his fate as the messiah some already see him as.<br /><br />My biggest complaint coming out of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/10/dune-movie-review.html">Dune: Part One</a> was that it felt incomplete by design. Having chosen to adapt just one-half of the source material, this meant that director Denis Villeneuve had ended up with a movie that left a good chunk of its story untold, and all the dangling plot threads that came with that decision. But even in its incomplete state, the film had proven itself to be a class above your typical book-to-film adaptation.<br /><br />Its impressive production design, stellar visual effects, incredible worldbuilding, and excellent characterization were all testaments to both the strengths of its source material and Denis Villeneuve's deft handling of it. And all of that remains true in Dune: Part Two, a film that manages to match the brilliance of the first one's execution while building upon all its groundwork and achievements to create something even grander in its scope and ambition.<br /><br />To put it in another way, the first film crawled then walked so that this one could take to the skies and soar. For a movie that boasts a runtime of nearly three hours long, I never once felt its length as I was fully engaged from start to finish. Every second of those nearly three hours felt earned and accounted for, mainly due to its excellent pacing. It would have been too easy for a film of this scope to get bogged down in details but it never loses sight of the big picture of its overarching narrative.<br /><br />That said, if you are the type of moviegoer who didn't care for all the rich lore, worldbuilding, and character development that made up the better part of the first film, then you might also not do so in this one. Because even though there is more action and overall spectacle this time around, none of that is a real focus and you run the risk of finding it just as slow or boring. Although how anyone could find these movies boring remains a mystery to me, but to each their own I suppose.<br /><br />But if, like me, you thought the first film was brilliant, then you're surely in for a treat because this one is clearly the better half. Everything from the cinematography to the score and visuals has been taken to the next level. And even though it has taken nearly three years for it to get here, it was definitely worth the wait. So taken as a whole, and as a fan of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2013/04/dune.html">the books themselves</a>, I have to say that this is as perfect an adaptation of the first book as I could've ever hoped for.<br /><br />I also need to confess that I had my doubts when it was first announced that Timothee Chalamet would be playing Muad'Dib/Paul Atreides, simply because I felt he'd lack the imposing force of the former. But I'm pleased to report that those doubts were unfounded as the actor imbues the character with all the depth I remembered him having in the book while showing an acting range that is simply unrivaled. The new additions to the cast were also great, especially Austin Bulter who gave a stunning villainous turn as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.<br /><br />If you're only going to see one film in 2024, then it needs to be Dune: Part Two, a cinematic feast for the eyes and senses that easily surpasses the first film's brilliance, resulting in one of the greatest book-to-film adaptations since The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Yep. It's that effing epic. And while it remains to be seen if it could ever hope to stand the test of time like that other film, something tells me that it is a movie that will continue to get talked about, among film fans and critics alike, for many years to come.Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-65812940537113531102024-01-01T06:00:00.125+01:002024-01-07T09:14:57.698+01:00My Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies for 2024<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the dust slowly settles on 2023, we can begin to look forward to what the new year has in store for us in terms of new movies to watch. But expect to see at least one movie from <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/01/my-top-10-most-anticipated-movies-for.html">my most anticipated movies list for last year</a> make an appearance on this one. This is of course due to delays brought on by the combined weight of the prolonged WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the effects of which are surely going to be felt this year and well into the next, possibly beyond. So with that in mind, here are my most anticipated movies for 2024.<br />
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10. Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver</h3>
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<br />Leave it to Netflix to milk every potential new subscriber out of their expensive Zack Snyder sci-fi epic, Rebel Moon, with their decision to split the movie into two halves. There's even already talk about a potential director's cut being in the cards. But even though Part One had turned out to be as messy and derivative as many feared it would be, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to Part Two. So here's hoping that it ties the story together in a meaningful, less convoluted way. <br />
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<h3>9. Kraven the Hunter<br /></h3>
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2024 marks the arrival of three new Sony's Spider-Man Universe films. And while my expectations for Madame Web and the third Venom movie are practically at rock bottom, I'm still harboring some measure of hope for Kraven the Hunter. The trailer looks like it could be the kind of bonkers fun the cinemas are great for but Sony's track record with these Spider-Man adjacent movies hasn't been all that great, so it remains to be seen if we have another <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/03/morbius-movie-review.html">Morbius</a> on our hands.<br />
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8. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes</h3>
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<br />Even though it feels like we only just got a fantastic trilogy of films in the Planet of the Apes series, it's actually been more than half a decade since it concluded. And with all things that manage to turn a profit for Hollywood producers, it was only a matter of time before they went back to that particular well. The new movie takes the story forward about 300 years after Caesar and friends, so expect to see a fresh cast of CGI simians we can all root for or hate on.<br />
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7. The Fall Guy</h3>
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I'm a very huge Ryan Gosling fan so of course I was excited the first time I heard he was going to star in the new action comedy, The Fall Guy. Not to be confused with the 2016 film, The Nice Guys, this one has him taking on the role of a movie stuntman who gets wrapped up in a mystery surrounding the disappearance of the man he is stunt doubling for. It is actually based on an 80s TV show that I never saw but I'm definitely going to be keeping a close eye on this one.<br />
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6. A Quiet Place: Day One</h3>
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5. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire</h3>
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<br />Godzilla fans have been eating good this past few weeks, between the Apple TV+ show, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and the Japanese feature film, Godzilla Minus One. Well, they can add Godzilla x Kong to the menu, the latest entry in the MonsterVerse series and sequel to <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/03/godzilla-vs-kong-movie-review.html">2021's Godzilla vs. Kong</a>. The titular titans have been forced to team up once again, as they face off against a new threat that could very well do more damage than both monsters combined.<br />
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4. Joker: Folie à Deux</h3>
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3. Deadpool 3</h3>
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2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga</h3>
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<br />Following a show-stealing appearance in the phenomenal <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2015/05/mad-max-fury-road-movie-review.html">Mad Max: Fury Road</a>, the character of the Imperator Furiosa gets her own solo outing in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. But rather than have Charlize Theron reprise the role, Anya Taylor-Joy will be stepping in instead to play a younger version of her. I know I said I'm not keen on prequels but this is Mad Max we're talking about. Fury Road was <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2015/12/2015-in-review-favorite-movies.html">my favorite movie for 2015</a> and I have no doubt that this one could be a top contender for 2024 as well.<br />
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1. Dune: Part Two</h3><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/U2Qp5pL3ovA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U2Qp5pL3ovA?feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br />And here we are again, with Dune: Part Two <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/01/my-top-10-most-anticipated-movies-for.html">once again topping</a> my list of most anticipated movies for another year. We can blame a delay brought about by the SAG-AFTRA strike for that but better late than never I suppose. And from everything I've seen in the trailers, it looks like it is going to be worth the wait. My primary criticism of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/10/dune-movie-review.html">the first film</a> was that it felt incomplete since it was only adapting one half of the book, and this one looks like it is poised to fix that, with more of the epic battles and rich lore <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2013/04/dune.html">the book was known for</a>.<br />Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-33292481099379788882023-12-29T06:00:00.021+01:002024-01-21T10:17:00.965+01:002023 in Review: Looking Back<div>Today marks the end of my <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/search/label/2023%20in%20Review">2023 in Review</a> series of posts. As a light recap, I kicked this off on Monday by revealing <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/12/2023-in-review-top-10-games.html">my Top 10 video games</a> for 2023. This was followed by <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/12/2023-in-review-top-10-tv-shows.html">my Top 10 TV shows</a> on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I highlighted <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/12/2023-in-review-top-10-songs.html">my favorite songs</a> while yesterday, I went over <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/12/2023-in-review-top-10-movies.html">my Top 10 movies</a> for the year. To wrap things up, we'll be examining the year as a whole by taking a look back at some of the things and events that helped define 2023.<br />
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2023 like most years was filled with a lot of heated debates and controversy centered around the ongoing culture war. There were calls for boycotts of brands like Bud Light and Target by their more conservative customers, both of which would cost their respective parent companies millions of dollars. Even the video game Hogwarts Legacy <a href="https://youtu.be/oeGdmgm2rsI?si=Cea3fVd3e8HKLJ-F" target="_blank">wasn't exempted</a> due to its loose ties to J.K. Rowling. But in the case of the latter, it was clear that all those calling for the game to be boycotted were simply in the vocal minority, as it would go on to become the highest-selling game for 2023.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There were many guests in attendance but notably missing was Meghan Markle whose claims of systematic racism in the Royal Family have been met with some major backlash. Her husband, Prince Harry, was of course there to honor his father, but with the way he was given very minimal coverage or exposure during the ceremony, you could tell that public opinion for the couple remains very low.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8JpUE414qhWJkmCwKChfVJTDuLlgSuODlRAeVaqZRCTnN8bY7RlNypUQjKfOF4e3iSDlUypN4uXoYScSLbA-cLMQ4PtIKgl_K6z7nQPEiNE92tzBtqm-Ybx4zH3UG9hpSVnJ2WeK9k3lisqvc4m2DqWEDubHF63sWce3uMC0sfoVJU5XIJ7CzMx6QKw/s680/tinubu.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="680" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8JpUE414qhWJkmCwKChfVJTDuLlgSuODlRAeVaqZRCTnN8bY7RlNypUQjKfOF4e3iSDlUypN4uXoYScSLbA-cLMQ4PtIKgl_K6z7nQPEiNE92tzBtqm-Ybx4zH3UG9hpSVnJ2WeK9k3lisqvc4m2DqWEDubHF63sWce3uMC0sfoVJU5XIJ7CzMx6QKw/w400-h215/tinubu.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />General elections were held over here in Nigeria back in February. And for the first time in a long time, we had what appeared to be three strong candidates as opposed to two, as Peter Obi stepped up to the plate to challenge both Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. And even though I didn't once again have any particular horse in the race, I still followed proceedings with mild curiosity. It of course didn't take very long into the election before reports of rigging started to run rampant. Bola Tinubu would eventually go on to win the quote, unquote, popular vote, a result anyone should have seen coming a mile away, given how things operate in the country.</div><p></p><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16lOOpDozQ8Ubg1nK69b13238OxUCch34noG4spXF4rB1QwV5qVJn2sqGuI0kgapSxZCcOKnHeFICOlerzvRyPMsspS_AtlAEQir-tXLD5V7vHYt_GIQCZYqLIkA45iXTzf_VgEK-4BYXtlPfjJ80c6zpWRSktPzuzoEbHYpfwe2yRvRYpxtDFjChBjI/s2560/GettyImages-1474459622.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg16lOOpDozQ8Ubg1nK69b13238OxUCch34noG4spXF4rB1QwV5qVJn2sqGuI0kgapSxZCcOKnHeFICOlerzvRyPMsspS_AtlAEQir-tXLD5V7vHYt_GIQCZYqLIkA45iXTzf_VgEK-4BYXtlPfjJ80c6zpWRSktPzuzoEbHYpfwe2yRvRYpxtDFjChBjI/w400-h225/GettyImages-1474459622.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br />As far as pop icons go, they don't really get much bigger than Taylor Swift. And 2023 was the year that heralded the start of The Eras Tour, a sprawling three-plus-hour show spanning songs from her entire back catalog. The shows would prove so popular during the year that it became the highest-grossing tour of all time, surpassing over $1 billion in ticket sales. She would even extend her dominance into theaters with a concert film, itself the highest-grossing film of its kind. All that would contribute to her being named Time Magazine's Person of the Year a second time.<br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnkt_FZsrlDnJ_FSrELfZ_2DrYWr4YSXUPcItbIOV-X8h-jaA3-pm020FBaVJ_pbxpbBr5N_tv6Cj2UDa-0W5lvISFfClENAaRnPiVMvAxY7ptGieXO1tfylOsRFC13TH8axtl-pcpm1qRFd4RadFvSO3x32JRxDPJZXXffYBK5n_oWo0RLezAduwKA0/s1280/little-mermaid-flop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnkt_FZsrlDnJ_FSrELfZ_2DrYWr4YSXUPcItbIOV-X8h-jaA3-pm020FBaVJ_pbxpbBr5N_tv6Cj2UDa-0W5lvISFfClENAaRnPiVMvAxY7ptGieXO1tfylOsRFC13TH8axtl-pcpm1qRFd4RadFvSO3x32JRxDPJZXXffYBK5n_oWo0RLezAduwKA0/w400-h225/little-mermaid-flop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />2023 will probably be remembered as the year that Disney finally imploded after taking some <a href="https://youtu.be/3lTW_fvd1mA?si=tbh-_v9C8ZQBySlt" target="_blank">very massive box office Ls</a>. It all started with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in February, but the list quickly grew to include The Little Mermaid, Elemental, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Haunted Mansion, The Marvels, and Wish. It is clear that a sizable majority of the general public has completely soured on the company as a brand, as it continues to place itself at the forefront of hot-button issues rather than focusing on delivering entertainment value. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the company, but at least its leadership has finally been forced to acknowledge the problem, so good on everyone who <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wH-bLgRQulQ" target="_blank">voted with their wallets</a>.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgGOK1WlDAze3t93-sKcFTdmwWAEaI4VwOpOkBX6OlwmNvABTaLllAnPOtjT9kpv8j00hkYurEGx8GkBrjnQlQNekiwNmkC5aV1IohEftGrp48Is5xSR7udu0Y6G1nHS7o379J_GAL2FzewnPVCopYVenuIPd7ToIjBJTsvjGHRC_0pXkUGRirIEBrRg/s1280/pexels-min-an-1448709-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgGOK1WlDAze3t93-sKcFTdmwWAEaI4VwOpOkBX6OlwmNvABTaLllAnPOtjT9kpv8j00hkYurEGx8GkBrjnQlQNekiwNmkC5aV1IohEftGrp48Is5xSR7udu0Y6G1nHS7o379J_GAL2FzewnPVCopYVenuIPd7ToIjBJTsvjGHRC_0pXkUGRirIEBrRg/w400-h225/pexels-min-an-1448709-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Reeling things back home now, 2023 went by in what I can only describe as one helluva flash. It even feels odd writing this wrap-up post when I still vividly remember working on the one for last year. Where did all that time go, you ask? Beats me, to be honest, but the only way to keep track of the passage of time sometimes is by taking a moment to acknowledge milestones. This is primarily why I feel the need to keep doing this yearly series, to take stock of how I spent the year.<br /><br />So in terms of actual milestones crossed during the year in question, there isn't much to speak of. I managed to double my subscriber count on YouTube from this time last year, so there's that. But I suppose my biggest accomplishment would be the fact that I actually started writing again. Granted, I didn't exactly churn out any new books. Still, I consider this a pivotal first step towards getting to do that again someday soon. Let's see how 2024 shapes up I guess.<br /><br />It's been nice getting to share my favorite things and general thoughts about 2023. May our 2024 be filled with even more triumphs.<br /></div>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-57966210747327029062023-12-28T06:00:00.039+01:002023-12-29T05:22:53.739+01:002023 in Review: Top 10 Movies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ggtRIIm-BUw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="450px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ggtRIIm-BUw?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>There was no shortage of movies to watch in 2023, that's for sure, thanks largely to a packed theatrical slate. But there are still quite a number of them that I have yet to see. For example, I am still slogging my way through Rebel Moon: Part One. Then I still haven't seen Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny which is odd considering it was up there with the rest of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/01/my-top-10-most-anticipated-movies-for.html">my most anticipated movies for the year</a>. The big omission though, at least as far as this Top 10 list is concerned, is Godzilla Minus One as it never got released over here in Nigeria. So with that disclaimer out of the way, here are my Top 10 movies for 2023.<br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">10. The Super Mario Bros. Movie<br /></h3><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZRjXUaQPSv-awmRg7GcLYeSFI0iSJF32MI_v-Wj4p8r1v3YgfW8-HUJBe20lDnMIL62fkgamJSOM7h7shY4gItSIshyphenhyphenNF4QJoBKPmjxWdEoPoapPMKLNgm0igSGokH6iDtnuMImg34px5ihNc1DABLEHv6Z9mFWaXNpaU0HDAKu8ldOmIHjkp1oJbak/s3000/super_mario_bros_the_movie_ver10_xxlg%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1895" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZRjXUaQPSv-awmRg7GcLYeSFI0iSJF32MI_v-Wj4p8r1v3YgfW8-HUJBe20lDnMIL62fkgamJSOM7h7shY4gItSIshyphenhyphenNF4QJoBKPmjxWdEoPoapPMKLNgm0igSGokH6iDtnuMImg34px5ihNc1DABLEHv6Z9mFWaXNpaU0HDAKu8ldOmIHjkp1oJbak/w253-h400/super_mario_bros_the_movie_ver10_xxlg%20(1).jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br />Nintendo finally decided to take another shot at bringing their beloved mascots to the big screen, some 30 years after their first failed attempt. Thankfully, they'd opted to go the animation route this time around, teaming up with Illumination Studios to help <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/04/the-super-mario-bros-movie-movie-review.html">bring the Mushroom Kingdom to life</a>. And what a delight the new film ended up being, with every scene practically crammed with Easter eggs. So while it ultimately left critics divided, the audience certainly ate it up as it easily became the highest-grossing video game adaptation with more than $1.3 billion earned at the global box office.