Harry Potter, Rocky and Video Game Movies (Some Thanksgiving Thoughts)

Hello everyone and Happy Thanksgiving. It's been a long day but I have a little downtime to write. To be honest, I had hoped to get some podcasts or videos of the above named topics, but the month is coming to a close so I might not be able to get to all of them on the channel. So, just in case, I'll at least touch on them in this little blog. As usual, life has been busy.

I know that Fantastic Beasts had another movie that came out recently. I'm honestly not being a downer, though I feel like I'm often ranting online lately about franchise fatigue, but I didn't have any interest in seeing it. I've heard lukewarm reviews, but I wasn't going to see it in theaters in anyway. This was an slight conundrum for me to ponder about myself, as I was once a very big Harry Potter fan.

Here's where I get sentimental and self-reflective with some history. I haven't discussed the Potter franchise too much but  I have very fond memories of it. I read the first book in second grade I believe. My interest in the books peaked around the fourth entry. Then there were longer delays and my hype slowly cooled as I got closer to my senior year. Despite this, Harry Potter was a character who was about the same age as myself. In a sense, I kind of grew up along with him and his friends. Maybe that's why I found the characters so relatable, as I was invested enough with the story to maintain interest between about age eight and seventeen. No other book series has had quite the same hold on me since.

Even when the movies were released, I always professed the books were better. I did watch all the films though, with my interest declining slightly with each one. Despite my love for the series, by the time the final movie was released I felt there was enough Potter for awhile. Perhaps that means I'm not as diehard as some fans, but I always felt that Fantastic Beasts was a bit of a stretch to expand on the franchise. I found the first movie enjoyable enough, but I wasn't overly excited for a whole series of films. Though I enjoy the Wizarding  World, Harry and his friends were the ones I was most invested in.

It is possible that my interest changing is simply a byproduct of time's effect on me, but I would probably be more interested in something a little closer to the Potter narrative. I believe the films do add on to backstory of some characters and ideas. Are they going to be compelling enough? I suppose we'll see, but there is potential in that universe for sure. I need to go back and read those books.

I wanted to talk briefly about the Rocky series. Creed is due for a sequel this season after all. While I am not a major Rocky fanatic, I have seen all the movies. One summer I was very bored and had time marathon the first five Rocky films. Balboa I believe I saw in theaters. Ah yes, the memories of free time. Where has it gone? Anyway, with the exception of Rocky V, I honestly like all the Rocky movies. While I wouldn't describe any of them as fantastic, it's a generally fun series with many solid made films. What I might say next is probably a little controversial, but I truly do feel this way. You see, I think Creed is the best Rocky film I've seen.

Now I know most people will say the first Rocky is technically the best movie from a dramatic standpoint. I can understand this. Many others will say Rocky IV is the best due to the over the top nature of the presentation. I can understand this as well. I guess for me, Creed just seems like a wonderful sequel/spin-off of the franchise, but also a truly great film without that legacy. If it were unrelated to the series, I'd think it was about as good. It's a tight drama like the first, with that nostalgic touch to add an extra emotional significance based on that familiarity. For a hardcore fan, it would probably work even better. Plus, I just think it's better acted and shot than the first film.  I typically enjoy boxing films, and the fight itself was very compelling to me in Creed. It deals with themes that resonate with the first film. I guess I like my Rocky flicks more serious than campy. Then again, my favorite before Creed was Rocky III. Why? Hmmm. I don't have a particularly compelling argument. I just like Rocky's fall from grace to due pride as an interesting and believable result of celebrity. He's taken place with opposing force of Apollo Creed that he was the underdog against. Plus I think Clubber Lang is a fun, ridiculous and actually kind of threatening villain. Why is he so mad? Tell that guy to relax!

Is it possible to make a good video game movie? I've heard many arguments that it isn't. In fact, I watched a recent video explaining that the most important part of a video game is the interactivity. This doesn't translate to a movie. That certainly makes sense, though the video also claimed that most video game plots aren't very good. Those that are have too much story to be contained in one film. While I mostly agree with this, I have a hard time believing this isn't possible. After all, just about every other medium can be brought to film. I just think we haven't found enough people who care about these properties passionately enough. Most of them are kind of lackluster in one form or another. Of course, I will admit to being mostly a casual gamer and I haven't seen a massive amount of video game based movies anyway. That being said, I'm kind of sad that the best video movie to date is probably 1995's Mortal Kombat. Well, I'm actually not that sad. I like that movie.

