₦airaland Forum

THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER --- 7/10

I have to admit, this is the best Dracula movie I've ever seen. Its actings, emotional weight, horror theme, cliffhanger, musical scores and climax tension were enormously pleasant.

Honestly, I would very much love to see a sequel, but unfortunately that won't be feasible due to the poor box office performance of the movie, but I do hope Universal Pictures and DreamWorks will give us a sequel as a Peacock series. The story arc that has begun definitely needs to be completed, not abandoned. It would be unpleasant and tragic to sweep such interesting story under the carpet.



#Xavier

THE PASSENGER --- 2/10

One sentence, movie with potentials but unfortunately was ruined by a confusing and senseless plot. Like, what was the essence of the film?

* Okay, you killed people in a restaurant where you work, and you decided to abduct a fellow worker whose life you spared. Shouldn't the essence of that be to persuade him to keep shut and not rat you out, and also flee from the police? But no, rather we have a case of Benson (the killer) just moving around from place to place causing mayhem.

* Since one of the aim of the abduction is too flee from the police, shouldn't that be done quietly? Then why the assaults and shootings? Why bring unnecessary attention to yourself? Aside that, why move around town when you should have move out of town?

* What happened between Benson and Mr Shepherd back in the days to warrant an assault and murder on and of the latter by the former in the present? What happened? How come that wasn't shown or told? Was that not an incomplete story arc?

* What was the need of abducting Patricia? She didn't know you killed her boss, Mr Shepherd? She only got a call about his assault and death, and asked an innocent question regarding if you knew something about it. Rationality demands you just say no, give a convincing body language, and walk off, but no, you decided to abduct her also. What the fück! What was the need... the essence?

Of what use were the unnecessary dramas in the movie? What are the rationality behind them? To be candid, the movie was unnecessary, the plot was a total wack job.



#Xavier

MEG 2: THE TRENCH --- 7/10

Irrespective of the negative reviews this movie have, I personally enjoyed it all thanks to its actions, the Meg attacks, characters chemistry, and hearty comedy. I don't know for others, but this movie to me was fun and entertaining.



TROPHY WIFE --- 3/10

This is a movie that tried so hard to be a crime mystery thriller but failed woefully. It was boring, dull, dry and bland. It had potentials but unfortunately its potentials weren't feasible. I pray Netflix or Amazon prime video does a way better remake someday.



INSIDE MAN --- 6.7/10

An engaging movie --- although boring at the beginning --- about redemption, crime, infiltration and the underworld.



JULES --- 7/10

A simplistic and amazingly interesting sci-fi comedy about friendship, family and aged life.



#Xavier

Beautiful VFX, beautiful cinematography, beautiful actions, but knowing Zack Snyder, I'm not going to say anything regarding the plot. Till December 22nd. Zack being Zack with his dark tone and noir style directing.

Definitely a competitor to Star Wars, Star Trek, Dune, Avatar and Halo, not cinematically of course, but franchise wise.

But only God knows the amount of slow motions that will be present in this movie. Zack being Zack, that's inevitable, I will definitely be keeping count. I'm already seeing slow motions from the trailer.



#Xavier

Dybala11:
There was a scene in Ahsoka where a smaller ship docked in an open area in another bigger ship, I mean the docking area was opened to the outside while they were in space. Guess what, none of them were using a breathing apparatus bro, or are you saying that oxygen was supplied to the open area too??

Maybe the Oxygen from the Oxygen chamber was also been supplied there too. Since it's within the ship, and the dock is only opened temporarily for a few minutes for ships to land, I guess that's the rational explanation.



#Xavier

Dybala11:
I agree with this your last statement sha, but at least make it a bit more believable na. Don't forget that the location of that particular scene is a rural/remote part of the country in that movie. We move though.
I've started to watch Ahsoka series, and I have one question that I want to ask you guys o. Abeg in the star wars universe, how is it possible for all species human inclusive to breathe in all parts of the universe even in space without using any breathing apparatus?? Abi make I just accept am laidat as per SciFi series. 😌😌😌😌

They are only able to breathe in;

* Planets that support life, that is, life inhabited planets.
* Planets where there are no lives but that have Oxygen..
* Space ships and space centers. This structures have in built Oxygen Chambers that allows for the flow of Oxygen in them.



#Xavier

Dybala11:
Translingual programme on a radio station in a French speaking country, please mention a translingual programme on any of our national radio stations done in French that you know. Just one please? 🙏🙏🙏
You should have told us to overlook it and take it as it is apart from the translingual programme in Senegal?? 😂😂😂😂😂

How many radio stations do you know? Even if I mention such program how will you know? If you must know, I've listened to songs in foreign languages on a Nigerian radio station before.

Aside that, we have multiple options here;

* That could be a song played by an elderly Senagalase who was a lover of Fela's songs.

* Another angle, this is fiction, and in fiction you create your world. So nothing stops the filmmaker from creating a trans-lingual or trans-national music radio program. If you have issues with this, then you should have issues with the entire movie, cos for all I know, The Heart and The Charter doesn't exist. So yeah, the whole movie is bull shit and unrealistic 😏.