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">9. Killers of the Flower Moon<br /></h3><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7mWuRL89niF2qGqYgXCEH8yH4C_v0JNc6cLszQCc0p8eXkT9hA6GibrALySwy86nZDvdYPAoQu5IvKsYkjG_xvniFxalFznQ5eBnMUYOU0ptcxI5vUHEo-iHiturV8LgpfTBwo7p7z7uF4PSd6jPYF10fciihwe1pB2T8Gkfmiypv0l4w4SKw4cg9PI/s3000/killers_of_the_flower_moon_ver2_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7mWuRL89niF2qGqYgXCEH8yH4C_v0JNc6cLszQCc0p8eXkT9hA6GibrALySwy86nZDvdYPAoQu5IvKsYkjG_xvniFxalFznQ5eBnMUYOU0ptcxI5vUHEo-iHiturV8LgpfTBwo7p7z7uF4PSd6jPYF10fciihwe1pB2T8Gkfmiypv0l4w4SKw4cg9PI/w266-h400/killers_of_the_flower_moon_ver2_xxlg.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />Martin Scorsese brings two of his biggest frequent collaborators together for the first time in <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/10/killers-of-flower-moon-movie-review.html">Killers of the Flower Moon</a>, a historical drama about the Osage County murders. And while both Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio gave standout performances in the film, it was actually Lily Gladstone that left the biggest impression in my opinion, all but guaranteeing that she'll be getting all the recognition she deserves at the Oscars next year. Expect to see the movie itself continue to rack up even more nominations as we progress further into awards season.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">8. Talk to Me<br /></h3><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWUuOnBfSt-ZzMzW-YH2-bIOkXX3_mPBvx6uEVNO045qsPsiab9pIpv0MOmJdnhxXFN9WECAqIUfTTuwws2y8jsUK23ny0iek3Rm9SUjOI1NGO95tTavy-95XXajuQoO_pU5Sl6b3FYAHHdI7PFzlF3PNLV57_Fub-VCAivSxwyla0NJ96x3cFjNhbu8/s1500/talk_to_me_xlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1012" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWUuOnBfSt-ZzMzW-YH2-bIOkXX3_mPBvx6uEVNO045qsPsiab9pIpv0MOmJdnhxXFN9WECAqIUfTTuwws2y8jsUK23ny0iek3Rm9SUjOI1NGO95tTavy-95XXajuQoO_pU5Sl6b3FYAHHdI7PFzlF3PNLV57_Fub-VCAivSxwyla0NJ96x3cFjNhbu8/w270-h400/talk_to_me_xlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />You'll be forgiven for taking one look at Talk to Me and thinking you've seen that before. After all, a group of teenagers messing around with the supernatural for kicks is a well-worn trope in horror films. I mean, what could possibly go wrong, right? But what helps to set Talk to Me apart from the rest of its ilk is its devilishly effective premise and a cast of well-rounded characters with real, emotional stakes. And to think that the movie was made by a pair of YouTubers in their directorial debut. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for their future work as well as the inevitable sequel.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3<br /></h3><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/05/doctor-strange-in-multiverse-of-madness.html"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/05/doctor-strange-in-multiverse-of-madness.html"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcw6bGKsZfcFWQvF-fHR53Rm4nAOMRG-JaDZ01B4R7D_JdERyxk3vN30Aw16y_lNlExpuYXWiQtJP5QipVmOb0zya3Dj1fuTmkBhD1whc0TSj76z20qclpk2d62YWIoinDGVPv1nfTKT8Vjwb1uWJc_0tB-O-dNPcSIN71rrf3WyLg0vvNkzQjcBfDsc/s2500/guardians_of_the_galaxy_vol_three_ver2_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1688" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcw6bGKsZfcFWQvF-fHR53Rm4nAOMRG-JaDZ01B4R7D_JdERyxk3vN30Aw16y_lNlExpuYXWiQtJP5QipVmOb0zya3Dj1fuTmkBhD1whc0TSj76z20qclpk2d62YWIoinDGVPv1nfTKT8Vjwb1uWJc_0tB-O-dNPcSIN71rrf3WyLg0vvNkzQjcBfDsc/w270-h400/guardians_of_the_galaxy_vol_three_ver2_xxlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />James Gunn bids farewell to the MCU with <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/05/guardians-of-galaxy-vol-3-movie-review.html">Vol. 3 of Guardians of the Galaxy</a>. And what a last hurrah he has turned in too. At a time when it feels like the MCU is in shambles or otherwise directionless, his movie serves as a bright spot of hope. But more than anything else, the film caps off his trilogy of films (not counting the holiday special) with the perfect sendoff for this particular iteration of the team. There were definitely plenty of tears at the cinema when I saw the movie as it tugged on the heartstrings without being too heavy-handed about it, a balancing act that James Gunn seems to have perfected at this point.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">6. Sisu<br /></h3><p></p><p></p><div><a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/12/spider-man-no-way-home-movie-review.html"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLv4hhZn_PaH-E1yQXfE2PIBoZ49WYDt7LF0h2YH2m_Vcndzdx8Le1WjGLWmMYFeSjE3rCijxTcRThRScc-TjEEkGIrfk8g6ZD-xi0fEtlh1qfjcdmhySvFrdV-6yVUy1GNiN6BHeegi9uVSw3HYtffflDcvuy_YCHLahBABY7PR-D4U_HxG8DhiXiI0/s1500/sisu_ver2_xlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1012" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLv4hhZn_PaH-E1yQXfE2PIBoZ49WYDt7LF0h2YH2m_Vcndzdx8Le1WjGLWmMYFeSjE3rCijxTcRThRScc-TjEEkGIrfk8g6ZD-xi0fEtlh1qfjcdmhySvFrdV-6yVUy1GNiN6BHeegi9uVSw3HYtffflDcvuy_YCHLahBABY7PR-D4U_HxG8DhiXiI0/w270-h400/sisu_ver2_xlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />I'm a sucker for revenge movies especially ones with a protagonist that happens to have a unique set of skills. In the case of Sisu, those skills come in the form of resilience in the face of impossible odds. But to say that the movie draws some inspiration from the likes of John Wick would be putting it lightly. Just like the Baba Yaga, our main character here is a man of few words. He even has a little dog that helps endear him to the audience, much like that other film. Its World War II setting does help set it apart though, and sometimes that's all it takes to get a pass.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5. Air<br /></h3><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwsyE_XgW63yNDG35NtzZYfZOWLmS67_eQvIEEk6bpNRgudqePYKVEc_wvJiUcI4Duc7g7wBc9nwCmzG9FkHsyL7HbyPWuAOFqNRE-3G9OTkhrmc_scuNU-i-n56V2tdRbv0uRF0EhY1D9yqxsnj-fTSAd_wuXmQ_E30TX8WOw6HpODs_C8mX2XXxrzg/s1500/air_ver2_xlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1013" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwsyE_XgW63yNDG35NtzZYfZOWLmS67_eQvIEEk6bpNRgudqePYKVEc_wvJiUcI4Duc7g7wBc9nwCmzG9FkHsyL7HbyPWuAOFqNRE-3G9OTkhrmc_scuNU-i-n56V2tdRbv0uRF0EhY1D9yqxsnj-fTSAd_wuXmQ_E30TX8WOw6HpODs_C8mX2XXxrzg/w270-h400/air_ver2_xlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />2023 had a number of notable films about the creation of popular products. We of course had both BlackBerry and Tetris tell those respective products' stories of how they made it to market, and as its title suggests, Air is all about the inception of the popular line of Nike basketball shoes called Air Jordans. The film tells the story of the men who worked to convince a young Michael Jordan to sign an endorsement deal. It's hard to believe that there was ever a time when Nike wasn't at the top of the game, given how popular the brand is today, which is what makes getting to see stories like this so great.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">4. Evil Dead Rise<br /></h3><p></p><p></p><div><a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/05/the-northman-movie-review.html"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/05/the-northman-movie-review.html"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF5tD3oCjYr0DWAZLb2CBt-wm-c_VsKT6n3jqkGYUA4NjVaRYXUPKc3yYfphxgKpibSdediHkaG-TMRZyliEB2NYl3hR_AQ5SwGwG2hjNkIMbRqWVPJv2sc-iJomPq3FPw41gcyF-29tigCf0pc5zPDAMBIk6-MnxU7H3gsWQJ6NpOTlF1Gax6h7wxQA/s1500/evil_dead_rise_xlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1013" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF5tD3oCjYr0DWAZLb2CBt-wm-c_VsKT6n3jqkGYUA4NjVaRYXUPKc3yYfphxgKpibSdediHkaG-TMRZyliEB2NYl3hR_AQ5SwGwG2hjNkIMbRqWVPJv2sc-iJomPq3FPw41gcyF-29tigCf0pc5zPDAMBIk6-MnxU7H3gsWQJ6NpOTlF1Gax6h7wxQA/w270-h400/evil_dead_rise_xlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />The Evil Dead franchise proved that it was anything but dead this year with the release of Evil Dead Rise. And this latest film more than lives up to its title by taking the scares and gore to a whole new level. Unlike previous entries, which typically take place in a dilapidated cabin in the middle of nowhere, this one is set in a city highrise scheduled for demolition. And that setting is used to great effect throughout the movie. It's funny to think that this was originally scheduled to debut on HBO Max before getting the proper theatrical release that it deserved. And while I didn't get to see it in a theater, I am still happy for those who got to enjoy its many thrills that way. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">3. Oppenheimer<br /></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiFdV-DlvEnhm9eMqIMDgGitP6_0KhS6JCBj0yUXDeFybO9VgsqdqkmGMcNJrTZqKUfFDfgpXsuomaj-XuNq7vqjE8HNUBeIattmlCTCs1ff7XzA9JCkDNwwBAAJcPd6chCiuiRdaaofzdxhIfNtE3pZjq7OhreAyUVxtnJTu3S8HR3ghzsZK0jH01iU/s3000/oppenheimer_ver3_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="1895" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiFdV-DlvEnhm9eMqIMDgGitP6_0KhS6JCBj0yUXDeFybO9VgsqdqkmGMcNJrTZqKUfFDfgpXsuomaj-XuNq7vqjE8HNUBeIattmlCTCs1ff7XzA9JCkDNwwBAAJcPd6chCiuiRdaaofzdxhIfNtE3pZjq7OhreAyUVxtnJTu3S8HR3ghzsZK0jH01iU/w253-h400/oppenheimer_ver3_xxlg.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><br />2023 gave us one of the strangest pop culture crossovers in the form of Barbenheimer. And while I didn't much care for the first half of that phenomenon, I was very much on board for <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/07/oppenheimer-movie-review.html">Oppenheimer</a>. The fact that it was getting released on my birthday only made the prospect of seeing it that much more exciting. And the film ended up delivering the way that only Christopher Nolan tends to do. Many have gone as far as calling this his best work, a designation I'd still reserve for Inception. And despite its 3-hour length, the film would go on to earn north of $900 million in box office receipts which is crazy for what is effectively a biographical epic with no superheroes in it.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">2. John Wick: Chapter 4<br /><br /></h3></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljldufnqydvkaPiSrQnf_OWYyUsSdfcZmCENpGmb6pEbZx8qeqIqSfumyV06HD_FGMLiMfwgpHROAsMZLtmRyzog19_q7OGUHfYo1KaV0YfDkGL6KEdmpaGNd6J5zGsdf3KGE6oM7sMejfjRwHMOWrG5dukd1w7YcvHsf_vys1tqbyiiFzxCjP6zf1uc/s1500/john_wick_chapter_four_ver2_xlg%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1013" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljldufnqydvkaPiSrQnf_OWYyUsSdfcZmCENpGmb6pEbZx8qeqIqSfumyV06HD_FGMLiMfwgpHROAsMZLtmRyzog19_q7OGUHfYo1KaV0YfDkGL6KEdmpaGNd6J5zGsdf3KGE6oM7sMejfjRwHMOWrG5dukd1w7YcvHsf_vys1tqbyiiFzxCjP6zf1uc/w270-h400/john_wick_chapter_four_ver2_xlg%20(1).jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />As far as action film archetypes go, my favorite remains the one where one man singlehandedly dispatches a bunch of bad guys. That is to say that John Wick didn't invent the formula but it has certainly refined it over the years. And just when I thought I'd seen all that the John Wick franchise had to offer in that regard, <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/03/john-wick-chapter-4-movie-review.html">John Wick: Chapter 4</a> comes along to raise the bar even further. Clocking in at nearly 3 hours, the film is so packed with balls-to-the-wall action that it almost becomes numbing. Except each setpiece went bigger and louder than the last until it finally culminated in one of the wildest third acts I've seen in recent memory. This is, without a doubt, the best one in the series and one of the best action movies I've seen, period.<br /><br /><p></p><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse<br /></h3><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif506omkaSdcpSyklxmtwIi4sWsexXsZUELZPbaTj90LugiPfBp4XnG1TAxNJNx8aevae_xshcTF48Slp7aDMz_GZhiP7a_HFf92wnRO_X5r7oXJ6zi33XAS2dPUIw6oLMAO5MIR8HtrthutP0LiLk42KbAF53M35r_b-_TsAUyi9s9_zwSLFking_0P0/s2048/spiderman_across_the_spiderverse_ver2_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1382" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif506omkaSdcpSyklxmtwIi4sWsexXsZUELZPbaTj90LugiPfBp4XnG1TAxNJNx8aevae_xshcTF48Slp7aDMz_GZhiP7a_HFf92wnRO_X5r7oXJ6zi33XAS2dPUIw6oLMAO5MIR8HtrthutP0LiLk42KbAF53M35r_b-_TsAUyi9s9_zwSLFking_0P0/w270-h400/spiderman_across_the_spiderverse_ver2_xxlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />So this year marked the first time I ever awarded a film a perfect 10/10 score. And that film was none other than <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/06/spider-man-across-spider-verse-movie.html">Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</a>. I am of course a very huge Spider-Man fan and still consider Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 the greatest comic book movie of all time. But dang it doesn't Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse come in a close second. I could proceed to wax lyrical about why I felt the movie was as close to perfection as a superhero film can realistically get. But I already did that in my review, so I'll just say this instead: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse reminded me of why I love movies as much as I do.</div></div>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-71719833039431543712023-12-27T06:00:00.045+01:002023-12-27T12:03:03.486+01:002023 in Review: Top 10 Songs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Lt-uEfXfKlA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="450px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lt-uEfXfKlA?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>According to Spotify and YouTube Music, I managed to rack up a combined total of over 80,000 minutes of music listening in 2023. Granted, most of that was during my daily workouts and 95% of what I listened to were songs from many years ago. It's crazy to think that most of what I listened to back then is now considered oldies by today's standards. Getting older sucks. Anyway, out of the handful of newer songs I did manage to listen to, these are the ones I had on heavy rotation.<br /><br /></p>
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10. Everything but the Girl - Nothing Left to Lose</h3>
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<br />A lot of the songs that get on my radar typically do so through YouTube recommendations. So when a new Everything but the Girl song showed up on my feed earlier this year, I had to do a double take because the duo hadn't really released anything new since the early 2000s. But sure enough, Nothing Left to Lose was pretty legit and it would herald the arrival of a new album to boot.<br />
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9. Falling in Reverse - Watch the World Burn</h3>
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<br />Say what you will about frontman Ronnie Radke and his various antics, but if there is one good thing Falling in Reverse is known for, it is for continually pushing the envelope for production values in their music videos. And Watch the World Burn is their most impressive one yet with a cinematic flair that would put a lot of Hollywood blockbusters to shame.<br />
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8. Tyla - Water</h3>
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<br />I have Instagram Reels to thank for this one as there was a point when I could hardly scroll through 10 videos without hearing Tyla's Water two times or more. And thus it would slowly sink its hooks into my subconscious where it continues to live rent-free even now. But it is the pairing of the South African singer's sultry vocals and the smoothness of its production that ultimately make it a standout song. <br />
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7. Corpse - Code Mistake (ft. Bring Me the Horizon)</h3>
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<br />The man with the impossible voice took some time away from YouTube this year to join forces with Bring Me the Horizon and the result is anything but a mistake despite what the song's title might lead one to believe. On the contrary, the song immediately sounds like a match made in Heaven (or Hell in this case) as each artist plays to their strengths while still complimenting the other's vocal delivery. <br />
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6. Sleep Token - The Summoning</h3>
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<br />Many of us will forever remember 2023 as the year we discovered Sleep Token. And the song that helped them reach near-mainstream levels of success was The Summoning. Released in January, the track quickly amassed millions of Spotify listens as its blend of metal and soulful R&B proved too irresistible for most. It's the kind of mashup that shouldn't work on paper yet it is executed so flawlessly that you can't help but get lost in its multiple layers and sexy-time vocals.<br />
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5. Linkin Park - Lost</h3>
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<br />Linkin Park released its 20th Anniversary Edition of Meteora this year and as part of the re-release, fans were treated to this lost gem that didn't make the cut for the original album. And wow, just hearing a new song (well, at least new to us) from that era of the band with Chester on vocals was enough to hit me in the feels. I'd always hoped they'd release another nu metal record so I suppose getting this instead is the next best thing.<br />
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4. salute & Sammy Virji - Peach VIP</h3>
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<br />Another artist I discovered this past year is salute, an Austrian DJ currently based in Manchester. His track with Sammy Virji is all kinds of fire, harkening back to the heyday of club bangers with an earworm melody for the ages. This is actually a remixed version of the song, Peach, and while the changes made from the original might appear subtle at best, they still fundamentally improve it enough to be worthy of that VIP designation.<br />
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3. Le Castle Vania - Blood Code</h3>
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<br />Speaking of club bangers, one of the best ones I heard this past year was actually while I was watching John Wick: Chapter 4. I still get chills when I think about that club scene during which Blood Code by Le Castle Vania was blaring through massive theater speakers with face-melting intensity. I don't believe I've ever grinned as hard at a song in a film as I did then. LED Spirals was fire and all but this? This is on a whole nothee level and I'm here for it.<br />
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2. Sleep Token - Vore</h3>
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<br />If anyone had told me at the start of 2023 that I would get completely enamored by a song about lovers eating one another, I would have said you were off your rocker. But here we are and Vore by Sleep Token is quite possibly the most intensely beautiful song I've heard in ages. It is easily the best song on their Take Me Back to Eden album and one I've had on near-constant repeat for the better part of the year.<div>
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1. Disclosure - Looking for Love</h3>