I know that bar is low, but it still ranks among the better ones. It's probably due to my nostalgic attachment to the movie, but I still find it to be a fun and campy ride. It also seems to  hold fairly true to the game despite the PG-13 rating. This alone is kind of impressive. Actually, the film expanded on the basic story of the game slightly, not having to deviate too much from the tournament fighter. Many of the actors achieved the likeness and personality traits of the characters they represented, with the film replicating the mood through set pieces, music and pretty good choreography. It's campy, but then again so was the game. The story isn't that deep, but neither were the early installments. It hit the right beats and mostly made the fans happy despite the lack of gore. That's pretty impressive. Obviously, not all games are Mortal Kombat, but there may be some lessons to emulate here. I'm not too worried about it, but it would be nice to see some more genuinely good video game adaptations. I have a hard time believing you can't make a decent Hitman movie. He's an assassin who kills bad guys. It's been done before. Why does the brand curse the movies? Alas, I must wait for a good Hitman movie. Or I can just play the games again.

Well, those were my pop culture related thoughts for the evening. When I've had the time, I've been re-watching the Marvel Netflix shows, slowly catching up on My Hero Academia, playing Spider-man and finally checking out the rest of Star Trek: Discovery. Marvel's Spider-man has also been a good show.

I've obviously had plans for the channel, but the year has made it hard to keep up with my own self-imposed schedule once again. The end of the year will bring some movies I want to see, so there may be some reviews with friends. I also may do some more videos or podcasts on related topics if my schedule allows. I have some reviews planned out for the next year, along with some anime and comic book stuff early on. I'll keep you all posted. Thank you for reading, watching and listening. Happy Thanksgiving!

I'M NOT SURE HOW I FEEL ABOUT HALLOWEEN 2018

I viewed the newest addition to the Halloween franchise this past weekend. It's a very frustrating thing when you see a movie and you aren't sure how you feel about it. I really felt like taking a few days to let it sink in before writing anything. Unfortunately, I'm still not entirely sure I know how I feel. Even so, it has been some time since I posted anything on this blog and it is the spooky season after all. Perhaps writing this will help me clarify my thoughts for myself and my readers. Life continues to be busy, so some things may  require more time and thought.

I wouldn't say that the Halloween franchise is my favorite series of horror or "slasher" films. However, John Carpenter is one of my favorite directors and the original Halloween is easily his most popular and influential film, though not necessarily his best. I watched the movie again to prepare me for viewing this newest one, and once again I was reminded of how good it truly is. It holds up well. It essentially popularized and defined many of the beats of "slasher" films to come.  What I think makes the film work so well is how much is does with such a basic premise. The story is simple, but the characters are likeable. The budget is limited but balanced by excellent editing, cinematography and sound design. Even though I think the franchise has mostly lost steam over the years, the first movie is a true classic for a reason. It's kind of the standard that everyone else has tried to meet since.

Now, I won't say I'm an expert on the franchise, as there are many films I've missed. I'm also not the biggest enthusiast of "slasher" movies, though I do appreciate and enjoy them. However, I do feel like I know the first film well enough to get a sense of the narrative and themes. After all, this one does away with all other sequels and alternative versions. I think that's one reason it's drawn a strong response. If you're a fan of the first movie but haven't seen any others, it doesn't matter! Just jump back in. So I guess I'm an appropriate audience for it?

Anyway, I guess I should discuss this movie. That's probably why you're still reading this (congratulations on getting this far).

Let's start with my favorite thing. That would be the opening. We've go this pair of journalists investigating old murders and arriving at a prison holding Michael Myers. In this version, those events of the first film occurred as we viewed them, but he's been locked away since then. It's been forty years and Michael doesn't really say anything. The journalists first plan to interview Michael and then interview Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) to examine the nature of the event.