#Xavier

Dybala11:
I believe the song wasn't appropriate for that scene o. Playing Zombie in a scene placed in the rural area of a French speaking country. This people and their woke nonsense want to jump on the black lives blah blah blah every times. 😂😂😂😂😂

What's wrong with the music? So an elderly female english speaking Senegalese can not love Fela Kuti's song, or a radio station can not play Fela Kuti's song if they're doing a trans-lingual or trans-national music program. You guys should not get me started. I see no reason to be finding fault where there's none.



#Xavier

abduleez1:
Halle or Hallelujah

Na now this gender equality thing come dey sweet 😂😌.



#Xavier

Dybala11:
Bros you gat me with that Jason Statham playing romance line. 😂😌😌
In my opinion though, I'd give Heart of Stone a rating lesser than 7.
Do you remember the scene where Fela's song was played?? 😂😂😂

Yop 😌



#Xavier

MetroLane:
Power of Love because na their love strong pass

While watching the movie, my 8y/o niece said "let them touch each other let me rest".....She sef don know as the story dey go

Just like someone pointed out, It felt like I was watching Zootopia-Into the multiverse, only difference was that in this verse, touching is reserved for elements that are alike.

Storyline, same old-same old.

Is that not the whole point of the movie? To show how people of difference worlds --- symbolized by elementals --- can come together in love. The movie is all about love being the bridge between worlds or between people of differences be it race, religion, socio-economic class, or political worldviews. Elementals was only a symbolic representation of these differences.

Talking about straightforwardness of the plot, that was evident from the trailer. I wonder what some critics were expecting. It was well known how things would end. Everyone knows the movie would have ended with the hero and heroine either being lovers or close friends (due to their inability to touch).

With this, I wonder what the criticism regarding its story is about actually. Knowing Its end from the beginning, all thanks to its concept and trailers, one would have just decided to spare his or herself the energy and time of seeing the movie.

Truth is, not every movie is meant to be mysterious, not every movie is meant to be unpredictable. Some films are meant to be straightforward and predictable. In cases like this, emphasis are;

* On if the "straightforward or predictable story" was told well, as regards rationality and details.
* On if the characterization was well done.
* The overall enjoyability of the film
* On if the themes of the movie were well explored.
* The quality of the VFX, acting, cinematography and musical scores.

If Elementals is viewed from the above lens, one might end up appreciating the movie.

What's my view regarding Elementals? Well considering the above lens or rule, it's a regular Disney/ Pixar movie but pretty enjoyable. It's VFX was amazing. It's a 6/10 for me.


#Xavier

majesticguy:
Disney and Pixar really raised the bar for animated movies. Over the years they have been very consistent in delivering original stories, great CGI pictures and music scores that are soothing to ears. The likes of Zootopia, Coco, Encanto, Soul are testaments to the amazing feat they have achieved so far in the animation genre.

I expected Elemental to follow the path of it predecessors. The animation style, color and concept, were mesmerizing, it keeps you transfixed and captivated on the screen.

The music scores like always were rhythmic, melodious and pleasing to the ears.

They got everything but the story right. It was very unoriginal and cliche. The story stenchs of mediocrity, something we've seen numerous times. In light of that, and their track records and success on previous animated movies, it was really a disappointment. They could have come up with something unique, something different, something better. They are Disney and Pixar for fvck sake and not some indie studio.

Call me an arm chair critic all you like, but that right there is the unclothed truth.

What exactly, regarding lighthearted romance, will Pixar and Disney do that has never been done before? Except you want them to start delving into other aspects of romance like romance thrillers, but unfortunately those contents won't be appropriate for the family friendly audience.

I always tell people, 90 to 99 percent of films are repetitive, that's what keep the industry going. If studios are to produce films with stories that I've never been done before, we will be having very few film releases, and with time no films at all, because they eventually will run out of ideas, repetition is not allowed remember.

Truth is, for the industry to continue operating, and for us to continue getting films, most are bound to be repetitive. That's why I always tell people, your focus shouldn't be on whether the story is repetitive or not (except in a franchise), but rather;

* On if the "repetitive story" was told well, as regards rationality and details.
* On if the characterization was well done.
* On if the movie overall, was enjoyable.
* On if the themes of the movie were well explored.
* On if the quality of the VFX, acting, cinematography and musical score was good.

When we put this into consideration, we will discover that lots of films that we criticize for being repetitive are good and enjoyable. I think that's the lens we should critic Elemental from.



#Xavier

BLUE BEETLE --- 9/10

An enthralling DC movie of capitalist quest, love, family, community and aspirations. Actions were great, emotional weight was great, musical scores were great, and the VFX was stunning. I also love the fact that the movie didn't take the conventional route associated with Hollywood films regarding the mother being the emotional support of the lead character, in this movie they went a different route, the father route.

Conclusively, Blue Beetle is a beautiful work of motion picture art. A good entry into the DCU. Yeah, chronologically, it's in the DCEU, but universe setting wise, it's in the DCU set in an unspecified point in the DCU timeline, well according to its director. I really do wish the movie gets its trilogy, and box office success it deserves.