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<br />Any year that Disclosure releases a new record is bound to be a great one. So when the duo announced the imminent release of their fourth album, Alchemy, I knew I was in for a treat. And the album hits the ground running with the stunning opening track, Looking for Love. The production of the song is just as exuberant as one would expect from the brothers, but it is actually the vocoded vocal that lends it that signature throwback feel, effectively setting the stage for what was overall an infectious and very back-to-basics record.</p></div>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-14808619485105373142023-12-26T06:00:00.012+01:002023-12-26T06:14:52.235+01:002023 in Review: Top 10 TV Shows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Uwszol9wPN0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="450px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Uwszol9wPN0?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>Even though the golden age of television may be long past us by now, there were still quite a number of noteworthy TV shows in 2023 for us to enjoy. From superhero fare to reimagined takes on classic tales, it seemed there was indeed something for every type of viewer. There were also several outright duds, none of which will be making it onto this list, thankfully. So without further ado, here are my Top 10 TV shows that aired in 2023.<br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">10. The Mandalorian Season 3</h3><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARUEHmD4b5WDjYRWZc6a2IPuua8mBYArsBnfqLf4Gve17mOvulkVwnUw2xkhN7yEvEbfhnRetXKtt-mW9HYb1qyfdKv72IpuLydYvsfB7iuikz99vHk4OndwH_6dXwG4wTX8AmFHrDy-PHATm4LGKiL4ss9k9lfw97Nvw8vvyNoc_vhdyT1EPKrjzrxQ/s1500/mandalorian_ver28_xlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1013" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARUEHmD4b5WDjYRWZc6a2IPuua8mBYArsBnfqLf4Gve17mOvulkVwnUw2xkhN7yEvEbfhnRetXKtt-mW9HYb1qyfdKv72IpuLydYvsfB7iuikz99vHk4OndwH_6dXwG4wTX8AmFHrDy-PHATm4LGKiL4ss9k9lfw97Nvw8vvyNoc_vhdyT1EPKrjzrxQ/w270-h400/mandalorian_ver28_xlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />After topping my list of favorite TV shows in 2020, the third season of The Mandalorian drops all the way down to number 10 this year. This is mainly due to a noticeable dip in the quality of its storytelling, as I found myself questioning how some of it managed to slip past quality control. I am still trying to recover from the abject stupidity of that Jack Black and Lizzo episode. But despite some really low lows, and its title character taking the back seat for much of the season, the show as a whole still managed to deliver the goods, at least in the areas of action and the continued development of the relationship between its two leads.<br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">9. One Piece</h3><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-B6rFhuRbXdxLvkU4FuienEnutB_-2o5e9LSx_6VVFCF9WjZZQko-s259ORfLpg2HPvVtXi4vF4xiQdzq5NfKdX3U-_WABfMQX4-6OdJ2889eWMqFW2FCBiTa9-7jklz69j4ICtAedWBGk2h9sDf9_rnRMPCaPqaEedDD4_mrlz_BWZzSoClr0ea7PPQ/s2222/one_piece_ver4_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2222" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-B6rFhuRbXdxLvkU4FuienEnutB_-2o5e9LSx_6VVFCF9WjZZQko-s259ORfLpg2HPvVtXi4vF4xiQdzq5NfKdX3U-_WABfMQX4-6OdJ2889eWMqFW2FCBiTa9-7jklz69j4ICtAedWBGk2h9sDf9_rnRMPCaPqaEedDD4_mrlz_BWZzSoClr0ea7PPQ/w270-h400/one_piece_ver4_xxlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />Netflix has a pretty spotty track record when it comes to its anime adaptations. For every Alice in Borderland, it seems there are at least a few Death Notes and Cowboy Bebops. This was primarily why I didn't have high expectations for One Piece. Except I was immediately sucked into the show by its exceptional characterization and world-building. And even though I had minimal familiarity with the anime or the manga it is based upon, I was still captivated by how well those stories have translated into the show. So here's hoping they can keep the ball rolling for several more seasons to come.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">8. Loki Season 2</h3></div></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HjfNNgeMLAX-NMGlgP5_ZvV2rd_EqupFVyA-1EIHgcwJKad3lNjAj1XR_SxMcB0iLM7BDmcUZ4GfzEVYmckb3euNHQBthmFE3xgqznrWVfiX1YNuxcuGwqVay33BK3-pfOcjBMrft0EU5gqzXeW2tIA0mZdYpXAcQjplXXKPh8RMxdTDFDZrUW4jutw/s2500/loki_ver23_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1688" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HjfNNgeMLAX-NMGlgP5_ZvV2rd_EqupFVyA-1EIHgcwJKad3lNjAj1XR_SxMcB0iLM7BDmcUZ4GfzEVYmckb3euNHQBthmFE3xgqznrWVfiX1YNuxcuGwqVay33BK3-pfOcjBMrft0EU5gqzXeW2tIA0mZdYpXAcQjplXXKPh8RMxdTDFDZrUW4jutw/w270-h400/loki_ver23_xxlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />The MCU might feel like it is in shambles right now, especially after the disastrous performance of The Marvels and the wet fart that was Secret Invasion. But you won't catch many people throwing any of that shade at Loki, a show that remains a bright spot for the struggling franchise. And even though its second season didn't quite set up Kang the Konqueror as the big bad of the Multiverse Saga like many of us had imagined it would, it still tied off enough loose threads from the first to be considered a satisfying conclusion to the show and this particular iteration of its title character as a whole.<br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">7. Invincible Season 2</h3><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8CRuiKhOVvPlC6UVynrAuIEUMg3GtqblfnhVXFjCaC9dFP7pmIynsfzm72vsnrW1DPfUHxHSQrWakonl1KfDmTC0gZnl9pjc1hjS-NawfF65DjeSRP4Bcaumdm8nfCWiU44-Eo3Nkpjcn1I1u_DcPmUQX05BPjrxTSlcfmGRs1DhYHC0LiWa90jIB94/s2880/invincible_ver10_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1944" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8CRuiKhOVvPlC6UVynrAuIEUMg3GtqblfnhVXFjCaC9dFP7pmIynsfzm72vsnrW1DPfUHxHSQrWakonl1KfDmTC0gZnl9pjc1hjS-NawfF65DjeSRP4Bcaumdm8nfCWiU44-Eo3Nkpjcn1I1u_DcPmUQX05BPjrxTSlcfmGRs1DhYHC0LiWa90jIB94/w270-h400/invincible_ver10_xxlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />We recently got the first half of Invincible Season 2 after what had felt like an agonizing two-year break. But it was certainly worth the wait as the show picks up effortlessly from where it had left off, in the aftermath of the showdown between father and son. The show continues to prove that there is still plenty of juice left in the superhero genre, subverting many of its well-worn tropes with its rich, nuanced characterization, without sacrificing any of the over-the-top violence that defined the first season. And while those first four episodes are not enough to judge the quality of the season as a whole, I would still say that it is off to a very strong start. <br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">6. Gen V</h3><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtv4YwLIJPGKdy6tjtznvpo4nNWd_6mQDTVY0GSXtY2wfUVWl1ir66oCLLMxOTLhkfXWleNY8FhRrILOfD2dMOjpmEEfG8y1tsWjteMA8pBgo5ovlDwHGpFujjwMKCvemc5fl3b_0lyOhf1dOFvvcqMLyW9KGM-0s3GUXaftmW5UVHjWzA22PkKGF3Yo/s1200/gen-v-the-boys-poster-new.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="846" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtv4YwLIJPGKdy6tjtznvpo4nNWd_6mQDTVY0GSXtY2wfUVWl1ir66oCLLMxOTLhkfXWleNY8FhRrILOfD2dMOjpmEEfG8y1tsWjteMA8pBgo5ovlDwHGpFujjwMKCvemc5fl3b_0lyOhf1dOFvvcqMLyW9KGM-0s3GUXaftmW5UVHjWzA22PkKGF3Yo/w283-h400/gen-v-the-boys-poster-new.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br />Speaking of over-the-top violence, things didn't really get any more bloody and violent in 2023 than in Gen V, a spinoff of The Boys, a show that was itself known for pushing the boundaries. And much like that other show, this one explores the seedy underbelly of a world where superheroes are treated like commodities. Except this time around, we see events unfold through the perspective of a diverse cast of young superheroes in training as they struggle to come to terms with the realities of the world they've been born into and the abilities they've been given.<br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5. Blue Eye Samurai</h3><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8p_Xdk2MaqOGL1bLqPEflY9PI2otX7Ro85cPNHNmzoRrd160ZhLgFAbKStKZCA9ELDbylQssxlQlnW5it6QDPRAJWQsxowbMztqUjXO4k8dM2f7aE1pZ89aQI06APkshYHdXxNysJthXpVfU8Hq17jz-uGXPqQsPUtih4K1fpNxDcv9HFNUvqU9MvcA/s3000/blue_eye_samurai_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2025" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8p_Xdk2MaqOGL1bLqPEflY9PI2otX7Ro85cPNHNmzoRrd160ZhLgFAbKStKZCA9ELDbylQssxlQlnW5it6QDPRAJWQsxowbMztqUjXO4k8dM2f7aE1pZ89aQI06APkshYHdXxNysJthXpVfU8Hq17jz-uGXPqQsPUtih4K1fpNxDcv9HFNUvqU9MvcA/w270-h400/blue_eye_samurai_xxlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />Just when I thought I'd seen all that 2023 had to offer, Netflix premiered a new animated show called Blue Eye Samurai. And based off of the incredible word of mouth it was getting after its debut, I was eventually compelled to check it out. The first thing that struck me was the incredible art style that successfully recreates the look and feel of traditional Japanese animation while using modern rendering techniques. But it was in fact its engaging narrative and its cast of memorable characters that actually kept me watching episode after episode, right up to an explosive finale that paves the way for what is sure to be an incredible multi-season run. <br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">4. Fargo Season 5</h3><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgd-y6UCAl03E-uoH9_NQPQTUliwu6k847raqr0rffQ4WwTSIf1cF_eBoCFpnNScja6huuVhQlZUs-CG5gJYI7RqPjbU8pr9TrHLOYa519cTFvBkN821qCvcu6SyYmmH7w6TGVH4mf7cBvydKQ_i_f0-CGqnjW8xeFCkxAHWRaMypNaEL0lLEfcRPs_8/s755/fargo_ver10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="581" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgd-y6UCAl03E-uoH9_NQPQTUliwu6k847raqr0rffQ4WwTSIf1cF_eBoCFpnNScja6huuVhQlZUs-CG5gJYI7RqPjbU8pr9TrHLOYa519cTFvBkN821qCvcu6SyYmmH7w6TGVH4mf7cBvydKQ_i_f0-CGqnjW8xeFCkxAHWRaMypNaEL0lLEfcRPs_8/w308-h400/fargo_ver10.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br />One would expect that a show like Fargo would be running on fumes by its fifth season. But the anthology series just keeps delivering the goods in what is already shaping up to be one of its best seasons yet. With a new cast that includes the incredible Juno Temple in the lead, the new season weaves one hell of a narrative filled with mystery and enough suspense to keep everyone engaged. The fact that it isn't afraid to take jabs at people on both sides of the political divide while still tackling delicate issues like domestic abuse just further adds to its overall appeal. This is what top-tier television looks like in 2023.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">3. Beef</h3><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9aCRFVlolfPkHyMZ47cik6M1PFOoaGQ_3vdNTYf8mDnUlIFjIruWAUIKASyeK1dnT82FpPZ8TWAlP1RGy7qXYkm0MHGrAA_NE4ZFyCkZN7GkuAuGy-2sxrmyjl-Y3bKhaNa-j4S28uxbmcIxbqFGXiZEqdLas9UlC-Bw-sQ8WI_AGCb-R_uGZ_nsUC4/s1350/beef_ver2_xlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9aCRFVlolfPkHyMZ47cik6M1PFOoaGQ_3vdNTYf8mDnUlIFjIruWAUIKASyeK1dnT82FpPZ8TWAlP1RGy7qXYkm0MHGrAA_NE4ZFyCkZN7GkuAuGy-2sxrmyjl-Y3bKhaNa-j4S28uxbmcIxbqFGXiZEqdLas9UlC-Bw-sQ8WI_AGCb-R_uGZ_nsUC4/w320-h400/beef_ver2_xlg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Steven Yeun and Ali Wong butt heads in the comedy-drama, Beef. As its title suggests, the show is about the ensuing feud between two strangers after an incident of road rage sets them on an insatiable quest for revenge. This was yet another show that was preceded by a lot of positive word of mouth in the lead-up to its release. Still, I was caught off guard by just how bingeable it turned out to be. I guess it is down to its roughly 30-minute episodes, which is the perfect length for falling into that unbreakable loop of telling yourself you can squeeze in one more episode before bedtime, then suddenly discovering 3 hours later that the time is 2 in the morning and you've become hopelessly hooked by the narrative.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">2. Silo</h3><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsg0oJYK3zfMYGyJ_Qgq7Zuo3MloK19qaCgJZawRlzgotWEpFuQGBdNP3Eh0aJM3zUtQHEpFmRm2KvbZvb6iqqDMlJ6U5d6PbzmXV9n4qjj92kyKn812VdIs_ioRM0_ADsmjCbgwA-7L8BO7rQk3-oj98jgBBk0jCF67oRyUlXEvW9FvM8stYUsdckHM/s3000/silo_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsg0oJYK3zfMYGyJ_Qgq7Zuo3MloK19qaCgJZawRlzgotWEpFuQGBdNP3Eh0aJM3zUtQHEpFmRm2KvbZvb6iqqDMlJ6U5d6PbzmXV9n4qjj92kyKn812VdIs_ioRM0_ADsmjCbgwA-7L8BO7rQk3-oj98jgBBk0jCF67oRyUlXEvW9FvM8stYUsdckHM/w266-h400/silo_xxlg.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />Apple TV+ is really out to steal some of Netflix's thunder. They've in fact become one of my favorite places to watch top-shelf science fiction shows. And things don't really get more top-shelf than Silo, an adaptation of a series of books by self-published writer, Hugh Howey. I still remember the first time I read those books back in 2012 and learning that rights to an adaptation had been secured by Ridley Scott's team. As a fan of the books and the author behind them, I was eager to see how well it would translate into what eventually became a serialized TV format. And the folks at Apple have done a very commendable job, retaining all of the things that made those books so popular among genre fans, to begin with.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;">1. The Last of Us</h3><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J2iq5vJvmoRufcpmhGWXfsfnW0plXJebZbamzarw5XpJPZZZN_AhLIaXnvd8yreHy4ENbJ7woXdn2XKMvyrQrD9oT-8MlqdKniqQhps4OYwWHGW4M7qe8C6XA1npcG6pcOHBzgIpPkglJACfgDFhFJM5lpH4zn2bI4E3FpsOKjUjaqPzdmCQKXCl4lY/s3000/last_of_us_ver14_xxlg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2025" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J2iq5vJvmoRufcpmhGWXfsfnW0plXJebZbamzarw5XpJPZZZN_AhLIaXnvd8yreHy4ENbJ7woXdn2XKMvyrQrD9oT-8MlqdKniqQhps4OYwWHGW4M7qe8C6XA1npcG6pcOHBzgIpPkglJACfgDFhFJM5lpH4zn2bI4E3FpsOKjUjaqPzdmCQKXCl4lY/w270-h400/last_of_us_ver14_xxlg.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br />It looks like video game adaptations might have finally begun to hit their stride in 2023. And nowhere is this more evident than in the HBO show, The Last of Us. No other video game has translated so flawlessly into another storytelling medium in my opinion. Then again, this should be expected given how narrative-focused the game was and the pedigree of the showrunners behind it. This is as faithful as any adaptation that fans of the game could've hoped for, and something that serves as a viable entry point into the story of Joel and Ellie for non-gamers as well. It remains to be seen just how well Season 2 would fare, given how divisive that portion of the game's narrative had proven with fans. But as things currently stand, The Last of Us is easily the greatest video game adaptation I've seen.<br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-61979076867350942762023-12-25T06:00:00.059+01:002023-12-25T12:09:49.901+01:002023 in Review: Top 10 Games<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i2IKZz1hpZA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="450px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i2IKZz1hpZA?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>Merry Christmas everyone. 2023 is almost over which means it is time for yet another season of my <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/search/label/Year%20in%20Review">Year in Review series of posts</a>. So for the rest of this week, I'll be highlighting my favorite movies, TV shows, and the like, as well as my general thoughts on the year as a whole. And much like recent years, I am kicking things off with my favorite video games released within the calendar year.<br /><br />The video game industry definitely had a lot of ups and downs in 2023, especially when you factor in all the widespread layoffs, leaks, and controversies. But in terms of the actual games themselves, it was certainly one of the stronger ones we've gotten in recent memory. As usual, I didn't get around to playing nearly enough of them, so expect to see more than a few glaring omissions on my list. But out of all the ones I did get to play, these are the ones I consider my Top 10.<br /><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">10. Super Mario RPG</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgINK2owBg2uHc9i4F_-OnDYLo6OqnMV00a7vFbb0NZPMdBKUqGIf0-Xv5MSGKnrMaDGukvthsHbp7k3ckhgsnHDZyKzip4H9OHBxpPK5MAsqg95Pw6jLXuh8hNEubg0FyyKsPNdwV_zBsTbFb5QGU2Tg3eBJiI_8hkoYAWwEu3gq4065znUQ00PqwpY/s1200/super-mario-rpg-remake-20231115231100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgINK2owBg2uHc9i4F_-OnDYLo6OqnMV00a7vFbb0NZPMdBKUqGIf0-Xv5MSGKnrMaDGukvthsHbp7k3ckhgsnHDZyKzip4H9OHBxpPK5MAsqg95Pw6jLXuh8hNEubg0FyyKsPNdwV_zBsTbFb5QGU2Tg3eBJiI_8hkoYAWwEu3gq4065znUQ00PqwpY/w400-h225/super-mario-rpg-remake-20231115231100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We all have certain gaps in our gaming histories. For me, I never got to play Super Mario RPG back when it was originally released. At least not on original hardware. This is why I was very excited when a remake was announced earlier this year. And after playing through the game recently, I can finally see why it is held with such high esteem by fans. It boasts an engaging turn-based battle system as well as some clever writing and a cast of colorful characters that is as fresh today as it must have been back then. Wish I could say the same thing about its platforming sections though, the one frustrating aspect of the game that hasn't aged all that well, thus preventing it from placing higher on this list.<br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">9. Cocoon</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03yOtYk3CefG-hjvOUkB_9yKoU5zRT7hi0MzsJWeMkUlEY5hURPHy69Op5Q6b_cvDCT3b_7tzE_fZqzHnDRm4nYXxfGIgmCMckdAKrM-F17LXVUIJD0lJyYFAWB-G9DJ2JR9g30vIMf6tr4DnUp79lRjXxkJMAEEXDQlDW9RWVLDPUpfQRaKXxTuHmtE/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03yOtYk3CefG-hjvOUkB_9yKoU5zRT7hi0MzsJWeMkUlEY5hURPHy69Op5Q6b_cvDCT3b_7tzE_fZqzHnDRm4nYXxfGIgmCMckdAKrM-F17LXVUIJD0lJyYFAWB-G9DJ2JR9g30vIMf6tr4DnUp79lRjXxkJMAEEXDQlDW9RWVLDPUpfQRaKXxTuHmtE/w400-h225/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'll always have a soft spot for bite-sized adventure games with a heavy emphasis on environmental puzzles, especially ones that sport a unique visual style or gimmick. And Cocoon indeed manages to tick all those boxes which shouldn't be surprising since it is coming from a former Playdead designer who'd worked on Limbo and Inside. Its world-hopping gameplay mechanic never ceased to amaze me throughout my playthrough and the puzzles built around this were almost always intuitive enough to feel satisfying to solve.<br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">8. Pikmin 4</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbmEp5S_O1Dr6d5EHeFwusFFWUE1Ffw90zFWKN5t5QXcRsUl5Gl0-0We3hAuNRrKI-Oa6kwfsLKJuzWxZkiijYngMFBHRGOliPnKQG0I2I54w8oumzEvhDqSffZ8n7uZE56qE6rBNoY4B8gd8PwfUyh-N1qTMYMpQ7N1cj_ToGguVmc4IWRNux7u9mFI/s2048/Foe4smUWcAIv71H.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbmEp5S_O1Dr6d5EHeFwusFFWUE1Ffw90zFWKN5t5QXcRsUl5Gl0-0We3hAuNRrKI-Oa6kwfsLKJuzWxZkiijYngMFBHRGOliPnKQG0I2I54w8oumzEvhDqSffZ8n7uZE56qE6rBNoY4B8gd8PwfUyh-N1qTMYMpQ7N1cj_ToGguVmc4IWRNux7u9mFI/w400-h225/Foe4smUWcAIv71H.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I didn't own a GameCube growing up so I never did get to see what the fuss was about those early Pikmin games. I've never really been a fan of strategy games in any case but something about Pikmin 3 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch worked to win me over. So I was happy to jump into Pikmin 4 the first chance I got. And the new game definitely didn't disappoint as it oozed with a level of charm you can only find in a Nintendo game. The addition of new Pikmins and Oatchi helped to keep things feeling fresh but it was the impressive visuals and its tried-and-tested gameplay loop that left me eager to explore each new environment I found myself in. <br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">7. Street Fighter 6</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzOsC_n_oaXO_1-yu85iq-Ms3jbOgP_gpEjR2SghCfGmMYXzsmisrW9fu-fIphzoP5JNkwJwE0JzkporR3PofXeXyt6j3qLXhtkGEqkCl-KfflBY67p0WbDfVTM0zUV1aZknjIPDqN_gXsa9tcA0OTxwi_F2PgpKNoUs6Sb2Hx_Q4mvXSIGVy0chUlh4/s1280/maxresdefault.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyzOsC_n_oaXO_1-yu85iq-Ms3jbOgP_gpEjR2SghCfGmMYXzsmisrW9fu-fIphzoP5JNkwJwE0JzkporR3PofXeXyt6j3qLXhtkGEqkCl-KfflBY67p0WbDfVTM0zUV1aZknjIPDqN_gXsa9tcA0OTxwi_F2PgpKNoUs6Sb2Hx_Q4mvXSIGVy0chUlh4/w400-h225/maxresdefault.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Street Fighter series got a much-needed facelift this past year in the form of Street Fighter 6. And while I never did get into Street Fighter V the way I got into past entries, this one immediately piqued my interest with everything it was bringing to the table. The biggest addition of course comes through the World Tour, a single-player, story-focused mode that would have you free-roaming the streets of Metro City with your custom-created character, as you learn the ropes and fight your way to the very top of the rankings. But it is ultimately its refined combat and smooth gameplay that make Streer Fighter 6 a more-than-worthy addition to the popular fighting game franchise.<br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">6. Sea of Stars</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5p7W1TZP8e8v12uUvDViXuQ0vAD9rZz74DSX30epJ-bSfax9Qh11E19lc3xS9xM1PP0_VzA2n2uOiass4u0v5AMKGCVtQIcy-FmVwDW4MJc6iFNIl5UKfWQTB68hE6OyKr_uT1J8qh5X-bWxKBrOivv0e77Gx-LnjgieIdLOU0Jlr86HLq5fK8NFpnE/s1920/sea-of-stars-.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5p7W1TZP8e8v12uUvDViXuQ0vAD9rZz74DSX30epJ-bSfax9Qh11E19lc3xS9xM1PP0_VzA2n2uOiass4u0v5AMKGCVtQIcy-FmVwDW4MJc6iFNIl5UKfWQTB68hE6OyKr_uT1J8qh5X-bWxKBrOivv0e77Gx-LnjgieIdLOU0Jlr86HLq5fK8NFpnE/w400-h225/sea-of-stars-.