We are then brought to Michael Myers, in an open courtyard of the asylum. He's chained in his own section among dozens of other mental patients, facing way from the journalists and the audience. The male  journalist approaches Michael and begins questioning him with no real responses. Then, in a last ditch effort, he slowly reveals the famed William Shatner mask. He raises it to the sky and continuing to raise his voice as well. The other patients become more nervous and the guard dog begins to bark. The tension continues to rise as the journalist becomes more frustrated and almost enraged. Then we cut to the classic opening titles and opening score. Describing it doesn't really do it justice. It was an awesome opening. The problem is...I feel like this is kind of where the movie peaks.

It's very possible I need to watch this again. It's definitely worthy of further examination. When people asked me what I thought of it, I've just kept saying, "It was interesting." That's because that's how it was for me. I didn't love it or hate it. I'm just kind of oddly intrigued by it.

This may be another example of a movie that is trying to be two different things. I may be the minority in this point of view, as the online metrics seem to suggest the majority of people liked this movie. I don't think it does anything particularly bad, I just don't feel like it's revolutionizing anything with the genre or these particular films. Then again, is it supposed to? I guess it's not marketed as doing so, but the film is kind of trying something a little different.

On one hand, the film is definitely trying to be a direct sequel to the first movie. There are visual callbacks to the original for sure. The editing, cinematography and music are very similar. Some of the time, I felt like I was enraptured in the atmosphere of the first film (this makes sense with Carpenter's involvement in this one). So it's kind of not only a direct sequel but also trying to capture the spirit of that film...some of the time. Most of the movie seems to be something else.

The rest of the piece feels like it's trying to take the legendary character of Michael Myers and bring him into the real world. The film is asking what Myers would be like if he actually existed in the present. What if those events did happen? What if he was locked away for forty years and then escaped today? How would such an event affect those around him? I know this sounds like something any "slasher" film with a similar premise could do narratively, but this movie seems to be conveying a very realistic concept....most of the time.

Despite the ramifications of the murders on Laurie's personal life and the people of Haddonfield,  it's something we only kind of dance around. Curtis does a great job demonstrating the trauma a person would realistically suffer in such a situation. She's lived her life in fear and that fear had a negative impact on her family. However, I don't know if this is really delved into enough. Perhaps we don't need that, but I thought it was a really fascinating idea to explore further. It also kind of seems to be at the core of the story. I think this comes back to a slight lack of focus.

The film wants to be a more realistic take on Michael Myers as a serial killer, but also dances around the almost supernatural vibe he gives off through the tone and style of the feature. It really seems to want to be both an homage to the first film as well as a more believable take on the story. I guess this movie falls victim to the conventions of its own genre? At the end of the day, Michael is still going around killing teenagers (and just about everyone else) on Halloween night...in some of the most violent ways possible. I guess that's what a good "slasher" film should do and this one delivers while touching on a few more thought provoking ideas. I guess the Rob Zombie films dived into that enough? Those were a different version as well, after all.

It's always tricky talking about the identity of a piece, especially when building upon a solid foundation. How true should you stay to your roots without betraying them? How many risks are you allowed to take before becoming something else?

Alright, this blog review has helped me figure out how I feel about this new version of Halloween. I thought it was pretty good. It entertained me and I thought it was smarter and creepier than many other films in this genre I've seen. Whether  you like it or not upon the first viewing, I would definitely encourage you to watch it again. I certainly would. At the end of the day, that's a pretty great compliment for any movie, Halloween related or not.

Thanks for reading everyone. Have a Happy Halloween!

The Predator Franchise Is Weird and Uneven

The Predator franchise is weird and strangely uneven. I don't want to make it sound like I'm bashing on this franchise though. Plenty of the fictional worlds I love are silly and strange. That's part of the fun. What I find particularly weird about Predator though is that so little content has been produced on the big screen since the first outing with Arnold.

I remember, before having actually having seen the first film, coming across some Alien vs Predator trading cards. This was back in the 90's and well before the two monsters collided in the movies. Being that I'm not a diehard fan, I've always found it interesting how much of the Predator fandom has grown and been sustained mostly on speculative interest. Ever since the alien bounty hunter came across Danny Glover in the sequel, that Easter egg regarding a possible Xenomorph spawned one of the biggest modern movie monster rivalries. Beyond comics and some video games, I'm surprised more hasn't been done with this shared universe.