People should see the movie, and look out for Nana 😂. That's officially my favorite character in the movie 😂.



#Xavier
#DCian

HEART OF STONE --- 7/10

An entertaining, adventurous, amazing, pretty spy action movie. This is one of the few movies that got me hooked from start to finish. Gadot was impressive.

Initially, I was interested in the movie as a fan of Gal Gadot and spy actions, but after the criticisms targeted at Gadot's performance, my interest augmented. I wanted to see how bad Gadot's performance was. Yeah, she lacked the vibe and charisma of a badass action character. This was in total contrast to her role in Red Target, Wonder Woman, and keeping Up With The Joneses.

At first, I have to admit, I was turned off, but fell in line when I understood the kind of character she was playing. She wasn't playing a typical action badass character, rather she was playing a cute but lethal character. A character that is meant to appear innocent and harmless but that is profusely dangerous. A perfect decoy for her undercover roles.

Truth is, Gadot have spent most of her time in the action genre it now looks like she lacks diversity in acting. It's better she delve into other genres. She's a good actress but people won't think so, they won't think she has long range of acting skills. This is one reason I'm anticipating her Snow White, and Cleopatra movies. We need to see if she's diversified in acting or she's just a mono (which isn't a bad thing if she is, not everybody is blessed with diverse skills. Sometimes, it's good to stick with your forte e.g Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish with their comic genres, and Jason Statham with actions, imagine Jason Statham playing romance 😂).

Aside that, Heart of Stone is a pretty movie, one that I would recommend, likewise would love to see a franchise of, thank God they've set it up for a sequel.



#Xavier

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM --- 8/10

This is literally the best TMNT movie I've ever seen. But when it comes to movies and series combined, the Nickelodeon series of 2014 --- 2017 takes the number one spot with this movie as the first runners up.

The themes of teenage ambitiousness, teenage naivety, comedic, actions, interest, letting your kids make their own part, personal acceptance, motives for doing what's right, friendship and family was intriguing and beautiful. I love the fact that Mr Rat wasn't referred to as a Sensei or just a Sensei, but rather father, and Jackie Chan nailed it with the Mr Rat role.

One of amazing message from the movie is, negative experience didn't make you who you are, rather you chose to who you are because of negative experience. This could be seen in the characters of Mr Rat and Superfly. Same ill experience from humans, same resentments towards humans, but different approach to things.

Honestly, I would have given the movie 9+/10, but unfortunately certain things acted as a stumbling block to that.
1.) The racial swapping of April O' Neil from White to Black, all for what? So called inclusive reasons? I have no issues in gender, sexual or racial swapping fictional characters as far as they're unpopular, but popular ones that's a no no, it's inappropriate and irrational. Seriously, there's no reason to do that, aside from some political correctness reasons.
If you want a character with a desired gender, sexual or racial identity, you create original characters, or alter the identity of unpopular characters, and not popular ones.
I wouldn't have had issues if this was done from all angles, but unfortunately it's only being done from one angle. You don't see Hollywood swap Black to White, gay to straight, women to men. It's always the opposite, White to Black, straight to gay, and men to women. That's ridiculous. If you're going to swap, do it across all spheres, not just some. If this shit is done from all angles, people will get fed up with it especially the Blacks, gays and women. No one likes their representatives being altered for political correctness reasons.

2.) The unrealistic third act battle scene. How can a monster be attacking New York, and the military were absent? Not even the law enforcements were present, but the media were around reporting the news while the almighty United States military were on vacation. Impressive, so impressive. If such happened in a third world country like Nigeria, it would have been understandable, but a first world country? I guess anything to make the turtles shine is highly welcomed 😏.
What happened to the military partnering with the turtles and mutants to stop the monster attack? What happened to the military intervening but unable to stop the attack thus leaving the fate of New York in the hands of the turtles and mutants?
This is one reason I will forever love the animated Justice League series back in the day. Its city wide battle scene in the origins episodes was so realistic. There was military intervention even though they couldn't neutralize the threats hence paving the way for the Justice League to do the job.

3.) It's animation design is a no no to me. I don't know for others, but to me, it was unpleasant. It looked more like a motion picture of wet paint. Honestly, the TMNT with the best animation design and quality is the Nickelodeon's animated series of 2014 --- 2017

But anyways, despite its flaws, the movie is amazing. Everyone should go see it.


#Xavier

BLUE BEETLE --- 9/10

An enthralling DC movie of capitalist quest, love, family, community and aspirations. Actions were great, emotional weight was great, musical scores were great, and the VFX was stunning. I also love the fact that the movie didn't take the conventional route associated with Hollywood films regarding the mother being the emotional support of the lead character, in this movie they went a different route, the father route.

Conclusively, Blue Beetle is a beautiful work of motion picture art. A good entry into the DCU. Yeah, chronologically, it's in the DCEU, but universe setting wise, it's in the DCU set in an unspecified point in the DCU timeline, well according to its director. I really do wish the movie gets its trilogy, and box office success it deserves.

People should see the movie, and look out for Nana 😂. That's officially my favorite character in the movie 😂.



#Xavier