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I still hold firm to the belief that the SNES is the greatest game console ever made, an opinion that was inspired by its vast library of stellar games. And you only need to take one look at Sea of Stars to tell where it draws inspiration from. Games like Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana immediately come to mind but it is a testament to the skills of the developers at Sabotage Studios that their game still finds ways to improve upon the formula already perfected by those aforementioned classics. Its beautiful pixel art style is matched only by a soundtrack that is evocative of the very best SNES-era RPGs but we really can't expect any less from the same guys that gave us The Messenger, can we?<br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">5. Metroid Prime Remastered</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79HBM-JvuHe70d-Ml66EWfalLa5Y_z-yR1HhISgxBf4lfBU1xN-7jyIw7c-bnNfrsVefefrCYAyqg9vMtq1foN4EKGNdPKk-jQMgj1pBgkCYhT8q4QiDjsBzSwVqPAfPT-e3uZ_S-H8r-CGdDgHz8qQ0n51Bnt2MJmgdUWREaSlKW22OASnJ7ti35rig/s2400/32b85837beea0eee31220a59e247219662de4011f7a8c18fce61cf99a4933eb7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2400" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg79HBM-JvuHe70d-Ml66EWfalLa5Y_z-yR1HhISgxBf4lfBU1xN-7jyIw7c-bnNfrsVefefrCYAyqg9vMtq1foN4EKGNdPKk-jQMgj1pBgkCYhT8q4QiDjsBzSwVqPAfPT-e3uZ_S-H8r-CGdDgHz8qQ0n51Bnt2MJmgdUWREaSlKW22OASnJ7ti35rig/w400-h225/32b85837beea0eee31220a59e247219662de4011f7a8c18fce61cf99a4933eb7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Another GameCube game I'd completely missed out on was Metroid Prime. Originally released in 2002, the game is renowned for reinventing the 2D Metroid series as a first-person action-adventure title. It was very ambitious for its time and it found its way onto the Nintendo Switch earlier this year through a brand-new remaster. But calling the new game a remaster almost feels like underselling it as it currently boasts some of the most impressive visuals to ever grace the hybrid console. And with its modernized controls, you almost have a game that could very well rub shoulders with the latest and the greatest that the genre has to offer.<br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">4. Resident Evil 4</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3W_4EMxgHOmFwHeZlycEAr-iyxjhQAi5Cqm4bBr_oj31Pe165hFVEp7p2mK-dp8my5-Qo4r5FQWC9ZzDTcb26mA2k1VQyfCG_Q1WfGI71DD0nrfuAGD4sMX0T4HfzaY3PjzvZr6gW2oVqFswpisl1DAHhjQ1cictPgDXf-JmkWy5wSp79ZPoArjcrv4/s2000/Resident-Evil-4-Remake-Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="2000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3W_4EMxgHOmFwHeZlycEAr-iyxjhQAi5Cqm4bBr_oj31Pe165hFVEp7p2mK-dp8my5-Qo4r5FQWC9ZzDTcb26mA2k1VQyfCG_Q1WfGI71DD0nrfuAGD4sMX0T4HfzaY3PjzvZr6gW2oVqFswpisl1DAHhjQ1cictPgDXf-JmkWy5wSp79ZPoArjcrv4/w400-h200/Resident-Evil-4-Remake-Cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And while we are still on the topic of games that originally debuted on the GameCube, Resident Evil 4 is one that has graced nearly every console ever since it first reinvented the survival horror series back in 2004. But never has it looked or played so great as it does in the ground-up remake it received in 2023. Adopting a darker tone more in line with other recent RE remakes, the new game took what was already considered a groundbreaking overhaul by most and refined it even further, resulting in the quintessential way to play the highly beloved classic.<br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">3. Super Mario Bros. Wonder</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmAKjwngBxPwbNWsgdW83dv1TsxKJv1GydtuTd_jsaB6_Xje5XtQx4lGJN6RRxmR4HzctzIwh0JDhx5fP6LLFvkQeHOtK8Y0Esw6otsgkSxha3Y_XSeddKG9DgRlbMoLCswatBdcp4pR1urfLxnwia3L2rc6ckVtt_GBnrOGOhuc9ZQ4wu8z9LwPukjo/s1460/switch_16x9_supermariobroswonder_keyart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1460" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmAKjwngBxPwbNWsgdW83dv1TsxKJv1GydtuTd_jsaB6_Xje5XtQx4lGJN6RRxmR4HzctzIwh0JDhx5fP6LLFvkQeHOtK8Y0Esw6otsgkSxha3Y_XSeddKG9DgRlbMoLCswatBdcp4pR1urfLxnwia3L2rc6ckVtt_GBnrOGOhuc9ZQ4wu8z9LwPukjo/w400-h225/switch_16x9_supermariobroswonder_keyart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />In a year that was already full of pleasant surprises, one of my fondest ones was Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The game takes Mario and friends back to their 2D platforming roots, ditching the stale art style of the recent New Super Mario Bros. games for one that can only be described as vibrant and endlessly expressive. But more importantly, the game features the kind of creativity and pinpoint perfect platforming that helped the series grow into what it is today. It quickly became one of my favorite Super Mario games of all time, joining the ranks of Super Mario World on the SNES. <br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">2. Hogwarts Legacy</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MKERlTEHl6_iL7fj1X3qJAyEz1p1fejTXfcjwMbXdj0SS1nRny4tkSx8ca_04rurEUlmRPHcz10ltkeKwvc6oZbAkvRJ2WoAPi6lrxbJg8JwDc-7Jb9DppCI2wqMaCwwwQIeZr3UsEzsxfqdFQqlYpVjyS7n4rdp-8Qr_udiAdMFx6B0HTW6na4JBy8/s1920/hogwarts-legacy-uhdpaper.com-hd-3.2837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MKERlTEHl6_iL7fj1X3qJAyEz1p1fejTXfcjwMbXdj0SS1nRny4tkSx8ca_04rurEUlmRPHcz10ltkeKwvc6oZbAkvRJ2WoAPi6lrxbJg8JwDc-7Jb9DppCI2wqMaCwwwQIeZr3UsEzsxfqdFQqlYpVjyS7n4rdp-8Qr_udiAdMFx6B0HTW6na4JBy8/w400-h225/hogwarts-legacy-uhdpaper.com-hd-3.2837.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Hogwarts Legacy was easily one of the most controversial games of 2023. But regardless of where you fall on the J.K. Rowling debate, I've always held on to the notion that we need to separate the art from the artist. And as far as art is concerned, Hogwarts Legacy is the most faithful recreation of the Wizarding World we've gotten in video game form to date. So being the massive Potterhead that I am, I was elated for a chance to experience this massive homage to what was effectively a cornerstone of my childhood. And I wasn't alone either because the game would eventually go on to become the highest-selling game of the year, showing just how alive and hungry for more Harry Potter the fandom remains till this very day.<br /><br /><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom</h3><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrh0OOP3EZY4OmzTXaAKfQLqI2yQH1XW4AxWLY18ykG8eXb-Vo7I2grgM2vk_rNezaXnbnzfSijk9GC8WjcHN2v-h3HLjb4oM5i2Sq7-XE_p18wPnDaKy0oyZZ-r4LrgBX-FMfDCGBL1QvlWIoHkv7_WfKezgayCVqPlcjCtND0YdHo2v7gjxzYorxjA/s1920/TearsoftheKingdomKeyArt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrh0OOP3EZY4OmzTXaAKfQLqI2yQH1XW4AxWLY18ykG8eXb-Vo7I2grgM2vk_rNezaXnbnzfSijk9GC8WjcHN2v-h3HLjb4oM5i2Sq7-XE_p18wPnDaKy0oyZZ-r4LrgBX-FMfDCGBL1QvlWIoHkv7_WfKezgayCVqPlcjCtND0YdHo2v7gjxzYorxjA/w400-h225/TearsoftheKingdomKeyArt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Shocking, I know. But no other game released in 2023 even comes close to the mammoth greatness that is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Not only was it my most hotly-anticipated game for three years straight, but it is also the one I've logged the most amount of hours in since Animal Crossing: New Horizons took over much of my life <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2020/12/2020-in-review-top-10-video-games.html">in 2020</a>. And despite my 200+ hours with the game, it still feels like there's tons left for me to see and do. The game builds upon everything introduced in Breath of the Wild with new abilities, improved dungeons, and vast areas to adventure in. And while I feel it doesn't exactly recapture the magic of exploring this version of Hyrule for the first time, it still goes above and beyond as a more-than-worthy extension to what was an already-brilliant game.<br /><p></p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-29888453533532512202023-12-22T01:46:00.016+01:002023-12-30T13:40:32.020+01:00Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XscN2gPz9ss/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XscN2gPz9ss?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br /><p>After a decades-worth of storytelling spread across fifteen movies of varying quality, the DCEU comes to an unceremonious end with the release of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. And what a wild ride it has been, boasting its fair share of highs and lows. So it was indeed a bittersweet affair heading into the new Aquaman, even as I wondered how it could possibly wrap up the entire franchise in any meaningful way. But as I quickly discovered while watching the film, those aspirations were never on the table to begin with, as evidenced by its business-as-usual approach to storytelling. So I guess the real question then is whether or not the film is still worth seeing even with the knowledge that we've arrived at the end of the road.</p><p>Serving as a direct sequel to <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2018/12/aquaman-movie-review.html">2018's Aquaman</a>, the movie finds its titular hero adjusting to life as the ruler of the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. He must also pull double duty as a new dad, having started a family with love interest Mera since the events of the first film. Meanwhile, his archnemisis Black Manta is still hellbent on getting revenge, a pursuit that would bring him into possession of an ancient artefact that imbues him with superhuman strength. In order to stop him, Aquaman must seek help from unexpected places or risk failing to prevent a global catastrophe that would threaten all surface dwellers and Atlanteans alike.</p><p>It didn't take me long into Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom before I could tell that there was something clearly wrong with the movie. Perhaps it was its derivative story that first gave it away, as it borrows quite a number of plot points and story elements from the likes of Lord of the Rings but never quite matches the brilliance of their execution. Or maybe it was the stilted dialogue that often had the cast sounding like actors in an amateur high school play. Or the way the film relies heavily on exposition dumps, with characters even offering running commentary on actions that should be otherwise apparent to the audience, almost in an effort to ensure understanding amidst all the chaos.</p><p>And there was indeed a lot of chaos involved, as the film kept piling on setpiece after setpiece. It didn't exactly help that some of the effects bringing those action scenes to life were of the questionable sort, with varying degrees of quality in its creature design and the sea of CGI they inhabit. Even the licensed music that accompanied some of those scenes sometimes felt tacked on, barely serving to elevate what was going on onscreen and instead acting as a distraction. All these things ultimately coalesce to create a movie that often feels sloppy and unfinished. </p><p>But somehow, as though through some ancient magic and wizardry conjured up by director James Wan, the whole thing still manages to work, or at least it never truly collapses under the weight of its hodgepodge storyline and wooden deliveries. This is largely due to the fact that the movie fully embraces its own zaniness, much like the first one did. It also never tilts completely into the realm of silliness either, ala Thor: Love and Thunder. I found myself laughing with the movie as much as I was laughing at it, and it was only then that I had to concede that I was indeed enjoying myself.</p><p>It is as though the filmmakers knew all the things that helped propel <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2018/12/aquaman-movie-review.html">the first movie</a> to become the DCEU's first and only billion-dollar grosser and they doubled down on all of it. It fully embraces the fantastical side of the DC Comics it is based upon, depicting underwater cities and desert kingdoms populated by all manner of creatures, all of which were pleasing to see brought to life on the big screen. The action was also some of the best I've seen in the DCEU in a long time, stretching the limits of plausibility while giving more than enough eye candy to satisfy action junkies. </p><p>I must of course acknowledge the fact that some of the things I just mentioned could very well be considered turnoffs by some. After all, not everyone I spoke to about that first film appreciated its more lighthearted take on the superhero genre or the little visual flourishes and gags that helped flesh out its underwater kingdom. This is to say that anyone expecting something less campy might be disappointed to see the movie fully lean into the camp. But if you liked what you got in <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2018/12/aquaman-movie-review.html">the first film</a> and are content with getting more of the same, then there is plenty to love about Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.</p><p>Looking back on the DCEU as a whole, it is clear that the franchise lacked any kind of cohesive vision tying together its cinematic universe, or that whatever grand plans or ideas that fueled early entries like Man of Steel and <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2016/03/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice-movie.html">Batman v Superman</a> were simply never given any room to grow or flourish. And that, in itself, is the true tragedy of the entire endeavor, that sense of loss at the thought of what could have been. But as far as final entries go, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom at least serves as a worthwhile last hurrah that I can easily recommend to fans of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2018/12/aquaman-movie-review.html">the first film</a> and anyone looking for some effects-heavy entertainment over the holidays.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-9240048377507636842023-11-10T00:15:00.012+01:002023-11-15T11:23:35.592+01:00The Marvels (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/M3-WT8gABDE/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M3-WT8gABDE?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p><br />As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues its expansion, one would be forgiven for having lost track of all the various movies and Disney+ shows that feed into its overall narrative. Long gone is the luster that once drove fans to devour each new entry, especially in the wake of the complete dumpster fire that was Secret Invasion. And it is in this environment that we now welcome The Marvels, a movie that serves not only as a sequel to 2019's <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2019/03/captain-marvel-movie-review.html">Captain Marvel</a> but as a follow-up to both WandaVision and Ms. Marvel as well. But does the new film signal a return to simpler times or has the franchise simply grown too big for its own good?<br /><br />The film has Brie Larson reprising her role as Carol Danvers, aka. Captain Marvel, except this time around, she is joined by WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and Ms.Marvel herself, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). The three women are brought together after a freak accident causes them to switch places whenever they use their powers. Meanwhile, the Kree are trying to restore their home planet, Hala, by siphoning resources from others just like it. And so our three heroes must go up against their leader, Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton) before she renders those other worlds inhospitable in the process.<br /><br />Heading into The Marvels, I was forced to keep my expectations about as low as they could realistically get. This was mainly due to news surrounding its release, with the film getting subjected to multiple release date changes as it underwent extensive reshoots amidst what was clearly a troubled production. So I'd hoped that Marvel Studios would be able to salvage something worthwhile out of all of it, or at least something worth the price of admission. But as I quickly found out during the movie, hopes and wishful thinking can only get you so far.<br /><br />Let me just start by saying that there are definitely things to admire about The Marvels. The film is heavy on action with more than enough set pieces peppered throughout its relatively brisk runtime. So those going into the movie solely for eye candy will get served plenty of it. It also marks the big-screen debut of Ms. Marvel and she was the clear standout amongst our trio of leads, bringing much of the same charm and charisma she was known for in her Disney+ show. Then the film has a very playful tone that some might find endearing especially if you enjoyed the humor in the two most recent Thor movies.<br /><br />It is just a shame that the narrative tying all of it together comes across as a jumbled mess of ideas. The story felt disjointed in the worst way possible, relying on too many flashbacks and exposition dumps to fill in crucial aspects of its plot. The worst part is a lot of the material that got relegated to those flashbacks could've made for a very compelling narrative in its own right. I can't get into specifics without getting into spoilers but I was ultimately disappointed with how the filmmakers had chosen to present the story. A lot of it is most likely a result of those extensive reshoots as it becomes obvious a lot of the story must have gotten reshaped and dumbed down in an attempt to make the film appeal to the broadest demographic possible.<br /><br />Tonally, the film was all over the place with some of its more heartfelt moments getting diluted by jokes and visual gags that fail to land. The film is also inconsistent with the way it depicts its heroes switching places, failing to respect its own rules in more than a few instances. The same can be said of the way it handles our heroes' power levels as I simply found it too hard of a pill to swallow that a hero of Captain Marvel's stature couldn't singlehandedly take down the villain. Then there is its jumbled-up script once again, which prevents its characters from getting anywhere near enough character development, especially the main villain, who is as one-note and one-dimensional as they come. All these things ultimately add up to make what could have been fun and decent come across as lame and cringe-inducing.<br /><br />The fact that The Marvels is not the worst thing to come out of the MCU recently speaks volumes about just how dire a state the entire franchise is in. The movie serves as yet another example of why the current quantity-over-quality approach being employed at Disney and Marvel Studios is neither favorable nor sustainable in the long run. The good news is both Bob Iger and Kevin Feige have acknowledged the need for greater quality control in all current and future projects. So hopefully this is the last of these watered-down, obligatory entries into the MCU that fans would have to endure going forward.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-42542088103127406162023-10-27T11:08:00.006+01:002023-10-28T05:49:53.850+01:00Five Nights at Freddy's (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wUPb117JR-M/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wUPb117JR-M?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br /><p>2023 has been a great year for video game adaptations. We've had the phenomenal The Last of Us on HBO Max, which was not only faithful to its source material but also managed to translate flawlessly into a serialized TV format. Then of course we also got <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/04/the-super-mario-bros-movie-movie-review.html">The Super Mario Bros. Movie</a>, a film that was an instant hit with fans, going on to gross more than a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. And now it seems that it is time for fans of Five Nights at Freddy's to get in on the action as the familiar band of killer animatronics makes the jump onto the big and small screen. But does the film capture that sense of dread the games are known for or does it instead bring back the dreaded video game movie curse?<br /><br />The film centers upon Mike Schmidt, a troubled young man who lands a job as a nighttime security guard at an abandoned family entertainment center called Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Unable to find a babysitter for his younger sister one night, he decides to bring her along with him to spend the night there. But it doesn't take long into his shifts before he realizes that its empty rooms and hallways are haunted after midnight by its eponymous animatronic mascot, along with three others just like it. Now he must do whatever he can to survive long enough to cash his paycheck.<br /><br />The Five Nights at Freddy's video games are renowned not only for their effective jump scares but for their lore-filled stories as well. And all that is presented to the player in a stripped-down presentation with very minimal setup or exposition. All you need to know is that you are a night guard at a defunct pizzeria who needs to fend off a group of killer animatronics in order to survive five nights as the title suggested. And while I've never actually played any of the games myself, I've still, like many others, watched enough Let's Plays on YouTube to understand what the noise is about.