The first instinct may be to suggest that there aren't enough compelling ideas that could be forged from Predator movies. I'm not sure if that's really true though. After all, the monster has a unique design and tons of cool gadgets. We've also gained some insight into the rituals and culture of these intergalactic hunters. That being said, there doesn't' seem to have been  as much incentive to produce more sequels. Although, considering the decline in quality of the Alien films, maybe it's not the worst thing for the fans. Even so, it's surprising there haven't been more films.

I like the first Predator film from 1987. However, I can't say that I'm a big fan either. That my be more a bias on my part, as I was more exposed to Alien films growing up. I also just like how frightening and insightful those films tried to be. It didn't always work, but they always attempted to be scary and tried to have something to say(even Alien: Resurrection). Admittedly, I don't think the first film is really trying to do much of either. On the surface, it's trying to be an entertaining action film. It's very much in the same vein as a Commando or Raw Deal. Arnold had tested the waters with The Terminator and Conan to try different genres. However, this was probably still in his comfort zone at the time. The main difference was the hook of the alien creature itself. The monster does have a very unique design and the camouflage effect was very cool for the time. I think what grabbed the attention of most viewers was the colorful cast of characters and the final explosive showdown. Let's face it, Arnold's one liner upon the creature's face reveal is pretty iconic.

I feel like I've watched Predator 2 more than the original. I'm pretty sure it had many reruns for awhile. This one had a significant contrast in setting from the jungle of the first film. This time we're in a more urban area and the creature must face down Danny Glover. I'll be honest, I like Danny Glover. I've enjoyed many of his movies and he certainly has the Lethal Weapon franchise on his resume to show his action chops. Still, I feel like he's a bit of a downgrade from Arnold Schwarzenegger. I guess  he didn't want to come back for the sequel. Lethal Weapon always seemed to balance the comedy with the action. Glover's character in those flicks was a cop who was "too old for this shit". He was a bit past his prime. So he seems less likely to be a good rival to these baddies than a major action star like Schwarzenegger. Even so, I think Glover did a good job here. It just seemed like a less serious follow-up.

Two of the Predator films have been shared with the Xenomorphs of the Alien franchise. You see what I meant about the main content being a little light? That may not really be fair, since the Xenomorphs are really the guests in these films. We do learn more about the Predators and their history. I'm not entirely sure what how canon these films are though. The Lance Henriksen cameo confused me, despite how good it was to see him. I know that this one was hated due to not really living up to the hype over the years. I think this was mostly because of the PG-13 rating more than anything. People were still pretty excited about it from what I remember. The movie was kind of dumb and pretty akin to your standard sci-fi original film of the time. As long at the monsters have some good fights, people typically don't care much about the plot specifics. Overall, I found the movie pretty entertaining.

I have a confession to make. My primary inspiration for writing this blog is to complain about this movie. Alien vs Predator 2: Requiem. is, without a doubt, one of my least favorite movies.  I know for certainty that there are plenty of films out there that are worse. However, most of those action/science-fiction/horror films typically had much lower production values and were from less experienced independent filmmakers. That makes the fact that movies like this can be made even more impressive and ridiculous. To be  honest, I'm not sure I even made it through the whole thing. I just remember that the acting was pretty bad, somehow practically non-existent (even in comparison to the first one) and the lighting being some of the worst I've seen in a big budget film since Green Lantern. This is easily the lowest the Predator franchise has gone. I hope they can do better. I'd go so far as to say Alien vs Hunter or Alien vs Ninja are better. At least they were entertainingly bad. You could also see what was happening.