<br /><br />So heading into this long-awaited movie adaptation, I expected to see the same barebones approach to horror but with perhaps some more character development and buildup to better fill out the film's overall runtime. But in its quest to give our main characters some backstory, the movie gets bogged down in the kind of melodrama that makes its leads come across as dull and uncharismatic. It didn't exactly help that a lot of its dialogue felt forced and unnatural, serving largely to telegraph character intentions or foreshadow future events.<br /><br />All that can be forgiven of course, if the movie was at least self-aware enough to lean into its inherent cheesiness. This was in fact what had helped elevate Willy's Wonderland, another recent movie that was inspired by the Five Nights at Freddy's video games. But here we instead get a self-serious tone that often felt at odds with the ridiculousness of its onscreen action. And without the natural charms and star power of an actor like Nicolas Cage to help bridge that gap, it becomes increasingly difficult to care about any of it.<br /><br />This was never a problem in the video games mind you, mainly because the main character was there solely to serve as a surrogate for the player. This was why they worked so well in Let's Plays videos, as it allowed the player's reactions to the horrors it throws at them to come across to viewers in their purest form. And the film is sadly devoid of all the personality that the likes of PewDiePie and CoryxKenshin brought to those Let's Plays.<br /><br />This is not to say that the movie is without some fun moments. It was nice seeing Cory make a cameo as a taxi driver, complete with jump scares that were reminiscent of his own Let's Plays of the game. It is just that the film takes too long before anything remotely interesting happens. And even when the killings begin, they are confined by the limitations of its low-budget production and a PG-13 rating.<br /><br />Five Nights at Freddy's is about as dull as a video game adaptation can get without outright putting viewers to sleep. It completely squanders a simple yet interesting premise by sticking too closely to horror film conventions. And while it does faithfully recreate the various locations from the video games, as well as the animatronics that inhabit them, it still fails to convey their sense of dread or impending doom, nor does it successfully tap into the rich lore that continues to spark discourse among fans, at least not in any meaningful way.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-84774837157944898422023-10-20T23:55:00.013+01:002023-10-23T12:33:13.364+01:00Killers of the Flower Moon (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/28xqPYoSzVk/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/28xqPYoSzVk?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br /><p>As we enter into awards season, one can expect a good helping of Oscar-bait movies to find their way into cinemas. So while we've already had films like Oppenheimer and Air throwing their hats into the ring, most of the expected heavy hitters are only now starting to reveal themselves. And they don't really get much heavier than Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese's $200 million epic drama. But does the film put all that money to good use or is it simply overlong and overbudgeted?<br /><br />Based on the book of the same name, the film tells the story of the true-life events that came to be known as the Osage murders. It features an acting ensemble that includes Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. The former plays a man returning home from the war to help his uncle in the Osage Nation, a reserve largely owned and controlled by wealthy Native Americans. But after he marries into one such family at the behest of his uncle, he is soon pushed to go to any lengths to help secure the family inheritance.<br /><br />The first I'd heard of Killers of the Flower Moon was back when it was still being shopped around by Martin Scorsese. It immediately drew attention due to its $200 million price tag, an amount that was eventually raised when distribution rights were picked up by Apple TV+. But rather than relegate the film to their streaming platform, the company has chosen to give it a full theatrical release. This would no doubt go a long way in helping it recoup some of that cost as well as boosting its prospects for consideration at the various film awards.<br /><br />As for whether or not any of that money is on display during the movie itself, I'd say that it certainly feels just as epic and sprawling as it had set out to be. The film is beautifully shot as one would expect from a director of the caliber of Martin Scorsese. But unlike his previous film, The Irishman, which had made extensive use of CGI to de-age its main actors, this one has a harder time justifying its budget, especially in the wake of a film like <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/09/the-creator-movie-review.html">The Creator</a> which was several times more ambitious and cost half as much to make.<br /><br />This means that most of its production cost must have gone towards salaries for its stellar acting ensemble. Both Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro give what could be considered career-best performances but it was actually Lily Gladstone that serves as the film's emotional core. Her performance was restrained and yet powerful, evoking all the pain and suffering her character was made to go through. So I'll definitely be expecting to hear her name get called out among the nominees at next year's Oscars, along with the two other headliners. The fact that both Jesse Plemons and Brendan Fraser don't even make an appearance until well into the movie's runtime just shows just how stacked the cast is.<br /><br />Speaking of runtime, you do start to feel the film's overall length at nearly three and a half hours, especially during the second act when things began to drag a bit. But it is a testament to the tightly-written script that I was kept engaged for most of the movie regardless. It did sort of just fizzle out at the end though, right where one would expect a more pronounced climax and resolution, but I'll put that down to it being beholden to presenting the facts as close to the way they had happened in real life as it could, as opposed to something more cinematic or sensational.<br /><br />And that is another area where I feel the movie might alienate more casual viewers, in the way that it presents some of its facts with very little context, almost as though it expects that the viewer is already well versed in its subject matter. It also bears mentioning that the film might be a little too hard to stomach for some due to the deplorable nature of the killings alluded to by its title, as it never shies away from depicting each one in cold and graphic ways.<br /><br />Killers of the Flower Moon is as rewarding as it is challenging to watch. It forgoes traditional payoffs in favor of an examination of the evils people are capable of in their greedy pursuits. The fact that it is still able to pause long enough to allow the viewer to appreciate moments of beauty amidst all of its horrors helps keep it grounded and well out of the realm of being considered exploitative. But its length and dire subject matter might sadly keep it out of many people's comfort zones.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-4196961077663576492023-09-30T01:29:00.010+01:002023-09-30T17:35:06.464+01:00The Creator (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wboD80E556w/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wboD80E556w?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>With the summer movie season now in our rearview mirrors, moviegoers are no doubt on the lookout for the next big thing. This is especially true following recent delays from the likes of Kraven the Hunter and Dune: Part Two, brought on by the combined weight of the writers' and actors' strikes. And like a beacon of hope amidst the ongoing drought, Gareth Edwards steps in with his latest science fiction offering. But does the movie compare favorably with his previous outings or does it perhaps fall short of its lofty ambitions?<br /><br />In The Creator, humankind is once again at war with AI-powered machines. But before you roll your eyes and declare this yet another Terminator ripoff, at least consider that it attempts to throw a few twists into the mix of its well-worn formula. John David Washington plays Joshua Taylor, a former special forces agent who is brought back for a mission to destroy a war-ending weapon created by the machines. But when that weapon turns out to be a humanlike girl, he finds himself torn between carrying out his directive or protecting her from those who would like to see her and her kind made extinct.<br /><br />As simple as its premise appears at first glance, The Creator is a film that explores some very interesting ideas. Chief among them is the question of whether or not mankind could truly ever hope to co-exist with another intelligent species, even one of its own making. Its high-concept depiction of AI is one where robots are given almost humanlike qualities, making their integration into certain aspects of society all the more compelling, at least from a visual standpoint.<br /><br />And that is one area where the movie truly excels, in its production values. Its near-future world is brought to life through some truly impressive set designs and special effects. And with a reported budget of around $80 million, it immediately puts to shame other films with three times that amount and nothing to show for it. The various robots at the heart of its narrative were always captivating to look at, especially how they had taken on a diverse range of human qualities. <br /><br />Some of it didn't exactly make much practical sense though, like how they'd adopted our need for clothes or even the way we walk or need to go to bed at night. A good chunk of it reminded me of the robots in the video game, Stray, except those had a strong narrative reason for adopting our ways while these seemed mostly that way for aesthetic reasons. Either way, they added to a lot of the film's personality, along with the futuristic cities and beautiful countrysides they reside in. <br /><br />I'd be remiss if I didn't also acknowledge how the movie's visuals were complimented by yet another stellar score from Hans Zimmer as well as some clever use of licensed music. I immediately cracked a smile when Radiohead's "Everything in its Right Place" started to play as the Kid A opener and its underlying themes of existential dread perfectly mirror the journey our two leads are on.<br /><br />Speaking of leads, John David Washington was more than serviceable in the role of the reluctant father figure. It was also nice seeing Ken Watanabe in another Gareth Edwards production following their work together in Godzilla (2014). The director also proves once again why he is a force to be reckoned with in the science fiction realm, as much like <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2016/12/rogue-one-star-wars-story-movie-review.html">Rogue One</a>, his new film is helped by cool, new takes on preexisting concepts. But the area where I think the film suffers a bit is in its writing. <br /><br />There were a number of plot contrivances as quite a few character actions seemed beholden to the demands of the plot rather than any organic reasoning on the characters' parts. The final act in particular was plagued by too many of such instances for my liking, resulting in a manufactured and somewhat unsatisfying ending. And while that in itself isn't enough to truly mar the overall package, I still feel it ends up preventing it from achieving true greatness.<br /><br />The Creator is the exact type of film that the science fiction genre needs more of. It is an original IP that boasts an intriguing depiction of our future driven by a strong, creative vision. Some of it did tend to feel derivative of other works in the genre though, and for all of its gorgeous visuals and interesting concepts, it was still let down by a script that felt lacking in places. That said, the film should still satisfy genre fans looking for their next sci-fi fix, at least until Dune: Part Two resurfaces next spring.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-41713017307983635652023-08-18T23:59:00.007+01:002023-08-20T11:46:58.552+01:00Blue Beetle (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qO_8SLrEI4I/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qO_8SLrEI4I?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br />As the DCEU prepares to end its run with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom later this year, one might rightfully wonder if it is even worth investing in yet another last-minute entry. But yet here we are with Blue Beetle, a comparatively lesser-known character from the DC pantheon of superheroes. Originally scheduled to make its debut on HBO Max, the movie has been cleverly positioned by James Gunn as the first and possibly only character to make the jump from the older cinematic universe into the rebooted one. But does the new film give any meaningful glimpse at what we can expect from the DCU or was it merely a marketing ploy to get some butts in seats?<br /><br />The film stars Xolo Maridueña as Jaime Reyes, a young man who inadvertently gets hold of an ancient alien artifact called the Scarab. This would end up transforming him into the titular Blue Beetle, an androidlike being that is highly skilled in combat and capable of a number of superhuman feats. But when the original finders of the Scarab come knocking, seeking to weaponize his newfound abilities and profit off of them, Jaime will have to do whatever it takes to ensure that the other members of his close-knit family don't wound up as collateral damage.<br /><br />Heading into Blue Beetle, my expectations were about as low as they could get. Not only was the movie coming in the wake of a number of high-profile DC flops, but the overall quality of the films in the DCEU had been hit or miss as well. The marketing leading up to its release had also done nothing to get me on board. For all intents and purposes, the film looked like yet another generic superhero origin story with little to offer beyond hitting an arbitrary diversity quota. And while there is nothing wrong with studios endeavoring to have more diversity in their films, I still feel the films themselves and the stories they tell need to be able to stand on their own in terms of providing entertainment value.<br /><br />And in terms of pure entertainment value, Blue Beetle ranks on the lower end of the scale. Right off the bat, we are introduced to a pair of villains that are about as cookie-cutter as they come. Susan Sarandon in particular comes across as villainous for the sake of being villainous with hardly any nuances to her performance. They might as well have given her a mustache to twirl around with the way that the character was written and portrayed. The same can be said for most of the cast members. Xolo was adequate in the role of Jaime and George Lopez was about as obnoxious as I felt he was in the trailers. He did manage to garner the most laughs from the crowd in my screening, so your mileage may vary.<br /><br />The story in the movie itself is what I would refer to as aggressively okay. It ticks all the boxes one would expect from a superhero origin story but doesn't attempt to do much more than that. It offers very little in the way of surprises and a lot of its plot points were heavily telegraphed in overtly obvious ways. Perhaps some of this can be linked to its adherence to the source material but since I have never read the actual comic books the movie is based upon, I can only speculate. What I know for sure is that for someone who was not a preexisting fan, I came out of the movie feeling just as indifferent as I was going in.<br /><br />There is still some fun to be had in Blue Beetle, of course, don't get me wrong. It has the right amount of set-piece moments and laughs to keep most people engaged. But the jokes that landed are few and far between and the action, while largely serviceable, fails to reach the heights of some of its predecessors or offer anything we haven't already seen before. The only thing that truly attempts to help the movie stand out was a late revelation made regarding the past of one of its two main antagonists. Unfortunately, this comes a bit too late into the movie and my brain had all but already checked out by that point.<br /><br />Blue Beetle is a superhero origin story that barely manages to get off the ground. That it exists in a very strange middle ground between cinematic universes only further adds to the confusion regarding its wider significance. Whether or not we see any more of this iteration of the character would ultimately depend on how well it performs over the course of its theatrical run. But I honestly think it should have stayed as the direct-to-streaming movie it was originally intended to be as the final product simply does not do nearly enough to justify the price of admission.Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-53038833003874499652023-08-11T11:59:00.015+01:002023-08-12T13:58:43.465+01:00Heart of Stone (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PDZtY9umvgQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PDZtY9umvgQ?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br />The Netflix content machine is still chugging along like the well-oiled train that it aspires to be. And as anyone who has tried to browse through its massive catalog of movies could attest, its Netflix Originals in particular are pretty much hit or miss with varying levels of quality and entertainment value. But every now and then, you get a genuine diamond in the muck, a film that is so great that it helps justify your continued subscription to the streaming service. Unfortunately, Heart of Stone is not that movie.<br /><br />The film stars Gal Gadot as Rachel Stone, an MI6 agent with very little experience in the field. But unbeknownst to her teammates, she is actually far more skilled than her resume would let on. She is in fact a double agent also working for the Charter, a secret organization with the sole purpose of helping other agencies and world governments to keep the peace. But when the complex computer system that makes their clandestine operations possible falls into the wrong hands, Rachel will have to go rogue in her pursuit of the people responsible. <br /><br />With a plot that sounds like a hodgepodge of Mission: Impossible story beats, Heart of Stone can't help but feel derivative by design. The fact that it is coming from the very same production company responsible for <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/07/mission-impossible-dead-reckoning-part.html">Dead Reckoning Part One</a> only goes further to highlight that its writers might have been pulling from the very same well of ideas. This is not to say that that other movie would score any points for originality. After all, it was the seventh entry in a series that appears to have done it all at this point, a fact that is currently being reflected in its less-than-solid box office performance.<br /><br />But even in the realm of derivative spy thrillers, Heart of Stone still manages to sink toward the very bottom of the barrel. This is primarily because it is a movie that feels like it could have been cobbled together by the very same AI at the heart of its narrative. It tries to tick a number of arbitrary boxes, like having a strong, female protagonist to root for in the person of Gal Gadot, a generic villain with a mysterious past that ties into the central conflict, as well as a quippy sidekick to bring in some levity. You know, the way that most modern action movies on Netflix would. <br /><br />Except it doesn't endeavor to do anything more than the very bare minimum in each of those areas which results in a bland, uninspired movie-watching experience that barely manages to register or pass as entertainment. Add to that the fact that the movie often veers into full-blown campiness in the area of its characterization, with intelligence agents that lack intelligence and an overall ensemble that is driven by some of the most wooden performances I have seen all year, and you start to get an idea of just how poorly executed most of it feels. Even the music and song choices that fill out its soundtrack feel played out with its mix of forgettable pop songs and cookie-cutter compositions, none of which ever quite manage to elevate the on-screen action.<br /><br />Heart of Stone is Mission: Impossible at home. And unlike those other films which at least sought to push the boundaries for action movies within the constraints of their fairly formulaic trappings, this one seems content with merely adding to the sludge of Netflix Originals created to pad out its library. Perhaps it could have been salvaged if the filmmakers had opted to lean into its corny dialogue and inherent campiness and turned it into a fun, B-movie-styled parody of the genre. But as it currently stands, the movie lacks any kind of heart or soul and I can't recommend it as anything more than something to pass the time with on a slow Saturday afternoon.<br /><p></p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-15320143769935212482023-07-22T01:51:00.007+01:002023-07-24T13:50:09.855+01:00Oppenheimer (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qurY0s5twn8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qurY0s5twn8?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>Not many directors in Hollywood today can command the level of respect that Christopher Nolan gets. You only need to hear his name attached to a project for it to shoot up most people's most anticipated movies lists. This is a result of having consistently delivered great cinematic experiences like Dunkirk and Inception to name a few. So of course I was already onboard with Oppenheimer long before I even knew what the film was about. But does the film itself live up to the director's reputation or does it fall short of his incredibly high standards?<br /><br />Set over a period spanning the Second World War and the early years of the Cold War, the film tells the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist who was chosen to head the Manhattan Project. His work would lead to the development of the atomic bomb, a devastating nuclear weapon that would prove instrumental in bringing about the end of World War II. But as we learn over the course of the film, one does not flirt with such destructive power without psychological ramifications, and so the movie explores the moral quandaries of its titular character as he grapples with the dangers of the forces he has helped set into motion.<br /><br />It is hard to dive into any kind of critique of Oppenheimer without first spotlighting the actor that helped bring the whole thing to life. Cillian Murphy delivers what is arguably his best performance to date in the titular role of J. Robert Oppenheimer with an acting turn that can be considered both restrained and poignant. His every move and mannerism embodies the troubled mind of the genius scientist at the center of the film, showing that the actor has an acting range that rivals that shown by the very best thespians. I know it is still too early to call an Oscar nomination for the actor a lock but I'll be very surprised if his name doesn't get called out among the nominees at next year's ceremony.<br /><br />He was of course supported by a stacked cast of actors who likewise gave standout performances. Both Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh went the extra mile as the title character's two love interests while Robert Downey Jnr. in particular was almost unrecognizable as Lewis Strauss. There were a few actors like Rami Malek and Gary Oldman that I would have loved to see more of, but that would probably have meant the final cut of the film might have ended up even longer than the 3-hour theatrical cut we have presently.<br /><br />Going behind the camera now, props have to immediately go to Christopher Nolan for his handling of the script and source material. And in true Christopher Nolan fashion, he once again uses the recurring motif of time to tell the story in a nonlinear manner. The story is told in a series of flashbacks, with two separate hearings serving as a framing device, before the whole thing ultimately coalesces during its third act. But because it juggles between quite a number of characters and events spanning several years, a lot of it might be hard to follow for those not already familiar with those aspects of world history. It also takes a fair chunk of its 3-hour runtime before things truly kick into gear. But once it does, the narrative flows in a way that is scarcely seen in the realm of biographical dramas. In fact, one could almost liken it to watching a psychological thriller with the way it manages to keep you on the edge of your seat as its events unfold.<br /><br />But the area where Oppenheimer truly excels in my opinion is in its striking visuals, from the stunning black-and-white sections to the mostly practical effects that helped depict the sheer power and force of a nuclear explosion. It is all stuff you would want to see on the biggest, most premium screen available so do yourself a favor by heading down to your nearest IMAX theater or premium large format of choice. It also bears mentioning that all those incredible visuals were complimented by the cinematography, score, editing, and sound design, all of which come together to create an audio-visual experience worthy of the Christopher Nolan name.<br /><br />As far as character studies go, Oppenheimer is one of the best ones I've seen in years. It takes you on a journey into the very psyche of its subject matter, asking you to judge for yourself if his heart was truly in the right place. And like any good character study, it never shies away from showing the various vices and idiosyncrasies that helped define the man. But most remarkably, the movie manages to transcend the typical character study to become one of the finest cinematic experiences Christopher Nolan has crafted to date, so go out and experience it for yourself if you haven't already.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-25109434148125861112023-07-14T00:42:00.010+01:002023-07-17T11:25:44.728+01:00Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/786RFRvcs50/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/786RFRvcs50?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br /><p>After setting the box office on fire with <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/06/top-gun-maverick-movie-review.html">Top Gun: Maverick</a> last year, Tom Cruise is back in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One. This time around, he once again steps into the shoes of aging IMF agent, Ethan Hunt, who is on a new globe-trotting mission to save the world from those who would rather see it go up in flames. But having worn those shoes for seven movies spanning almost three decades, one has to wonder if they still manage to fit or if perhaps it is time for him to hang them up for good.<br /><br />Billed as the first of two halves, the film has Ethan going after the lost keys to a rogue artificial intelligence simply referred to as the Entity. With the ability to hack into any defense system in the world, it soon becomes the target of several competing governments and shadow organizations, each one planning to use it for their own nefarious needs. But when Ethan is faced with an adversary from his distant past, he'll be tested like never before as he pushes himself to do whatever it takes to complete the mission.<br /><br />The Mission: Impossible franchise has prided itself on thrilling moviegoers ever since the first movie came out in 1996. And with each subsequent entry, Tom Cruise and the various filmmakers involved have found increasingly inventive ways to up the ante. Except things wouldn't really get kicked into orbit until Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, a film that had the Hollywood star scaling the sides of the world's tallest building. And the franchise has continued to soar ever higher ever since, an ascent that would eventually crescendo with the phenomenal HALO jump and other stunts in 2018's <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2018/07/mission-impossible-fallout-movie-review.html">Mission: Impossible - Fallout</a>. <br /><br />So heading into Dead Reckoning Part One, I already had doubts that it could ever manage to match or surpass the highs of the previous one. This is despite following up on news of its production, which was impacted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as watching an extended behind-the-scenes look at its audacious motorcycle cliff jump. And while I feel that the final product didn't indeed match the thrills of the last one, it at least comes with its own bag of tricks, even though some of it did tend to feel like already-explored territory.<br /><br />We get the usual spy thriller staples like car chases and tense hand-to-hand combat encounters, all of which play out exactly how one would imagine for a film of that nature. But it is how these sequences are shot and edited that helps them feel alive and vibrant. The film is also well-paced for the most part, doling out such scenes at a steady enough cadence to keep most viewers engaged. I did start to feel the length of the movie over time though, especially while it took the needed time to explain the various twists and turns of its ever-evolving plot, and it took some time before the story truly kicked into gear.<br /><br />But once it did, it never truly lets up until the very end. And with the story being the first of two halves, I was afraid that perhaps they might end it on a cliffhanger without any real resolution to the ongoing conflict. Except I still ended up coming out of it feeling like I had eaten a full meal, which is more than I can say about most other movies that get split in two. A lot of ground was covered in this first half and just enough threads were left unresolved to keep me interested in seeing how the whole thing wraps up next year.<br /><br />In terms of acting and performance, Tom Cruise proves that he's still got what it takes, pulling absolutely no punches in his pursuit of delivering breathtaking stunts and top-of-the-line action scenes. I had to constantly remind myself that he was now in his 60s as I marveled at his latest feats of physicality. The fact that he is willing to risk life and limb for stunts that typically get put together with CGI in other films goes to show his commitment to the craft and his willingness to do whatever it takes to sell all of it to the audience. That level of dedication is rarely seen in the action film genre and for that reason alone, I hope that the movie gets to experience every bit of success that it deserves.<br /><br />Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is a solidly-crafted spy thriller that once again serves as a showcase for Tom Cruise as one of the very best action movie stars working today. That it does that while telling a timely, cautionary tale about the dangers of AI in today's society only goes further to add to its overall appeal. And while I felt it didn't quite hit the same level of sheer brilliance as past entries, or even other recent action films like <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/03/john-wick-chapter-4-movie-review.html">John Wick: Chapter 4</a>, I still feel it is a movie that is very much worth experiencing on the best cinema screen available.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-19728437410496352023-06-16T01:29:00.016+01:002023-06-16T18:51:44.926+01:00The Flash (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/AONiLUD0lqA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AONiLUD0lqA?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><div>The Flash finally graces cinemas this weekend after spending nearly a full decade in active development. But following the lukewarm reception Shazam! Fury of the Gods had received during its shortened theatrical run, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was just another remnant of the DCEU as started with Man of Steel back in 2013. The question then is does this new movie actually warrant going out to see or are you better off waiting for it to hit streaming or skipping it entirely?<br /><br />The film centers upon Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), the titular metahuman who is having trouble balancing his role as a member of the Justice League with working to prove his father's innonence in the case of his mother's death. And the fact that he is able to speed through the world around him isn't exactly helping. But when he inadvertently discovers that he also has the ability to phase through time, he makes the decision to travel back in time to save his mother from dying in the first place. Except this ends up having dire consequences on the current timeline as well as wide-reaching ramifications for the multiverse as a whole.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stop me if it sounds like you've heard that plot synopsis before because it sure seems like multiverses are Hollywood's current obsession. And in the wake of the recently-released <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/06/spider-man-across-spider-verse-movie.html">Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</a>, the bar of quality has been raised tremendously high for these types of movies. Gone are the days when a few throwaway cameos and visual gags were all it took to get us hooked and invested. Nowadays, audiences are sophisticated enough to demand that those cameos serve the narrative ala <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/12/spider-man-no-way-home-movie-review.html">Spider-Man: No Way Home</a> or at the very least bring something of substance to the movie.</div><div><br /></div><div>I say all that to explain how the landscape had changed since the first trailer for The Flash dropped and why I had approached the film with some measure of apprehension, even as I was eager to see how it would build upon the events of the DCEU and the larger DC library of stories. I basically wanted to know what it did with the foundation already laid by Zack Snyder and others and if it pushed the narrative forward in any meaningful way or if it merely served as the reset button for the franchise many believed that it was.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thankfully, it didn't take too long into the movie before I discovered that I had very little to worry about. Director Andy Muschietti clearly has a deep understanding of the title character as well as the famous Flashpoint storyline and he indeed manages to do both justice (no pun intended) over the course of his movie. The film respects the existing canon while still finding fun and inventive ways to expand upon it. A lot of it can be considered nostalgia bait though, as it did tend to lean heavily into the Easter eggs and references without really giving most of it any real narrative weight.</div><div><br /></div><div>The film also has some truly impressive action setpieces that rank as some of the very best in the DCEU. The Flash's abilities are used to great effect throughout the film and they never ceased to be fun to look at. The third act did fall into the trap of being too reliant on spectacle though and the stylistic way some of the CGI characters were rendered might rub some people the wrong way as it creates an uncanny valley effect that feels out of place in a production of this size and budget.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the area where the film really excels in my opinion is in its heartfelt narrative. As tired as the time travel trope might be nowadays, it is the very real emotions that propel our heroes to do the things they do that kept me most engaged with the movie. Their real-life shenanigans asides, Ezra Miller absolutely shines in the dual role of Barry Allen. It was also nice to see both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton reprise their respective roles as Batman, although a part of me wishes that the former was given a bit more to do in the film.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Flash is the closest thing to a fitting swansong that the DCEU could possibly hope to get at this point. It is also a fun and action-packed superhero romp in its own right, one that is elevated by the performance of its lead star. Whether you choose to go out and see it should probably come down to how much you valued the entries that came before it. And as a fan of the overall DCEU, barring one or two weaker installments, I'd say it is one of the better ones in the entire collection.</div>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-11704167713295861382023-06-02T22:40:00.013+01:002023-06-03T13:32:58.160+01:00Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7WYlRhPVOsY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7WYlRhPVOsY?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>Spider-Man swings his way back into cinemas this weekend in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. This is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the Academy Award-winning <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2018/12/spider-man-into-spider-verse-movie.html">Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse</a>, a movie that not only introduced moviegoers to Miles Morales but showed us that he was just as capable as the various Peter Parkers that came before him. And like any good sequel worth its salt, this one sets out to expand on the titular Spider-Verse while giving fans more of what they really loved about the first film. But does it manage to achieve either of those two goals or has it perhaps grown too big for its own good?<br /><br />The film is set a year and a half after the events of the previous one with Miles (voiced by Shameik Moore) still struggling to juggle between schoolwork and his duties as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. In that time, he has amassed his very own rogues gallery of villains as well as some notoriety. He is soon sucked into a brand-new multiverse-spanning adventure with a fresh cast of Spider-People along with some returning favorites. And with a new arch nemesis hellbent on revenge to contend with, Miles would quickly find out that he needs all the help that he can get.<br /><br />My expectations heading into Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse were about as high as you can imagine being the massive Spider-Man fan that I am. The first film had immediately won me over with its uniquely beautiful animation style which sought to replicate the look and feel of a comic book within a three-dimensional space. But it was its heartfelt story and great characterization that ultimately made it one of my favorite films of 2018, long before it went on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. And since then, Spider-Man fans have been treated to gem after gem across the various entertainment media with video games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and live-action movies like the two most recent ones in the MCU.<br /><br />But just when I thought things had gotten as good as they could get in <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/12/spider-man-no-way-home-movie-review.html">Spider-Man: No Way Home</a>, the crew at Sony Animation scoffed and asked us to hold their beer. Because you'll have to believe that I am not being hyperbolic when I say that this is now possibly my favorite Spider-Man movie of all time. That's high praise indeed considering that Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2 had held the title of my favorite comic book movie since its release in 2004. And much like that movie had managed to take its predecessor to the next level, this one shoots everything that came before it into the stratosphere.<br /><br />The animation is just as vibrant as it was in the first film with each variant of Spider-Man given their own unique animation style. This extends to the worlds they inhabit as well, with each one sporting a distinct look and feel. It would appear like we've been inundated by a heavy dose of multiversal adventures lately, between the MCU's recent movies and the impending release of the DCEU's The Flash. But nowhere has the multiverse been as clearly and as fully realized as it is here, not even in the Best Picture-winning <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/05/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-movie.html">Everything, Everywhere, All at Once</a>.<br /><br />But the real highlight in my opinion is once again the stellar characterization. Miles is as fully formed as he has ever been and we get to watch him grow even further into his Spider-Man-sized shoes. We also gain new insight into Gwen Stacy's backstory with the film spending a significant portion of its runtime fleshing out her character. The same holds true for several new characters like Miguel O'Hara and The Spot, although fans of the first film might wonder what happened to the likes of Peni Parker and Peter Porker, but at least they'll get to instead witness Peter ParkedCar in all its glory. And no, I'm not making that up. <br /><br />Another highlight worth mentioning is the curated soundtrack by Metro Boomin, several songs from which could be heard playing throughout the film. The one that stuck out to me the most was Mona Lisa by Dominic Fike, with its earworm melodies fitting the joyous thrill of watching both Miles and Gwen swing through New York like a glove.