I'm probably in the minority on this, but Predators is my favorite movie in the series thus far. It certainly doesn't have the 80's over the top atmosphere of the Arnold original, but it is a very similar movie. A bunch of people are sent to a jungle to fight against a hidden and certainly more powerful enemy. There a few key differences though. This time, the group  on an alien planet and forced to contend with multiple Predators as well as other alien beasts. Plus these characters aren't a group of beefy soldiers, but people with varying skills and backgrounds who don't know each other all that well. I like situations like this. It reminds me of The Thing (one of my favorite movies) where the threat of mistrust among the people in desperate circumstances is just as dangerous as the unknown alien monster. This one also adds a little to the mythos and provides some of the best gore in the series. If you haven't watched this one yet, I'd say give it a try. It might surprise you.

As for the future, I know we have The Predator coming out this week. The trailers seem to suggest more monsters to fight. I don't know too many details. I am curious though. I think this series has had some pretty good outings overall and still has potential to provide great monster thrills. I'm sure I'll check it out and let you guys know. Thanks for reading. Until next time, stay magical.

Fall/Winter Movie Expecations (2018)

As I've remarked with some friends, this year feels fairly light in terms of big movies. The summer season was pretty heavy regarding big releases early on, but most of the films I was really excited for I've already seen.  Anyway, onto my movie blog thing...


The Predator

I've never really been too crazy about The Predator franchise. I've always been more of an Alien fan. That's probably because I feel that Alien is a really effectively creepy sci-fi horror that has some interesting ideas about how terrifying the universe can be. Predator just seems like a better than average Arnold movie with a cool alien monster. Really, I feel  like taking the monster out would just make it a pretty standard 80's action flick. Beyond that, the franchise has really just been ok. I generally don't find them that scary or enticing, but I know plenty of people do. This new film does seem to suggest something new for the series. My favorite one was actually when they took the premise of the first movie and put people on an alien planet.  This new one should be more grounded. No matter what, September looks like a pretty light month for movies anyway. I may see it to kill some time.

Venom

Venom is a character I've always enjoyed for what he is. I've accepted that he's one of Spider-man's most dangerous villains. Compared to the campy guys in animal themed costumes, gangsters and mad scientists that made up his rogues gallery, Venom provided a new way to elevate the violence and creepy factor for future Spidey comics. He has an unapologetic dark humor and provides a good foil, being sort of a literal darker reflection of the hero. Sam Raimi's version of the character wasn't very well received. I think that version missed both the visual appeal and the actual personality of Eddie Brock. This one seems to get it about half right from the trailers. When he's in the suit, Venom looks and acts like he should. I actually would be more intrigued if he was a villain in the Tom Holland films. To be honest though, I've always preferred Venom as a straight up villain. I know he's been interpreted as an anti-hero of sorts a number of times in the comics, but they've never really been able to sustain a long run as far as I know. It also doesn't help that Eddie Brock seems a bit out of character. The guy in the comics is a crooked journalist who sometimes created crimes to investigate to put himself in the spotlight. Maybe they will be able to pull it off but I'm not sure. Being the big comic book fan I am, I will probably check this one out. However, my expectations are not very high.


Halloween

John Carpenter is producing and providing another soundtrack to this reboot from his most popular film. Halloween is easily one of the best slashers and I'm curious to see if this one will bring anything new. After all, I generally love the works of Mr. Carpenter.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

I liked Wreck-It Ralph. It was a pretty good time from Disney. I still think they should have had more video game cameos. Even so, I guess I'll see the new one. I like John C. Reilly.


Creed II

I'm not sure how many film critics have said this. Creed is the best Rocky movie. I know the first one is a classic. I think they all have their charm. Creed seemed to really elevate the drama to a new place, focusing on the idea of legacy and how it impacts us. I wonder how many movies it will take before Creed's legacy is tainted by more ridiculous sequels.

Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse

I don't have much interest in Miles Morales. I understand why people generally do. I just really enjoyed Ultimate Spider-man and that version of Peter Parker. His tragic death and then the sudden introduction of Morales didn't really work for me in the comics. That being said, I'm open to the character existing and an animated Spidey movie could be a fun way to reintroduce him for me. The transition between the two heroes seems more natural and respectful to both.

Mary Poppins Returns


Sure. Why not? Everything has a sequel these days. Mary Poppins is probably due. That one movie about her creator was pretty good. I don't know if I've mentioned this much, but Mary Poppins was one of my favorite films at a very young age. It's among the many classic musicals I've enjoyed. That's probably my mother's influence there to some extent. Other than that, I don't have much to say. Will it be a musical?