<br /><br />The only real criticism I can give to Across the Spider-Verse is the fact that it ends on a cliffhanger as it sets the stage for what is sure to be an epic conclusion in Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse next year. Its extended runtime also keeps the movie from feeling as punchy and precise as its predecessor even though it does manage to cram in a lot of characterization and world-building into that runtime, not to mention the countless Easter eggs that are sure to have diehard fans going back to watch the movie over and over again.<br /><br />It's a great time to be a Spider-Man fan and nowhere is that more evident than in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The film serves as another celebration of the webslinger's storied history even as it attempts to tie it all together in its very ambitious narrative web. That it largely succeeds while doing so speaks to a deep understanding of the superhero and his various iterations as well as a mastery of the art of storytelling by all those involved in crafting the film. This is the Spider-Man film to rule all Spider-Man films and one can only wonder where they could possibly take things next.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-14504503852443479012023-05-19T00:58:00.008+01:002023-06-03T13:33:57.918+01:00Fast X (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Dq4MsNu99lY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dq4MsNu99lY?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>Dominic Toretto and his family of street racers return in Fast X, the tenth entry in the mainline Fast and Furious franchise. And after watching them literally fly a car into orbit in the last film, my immediate question heading into this one was what new ridiculous stunts could the filmmakers possibly have planned to top that. The keyword here is ridiculous of course, because these films clearly left the realm of plausibility behind several entries ago. But does their pursuit to up the ante with this latest installment come at the price of a sensible script with tangible stakes, or was it redeemed by the power of family?<br /><br />As is now a tradition in these Fast and Furious movies, Fast X begins by retconning a new villain into the current timeline. So cue a flamboyant Jason Momoa as Dante, son of slain drug lord Herman Reyes from Fast Five, who like those that came before him now seeks revenge against Dom and the rest of the family. But unlike prior adversaries, Dante would quickly prove to be unhinged enough to do whatever it takes to get that revenge, even if it means eliminating all and any that stand in his way.<br /><br />A film like Fast X almost demands to be appraised by its own rules. Either that or you'll constantly find yourself struggling to grapple with its disregard for basic inconveniences like the laws of physics, or the way our heroes tear through cities full of people without batting an eyelash at the stacks of bodies they leave in their wake. The last film explored the idea that our main characters might even be godlike beings who can perform superhuman feats, and it seems that this one fully embraces that idea, for better or worse.<br /><br />I guess this is my way of saying if you weren't a fan of the prior entries, then there is nothing in this new one that could possibly work to win you over. You are either along for the ride from the very beginning or you'll feel like you are being dragged along against your will. I find myself somewhere between those two extremes, having enjoyed past entries like Fast Five and Furious 7 while completely hating Fate of the Furious. So I was indeed very surprised by just how much enjoyment I was able to glean out of Fast X.<br /><br />The plot is just as nonsensical as it has ever been of course, don't get me wrong, and the script almost feels AI-generated at points, with cheesy dialogue and leaps of logic galore. There is a near-constant barrage of meaningless fight scenes that end just as abruptly as they began, making one wonder if they were simply inserted into the movie to keep viewers engaged. The sound mix was also messed up during action scenes, making it hard to hear what characters are saying over the sound effects and music, although I'm not sure if that was from the movie itself or the particular screening I went for.<br /><br />But it was clear to me that in the midst of all that madness that the all-star cast was simply having a blast hamming it up in those scenes. And it was their enjoyment that I found most infectious, almost making the cheesiness excusable. Notice I'd said almost because there is simply no excuse for some of the atrocities I had to endure during the movie. If you've watched any of the trailers then you probably already know what I am talking about. But believe me when I say that none of those trailers were enough to prepare me for what was to come.<br /><br />At nearly two hours and thirty minutes, the movie feels overlong. The worst part is that it doesn't even manage to tell a complete story in all that time, as it quickly becomes apparent that this was all set up for another inevitable sequel. And if what Vin Diesel himself had alluded to during the recent premiere of the film is to be believed, then we might be getting not one but two of those sequels. But if you enjoy watching CGI cars and explosions get thrown around the screen with reckless abandon, then maybe that's the exact type of news you want to hear.<br /><br />Fast X can be summed up in three words: fun but exhausting. It ticks all the requisite boxes that make for some good, mindless action but does so without managing to move the franchise forward in any meaningful way. It makes the most of its worn-out premise by leaning heavily into the star power of its cast members, especially Jason Momoa. The decision to end the film with a literal cliffhanger might not bode well for those that like to have some closure in the films they watch though, but there is a mid-credits scene that will all but ensure that fans will be back for the next round of vehicular madness.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-24581546867631099372023-05-06T02:27:00.012+01:002023-05-08T06:23:21.816+01:00Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v2khtt6hFeM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v2khtt6hFeM?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been a mixed bag of late. For every <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/12/spider-man-no-way-home-movie-review.html">Spider-Man: No Way Home</a>, it seems we've gotten at least three less competently put-together sequels like <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/02/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania-movie.html">Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</a>. This is primarily why I approached Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 with a measure of uncertainty. The first film had taken the MCU in a bold, new direction while its sequel had served as a somewhat worthy follow-up. But given the current direction of the MCU or its lack thereof, the third film definitely feels like it's got its work cut out for it. So does it manage to right a ship that is clearly veering off course or does it succumb to the growing sense of superhero fatigue?<br /><br />The film picks up right where the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special left off with the eponymous team now taking up residence in the severed head of a dead celestial known as Knowhere. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is still struggling to come to terms with the death of the original Gamora (Zoe Saldana), spending his days drinking himself into a stupor. But after Rocket (Bradley Cooper) becomes the target of a mad scientist called the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), through a powerful mercenary named Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), Peter must work together with the rest of the Guardians to protect their good friend and comrade.<br /><br />It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that a lot was riding on James Gunn to deliver another homerun with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. You only need to look at the box office performance of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/02/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania-movie.html">Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</a> to see just how dire a position the MCU is in. Gone is the magic that once drew fans to these movies in record numbers or at least so it would seem. Basically every sequel since <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/05/doctor-strange-in-multiverse-of-madness.html">Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness</a> has seen diminishing returns compared to its predecessor. But I would put that down to the quality of the storytelling in the recent crop of movies, which appears to have taken a nosedive, than any actual sense of superhero fatigue.<br /><br />The real question then is how does the new Guardians of the Galaxy compare to the old ones. Well, I am happy to report that it compares quite favorably. I might even go as far as declaring that it is a return to form for the overall MCU, although I'll hold off until I've gotten a chance to see The Marvels before making such a declaration. The film not only captures the essence of what made the previous Guardians movies great, namely the top-notch characterization and killer soundtrack, but it also isn't afraid to take audiences to some very dark and disturbing places. <br /><br />The film functions as both an origin story for Rocket, whose existing ties to the High Evolutionary are explored through flashbacks, as well as a final outing for the current iteration of the ragtag team. So do with that information what you will. Just know that the movie tugs on your heartstrings from the very beginning and it doesn't let up until the very end. It is also one of the most violent movies in the MCU and I could definitely see a lot of James Gunn's sensibilities on display. But it is how he is able to balance all that out that makes him one of the more gifted directors of superhero films working today. <br /><br />The action scenes are as sharply stylized as they've ever been especially one extended beatdown sequence that was set to the Beastie Boy's "No Sleep Till Brooklyn." Likewise, the entire soundtrack feels meticulously curated by hand, with each song lending the on-screen drama and action additional weight. Considering that this is most likely James Gunn's final contribution to the MCU, having since taken up the position of co-CEO at the newly-minted DC Studios, I would say that he has managed to go out with one hell of a bang.<br /><br />About the only thing that I can really fault the movie for is that it doesn't always appear to make the best use of some of its characters. The core team of Guardians get to shine of course, even newer additions like Kraglin and Cosmo. But characters like Adam Warlock barely get enough screen time, making them feel tacked on or written into the story after the fact. Some others were just thrown in for a quick cameo with no real bearing on the plot. And while I was never a fan of the decision to bring Gamora back after Avengers: Endgame, I was at least surprised by how her inclusion in this movie had played out.<br /><br />Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a near-perfect sendoff for the MCU's most unlikely heroes. The film earns every minute of its two hours and thirty minutes runtime and somehow still leaves you wanting more. This is the most fun I've had with a Marvel movie since <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/12/spider-man-no-way-home-movie-review.html">Spider-Man: No Way Home</a> and that's including the various highs that came with entries like <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/05/doctor-strange-in-multiverse-of-madness.html">Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness</a>. It serves as a stark reminder as to why I'd fallen in love with these MCU films in the first place and it shows that there is still some magic left to be found in the aging franchise.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-89549576076599484972023-04-07T22:16:00.028+01:002023-04-14T09:00:34.722+01:00The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wEi3JlpWzdU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wEi3JlpWzdU?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br />In terms of recognizable video game IP, it doesn't get much bigger than Super Mario Bros. This is why from the moment it was announced that the iconic duo would be once again gracing the big screen, I was cautiously optimistic. After all, the 1993 live-action movie had left a bad taste in many people's mouths, even as the trailers for the new one appeared to promise a far more faithful adaptation. But does the new film set a new high score for video game adaptations as a whole or is it the latest victim of the dreaded video game movie curse?<br /><br />The film centers upon the titular Super Mario Bros., a pair of small-time plumbers from Brooklyn. After getting sucked down a warp pipe during a particularly tasking job, they both wind up on opposite ends of a strange, magical world. There, Mario (Chris Pratt) must not only struggle to reunite with Luigi (Charlie Day), but he must also contend with the looming threat of Bowser (Jack Black), the king of the Koopas whose mission of love and conquest could very well spell doom for the inhabitants of the Mushroom Kingdom.<br /><br />Since its debut on the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Super Mario games have been known for their imaginative worlds and the cast of colorful creatures and characters that call those worlds home. So heading into The Super Mario Bros. Movie, I was most eager to see all of it brought to life by the talented team of artists at Illumination. And right out of the gate, the movie dazzles in a way that only the very best animated films manage to. The Mushroom Kingdom has never looked as crisp or vibrant, and that extends to its many inhabitants as well, almost making this an early lock for a Best Animated Feature Film nomination at next year's Oscars.<br /><br />The same attention to detail had also gone into crafting the sound and music in the film, with many recognizable themes by Koji Kondo and others being lifted directly from the games and worked into the overall score. The film also employs all the sound cues one would expect from a Super Mario game, as well as licensed music from popular 80s hits like "Take on Me" by a-ha or Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time." But by far the best song in the entire movie was a surprisingly heartfelt piano ballad called "Peaches" by Jack Black. The song channels the actor's singing and comedy chops from his time spent in Tenacious D and it had me in complete stitches all through its performance.<br /><br />Regarding the voice cast, I think everyone did a more-than-adequate job in their roles. Despite my initial concerns regarding Chris Pratt voicing Mario, I found that his take on the character quickly grew on me and his lack of the stereotypical Italian accent was explained fairly early on in the film. Charlie Day was equally effective as Luigi, although he didn't get nearly as much screen time as the other actor. But once again, the true standout of the bunch was Jack Black, who succeeded in infusing Bowser with his signature humor without compromising on the goofy menace the character is known for in the games.<br /><br />Speaking of the games, perhaps it is somewhat appropriate that the film had debuted over the Easter holiday since it is absolutely crammed with Easter eggs and references to the various games in the series. I lost count of how many subtle nods to things from the games I could immediately identify, from their various sound bites to all the ones hidden in plain sight. Each scene is practically brimming with so many callbacks that I suspect it will require multiple viewings or rewatches to catch them all. But the ones I did manage to catch during my initial viewing had me grinning from ear to ear. <br /><br />About the only thing I can really fault The Super Mario Bros. Movie for is its nearly breakneck pacing. The film hurtles through some of its scenes so quickly that you don't really get enough time to appreciate all of the work that went into them. And while the story itself, like the ones in the games, might also leave a lot to be desired by way of character development or its lack thereof, I still think it manages to tick all the requisite boxes while hitting all the emotional beats one might expect from what is effectively a kid's movie. <br /><br />The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a more-than-worthy adaptation of one of gaming's biggest icons. It serves as an overall celebration of the Super Mario franchise with its many Easter eggs and top-of-the-line animation. It is clear that its filmmakers know what their target audience wants and they've gone above and beyond to deliver just that. There is no doubt that this is just the start of something potentially huge for the series though and as such, it should be counted as another win for video game adaptations as a whole. Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-26126144441626959832023-03-27T08:17:00.007+01:002023-03-27T15:37:36.536+01:00Shazam! Fury of the Gods (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YqJCr4gZXfc/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YqJCr4gZXfc?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>The DCEU is officially dead, folks. Or at least it is currently suffering its biggest financial failure in the form of Shazam! Fury of the Gods. I finally got to see the movie for myself this past weekend, after being forced to sit out its opening weekend due to the unrest surrounding elections here in Nigeria. And while <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2019/04/shazam-movie-review.html">I'd thoroughly enjoyed the first film</a>, I had approached the sequel with a healthy dose of skepticism. This was mainly because its trailers and overall marketing had failed to sell it as anything more than another generic superhero flick. But did the actual movie deserve better than the poor hand it had obviously been dealt?<br /><br />The film continues the misadventures of Billy Batson, a teenage orphan (Asher Angel) imbued with the ability to turn into an adult-sized superhero (Zachary Levi). He now works to protect the people of his city along with his foster siblings, having decided to share his powers with them at the end of the last movie. But as it turns out, the source of those powers can be traced back to a titan named Atlas. And now his daughters, Hespera and Kalypso (Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu respectively), would stop at nothing to get those powers back for their own nefarious needs.<br /><br />I guess I need to start by saying that I actually enjoyed my time with Shazam! Fury of the Gods, a lot more than I thought I would. The film tapped into most of the things that made <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2019/04/shazam-movie-review.html">the first one</a> so great, like its lighthearted humor and overall sense of charm. And while it lacked the first one's heart and emotional pull, it tries to compensate with more action and spectacle. So if watching a giant dragon wreck an entire city is your type of jam, then chances are you'll find much to love in this Shazam! sequel too.<br /><br />With that out of the way, it is fair to say that Shazam! Fury of the Gods was pretty much dead on arrival. Not only had last year's Black Adam left a bad taste in many people's mouths, it also didn't help that James Gunn had announced a full reboot of the overall DCEU before the new film even got to see the light of day. All this worked together to make the film feel inconsequential. Most people have already deemed it unworthy of checking out at the cinema. And who can blame them, when the company behind the film itself didn't seem to know what to do with it either? <br /><br />Between all the delays and shifts in release dates, it was clear that Warner Bros. didn't have much confidence in the film. A part of me feels the movie would have probably done better had it simply been released alongside Avatar 2 in December as once intended when walk-in ticket sales are typically at their highest. After all, a rising tide lifts all boats and those who weren't able to secure tickets to the James Cameron effects extravaganza could have opted to see this one instead.<br /><br />But hindsight is 20/20 like they say and the fact remains that the new Shazam is going to lose quite a bit of money at the end of the day. What that means for the prospect of subsequent entries or appearances by the character in the newly-minted DCU remains to be seen. But I am now more curious than ever to see how the other remnants of the old DCEU perform later this year. There has been much buzz surrounding The Flash, so I'll definitely be checking that one out on Day 1. As for Blue Beetle and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, only time will tell.<br /><br />Shazam! Fury of the Gods feels like an unfortunate product of an already-dead franchise. This is despite the fact that its filmmakers had done everything they could to craft an entertaining follow-up to the first film in the series. And while it is easy to point fingers regarding its financial woes, it is still a shame that it never got the fighting chance that it so clearly deserved. So even though there is plenty of fun to be had with the movie, especially if you were a fan of the first one, I still find it hard to recommend it over some of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2023/03/john-wick-chapter-4-movie-review.html">the other stellar blockbusters</a> currently playing at the cinemas.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-20545690071443980632023-03-25T00:17:00.016+01:002023-03-25T17:59:38.809+01:00John Wick: Chapter 4 (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cS6FGHKaFGU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cS6FGHKaFGU?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><br />The Baba Yaga returns in John Wick: Chapter 4. And as a big fan of the three prior entries in the series, I thought I knew what to expect heading into this latest one. But as I've also come to discover in my many years as a cinephile, more of the same is not necessarily a bad thing. So the question then is does the new John Wick movie match the thrills of its predecessors, or does it perhaps even manage to find new or inventive ways to exceed them?<br /><br />The film follows the events of the last one, which if you remember had ended with a battered and bruised John Wick vowing to get revenge against the High Table, the organization that controls the criminal underworld he has been dragged back into. But like all things in life, this pursuit does not come without its own share of consequences. So before we know it, John is faced with his greatest challenge yet, one that would test the bounds of old and new friendships alike. And all that while the bounty on his head continues to rise higher in response to the stacks of bodies he leaves in his wake.<br /><br />The John Wick films have always had a certain B-movie level appeal to them, with their revenge-driven plots, high-octane action scenes, and impressive stuntwork. But what really works to set them apart from other films of that ilk is their excellent world-building. Everything from the operations of the hotel Continental and the various rules and regulations that govern the High Table speaks to a larger-than-life mythology. And all through the series, the writers and director have always strived to shed more light on its world while gunning to outdo their previous effort.<br /><br />The same is definitely true of John Wick: Chapter 4, a movie that barely ever takes its foot off the pedal over the course of its nearly three hours runtime. From the moment we catch up with the titular assassin preparing for bloody retribution, to the film's highly-kinetic third act, your mind is barely given any room to wander or lose interest. And while that might sound like overkill to some, it is simply true that its filmmakers know precisely what its audience wants, namely some creative action set pieces and a cast of colorful characters worth investing in.<br /><br />And the new John Wick film delivers all of that in spades. Each new set piece manages to upstage the last, as though the filmmakers had challenged themselves to find increasingly creative ways for John Wick to dispatch his foes before the whole thing eventually culminates in a surprisingly emotional showdown. A few of those set pieces might seem like variations of what came before, but trust me when I say you haven't seen action done quite like this.<br /><br />And all of it is framed by some of the best cinematography I have seen in the genre. There is one particular shootout that takes place inside an abandoned building that looks like it was ripped straight out of Hotline Miami. The sound design and music that accompany these sequences also deserve mention, though chances are you might be too busy wincing at the bone-crunching stunts to notice that. The whole thing does threaten to become overwhelming before long, but to simply call the action in the movie over-the-top or relentless does a disservice to the level of love and care that has clearly gone into crafting each and every scene.<br /><br />John Wick: Chapter 4 is the most fun I have had in a cinema in years. It takes the series to new heights as it builds upon everything that came before it. Most other franchises would be in danger of losing steam or becoming repetitive by their fourth entries, but this one shows that it still has more than a few tricks up its sleeves. So if we don't get any further installments following this most recent round of cinematic bloodshed, then I am at least glad that the franchise has been able to go out with one hell of a bang.<p></p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-17787295158148388242023-02-17T06:59:00.014+01:002023-02-18T08:29:56.622+01:00Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Movie Review)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OpFZ2JgEqUs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="400px" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OpFZ2JgEqUs?autoplay=0&feature=player_embedded" width="100%"></iframe></div><p>Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has officially begun with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. And while the previous phase did have some highlights like <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/09/shang-chi-and-legend-of-ten-rings-movie.html">Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings</a>, as well as <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/12/spider-man-no-way-home-movie-review.html">Spider-Man: No Way Home</a>, I still came out of the whole thing somewhat disappointed. That was mostly due to a perceived lack of direction or much of the connective tissue fans have come to expect from the aging franchise. So does the new film begin the process of righting the ship, or does it merely compound the existing problems of an ever-expanding universe?<br /><br />The film finds Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) enjoying his newfound fame following his involvement in the events of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2019/04/avengers-endgame-movie-review.html">Avengers: Endgame</a>. But after being stuck in the Quantum Realm for 5 years, he struggles to make up for all the lost time with his daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton), who has since grown up to be both a rebel and a brilliant scientist. During one of her experiments, she inadvertently ends up sending herself, Scott, and the members of the Van Dyke family into the Quantum Realm where they encounter an entire civilization of otherworldly beings. Now they must all work together to escape, even as they are faced with their greatest adversary yet.<br /><br />The Ant-Man movies have traditionally held a unique place in the overall MCU, with their comparatively smaller stakes and focus on a particular blend of action and humor. As such, they've often served as palate cleansers between the larger cosmic-level events that define much of the franchise. All that changes with Quantumania though, a movie that serves as another introduction to Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors). For those that remember, he had previously appeared at the end of Loki Season 1 as He Who Remains. But this time around, we see a far more sinister depth to the character.<br /><br />He is currently being positioned as the next Thanos-level threat in the MCU, at least if the title of forthcoming installments like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is anything to go by. And on those grounds, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania succeeds in showing us why we should care. It also offers us our first real glimpse at anything resembling some connective tissue between the films in The Multiverse Saga (Phase 4 - 6). Loki had introduced the concept of variants and multiple timelines, while both Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness had established the concept of parallel universes (or the multiverse as they are known in the MCU). <br /><br />This one begins the process of tying it all together, even though one could say it does so in a somewhat messy or convoluted way. Without getting into spoilers, the film sometimes felt overwhelming with its various sci-fi concepts and it frequently buckles under the weight of all the exposition it needed to make any of it make sense. But at least it never ceased to be fun or pleasing to look at, with far more creatures on display than any of the other MCU entries. It does lose some of the perspective-shifting thrills of the other Ant-Man films though, and their ability to make mundane objects and everyday settings look large and otherworldly.<br /><br />The film also had some surprise cameos and returning characters from the prior installments, as well as some glaring omissions. Michael Pena's presence as Luis in particular was sorely missed, especially since the character has pretty much grown to define the tone of the Ant-Man films, with his over-the-top narration and flashback sequences. But I can see why he and the other members of the gang were ultimately left out of the new film even though a part of me wishes they had found a way to fit them in.<br /><br />Speaking of things that didn't quite make it into the movie, you'll want to stick around for both the mid and post-credit scenes as I believe they set the stage for what is to come during the next two phases. Recent MCU stingers have admittedly felt disconnected from one another so it is nice to see ones that carry enough weight to make me feel eager to see what comes next.<br /><br />Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania proves that the MCU still has a long way to go before it can get back to the pure thrills and exhilaration of its glory days. But at least it can be considered another pivotal step in that general direction. It might feel like yet another throwaway film in the MCU but I can see its true importance reveal itself as more information is doled out over the course of subsequent entries. And while it serves as a fun, standalone adventure in its own right, it remains to be seen if the current saga would be taking fans to any kind of a worthwhile destination.</p>Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2084854862657842183.post-56012737342237491362023-01-02T00:00:00.332+01:002023-01-02T04:15:44.728+01:00My Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies for 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to 2023. A new year means a fresh slate of movies to keep us entertained over the course of the next 365 days. Whether you plan on braving your nearest cinema or staying home with your streaming service of choice, there's plenty for you to choose from. But not all movies are created equally and chances are you will not have enough time to see every single movie that releases this year.</p><p>This is why I like to keep track of those movies I am looking forward to the most at the start of any given year. Those that read <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/01/my-top-10-most-anticipated-movies-for.html">my list from last year</a> might spot a few returning entries, owing to the fact that those movies had been delayed into 2023. Blame it on the lingering effects of cinemas <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2020/03/we-need-to-talk-about-coronavirus.html">shutting down for nearly a year</a>. But without further ado, here are my Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies for 2023.<br />
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10. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</h3>
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Disney kicks off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantumania on the 17th of February. But considering just how divisive some of the films and TV shows that made up the fourth phase had proven, a lot is riding upon this one to right the ship and start the new phase on a high note. The Ant-Man films aren't considered top-shelf MCU but I'm still hoping that this one manages to do justice with its introduction of Kang the Konqueror. <br />
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<h3>9. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny<br /></h3>
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Harrison Ford returns to one of his most iconic roles in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The film is meant to serve as his final hurrah as the world-famous archaeologist. It is also the first in the series not to be directed by Steven Spielberg, with James Mangold stepping in instead. And through the magic of de-aging technology, this latest adventure promises to be more in line with the earlier films in the series (because the less said about Kingdom of the Crystal Skull the better).<br />
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8. The Flash</h3>
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<br />The Flash is a film that looks like it just can't catch a break. Originally slated to release all the way back in 2018, the movie has suffered numerous production delays. Add to that all the ongoing shakeups over at the newly-minted DC Studios, not to mention the controversy surrounding Ezra Miller, and you have to wonder if it is ever going to see the light of day. But word on the street is that the actual film was received very well by test audiences, so fingers crossed that it finally makes it out this year.<br />
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7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3</h3>
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While there hasn't exactly been a shortage of Guardians of the Galaxy appearances since <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2017/05/guardians-of-galaxy-vol-2-movie-review.html">Vol. 2</a> (if I'm correct, they've been in both <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2018/04/avengers-infinity-war-movie-review.html">Avengers: Infinity War</a> and <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2019/04/avengers-endgame-movie-review.html">Avengers: Endgame</a>, I am Groot, <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/07/thor-love-and-thunder-movie-review.html">Thor: Love and Thunder</a>, and the recent Holiday Special since then), the ragtag team is back once again for their next full-fledged adventure. And James Gunn returns to direct after he was briefly fired back in 2018, so we can expect more of his signature humor and focus on fleshed-out characters.<br />
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6. Oppenheimer</h3>
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<br />Not many filmmakers are as ambitious as Christopher Nolan who is known for often pushing the boundaries of what can be accomplished with practical effects. For his latest film, he tackles the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man responsible for creating the atomic bomb. So you can bet that I am interested in seeing what wizardry he works up to bring all that to life, short of detonating an actual atom bomb. He did after all crash a real plane for <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2020/09/tenet-movie-review.html">Tenet</a> so we shouldn't put anything past him.<br />
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5. The Super Mario Bros. Movie</h3>
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<br />Video game movies have been faring a lot better than usual lately, with films like <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2019/05/detective-pikachu-movie-review.html">Detective Pikachu</a> and the two <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2020/02/sonic-hedgehog-movie-review.html">Sonic movies</a> serving as shining examples. Even more middling affairs like last year's <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2022/02/uncharted-movie-review.html">Uncharted</a> have managed to find some level of success at the box office. So the ground seems almost fertile for Hollywood to take another stab at what is arguably the most recognizable video game IP. The last Super Mario film might have been the stuff of nightmares but this new one looks very promising.<br />
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4. John Wick: Chapter 4</h3>
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The Baba Yaga is back to dish out more of his wicked brand of justice in John Wick: Chapter 4. The last time we saw him at the end of <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2019/05/john-wick-chapter-3-parabellum-movie.html">Chapter 3</a>, he'd been broken in body but not in spirit. And this time around, he has a fresh batch of goons that would need some knocking around. Donnie Yen and Scott Adkins join the ever-growing roster of assassins with a bone to pick, which means he's pretty much got his work cut out for him, and we are here for it.<br />
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3. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning (Part One)</h3>
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<br />The first of two new Mission: Impossible sequels is out later this year. And if the trailers and promotional material are anything to go by, then it looks like Agent Ethan Hunt might be faced with his toughest mission yet. Tom Cruise has already defied death more times than we can count at this point, with the insane stunts featured in the last couple of movies. I still get goosebumps when I think about that HALO jump from <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2018/07/mission-impossible-fallout-movie-review.html">the last one</a>, so I am very excited to see what he has in store this time around. <br />
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2. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse</h3>
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<br />Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is another film that got bumped from 2022 into 2023. But between the time of the announcement of its delay and now, we've gotten two further looks (in the form of trailers) at just how the movies plan on upping the ante over the first one. The animation still looks about as breathtaking as it did in <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2018/12/spider-man-into-spider-verse-movie.html">Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse</a> but it is the action that appears to be on a whole new level. June 2nd can't come soon enough.<br />
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1. Dune: Part Two</h3><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60BMpvBAnYWOCu2W3etr6jGYshPTgD0gYkAl4BHEwa6fpAP50Uv9JDLg-205_Vbnyyh7GrfJY9NIOt57FSDHnlNnwyBNJvg9tE6b2JRVRLV9AQSoFQSXfo2EKEBoPReucnZb3LYITefXt2Eagw2Zmp9l_vJz-hS2eqqFaNkAEy_TL6h5Mdj3QBXpy/s1200/Dune_Part_Two_title.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60BMpvBAnYWOCu2W3etr6jGYshPTgD0gYkAl4BHEwa6fpAP50Uv9JDLg-205_Vbnyyh7GrfJY9NIOt57FSDHnlNnwyBNJvg9tE6b2JRVRLV9AQSoFQSXfo2EKEBoPReucnZb3LYITefXt2Eagw2Zmp9l_vJz-hS2eqqFaNkAEy_TL6h5Mdj3QBXpy/w400-h225/Dune_Part_Two_title.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Denis Villeneuve is already getting ready to take audiences back to the deserts of Arrakis in Dune: Part Two, the second half of his adaptation of the seminal science fiction book by Frank Herbert. The first movie <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2021/10/dune-movie-review.html">had felt incomplete</a> due to the very nature of the adaptation but it was still able to introduce the members of House Atreides and House Harkonnen, as well as all the concepts that govern the world of Arrakis. So I am hoping that this new one builds off of all that while still managing to tell a coherent and satisfying story. And even though <a href="http://www.michaelabayomi.com/2013/04/dune.html">I've already read the book</a> it is based upon, I would be lying if I said I wasn't anxious to see how well (if at all) the whole thing comes together.<br />Michael Abayomihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07276804685807238328noreply@blogger.com7