Aquaman

I chuckle as I write about this one. I feel like most of my videos over the past few months have been complaining about the DCEU. It's really sad that my life has led me to a point where that's what most of my content is.  I also don't really care that much. Even so, I'm so desperate for a good DC movie that I will go see a film about a character that I have virtually never had any real interest in. Aquaman's place in pop culture honestly befuddles me. In all my years reading comics, I was under the impression that Aquaman was one of the old players...and that was it. He was the dumb, worthless hero from The Super Friends that everyone has made fun of for decades. So in a way he's popular. It seems that Aquaman has had a solid group of serious fans though. I guess they'll be happy. The trailer didn't look too bad. My girlfriend likes the lead though, so I might endure it. I keep saying that I'm done with DC. I just keep getting pulled back in. Maybe I don't mind as much as I say I do.

Alita: Battle Angel


You know, I guess I'm still an anime fan. I'm pretty burnt out lately on that front. I'm also not particularly intrigued by most new shows or films out. I have however, decided to watch the live action adaptations for Death Note and Fullmetal Alchemist. I feel that encapsulates my current state as an anime fan now. I'm just  a little sad I guess. I haven't watched the Bleach one yet, though I'm sure I will. Anyway, Alita is based on an anime from the early 90's, a time when anime was more about exploitation and pushing the envelope for shock value more than anything else. I'm not saying it was all good, but it was typically more entertaining or interesting. That's opposed to everything nowadays, which all seems pretty safe and redundant by comparison. That was a little  before my time, so I'm not being nostalgic on that one. I never watched the original, so I have no attachment. It looks weird. This time they're  going to give the lead girl big anime eyes? I don't know. It doesn't look particularly good, but it looks different in that respect. Anime live action adaptations rarely seem to be good, especially American ones. It looks too weird for me to pass up though. At the very least, it'll be something anime related for me to discuss on my channel. Then it will probably forgotten by us all. Unless it's fantastic...or fantastically bad.

Bumblebee

I guess I'll end this little blog with something a tad hopeful on the cinematic front. Everyone pretty much accepts that Michael Bay's Transformers films aren't particularly good. Then again, they aren't supposed to have much depth and people don't seem to mind, no matter how far removed they often seem to be from the cartoons they are based on. They make tons of money. Thankfully, Bumblebee seems to be aiming for some  of the heart of the franchise, perhaps toning down the choppily edited action and explosions for a more character based story. It looks cute. I'm actually looking forward to one of these. I've literally never said that about any of the other ones. I guess that's something.

Thanks for reading folks. Stay magical.

The Thematic Problem with the Jurassic Park Films

It feels like many of the big summer movies have already arrived this year. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was not one of the big blockbusters I was most excited to see, but I did have enough interest see check it out opening night. I guess it's primarily due to a strong nostalgic attachment I have to this franchise.

I loved dinosaurs growing up. Naturally, Jurassic Park being the first film to truly bring dinosaurs to life in a very realistic fashion solidified its place as one of my childhood favorites. I'm pretty sure I had a T-Rex action figure and a lunch box for awhile as well. Besides that though, even as a lover of movies in general I often feel the need to point out how truly good the original film was. Jurassic Park is another of Spielberg's films to revolutionize cinema (the first one was probably Jaws). Just in terms to visual technology alone, the combination of practical and digital effects was done amazingly and still has yet to truly rivaled by most films since. I still think Jurassic Park has some of the best special effects even twenty five years later.

In any case, Jurassic Park is one of my favorite films and I could go on much longer about it. Today I want to discuss one of the fundamental problems the sequels run into thematically. I've typically been able to look past them as the sequels just being excuses for more action. However, I can understand the varying quality of the films and the bigger issues that arise with each new movie. This was actually inspired by my personally knowing several people that don't enjoy these films due to this particular problem.

In regards to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, the main characters are once again going back to the island in an attempt to rescue the dinosaurs from another extinction. This time its a major volcanic eruption. Yet again, another evil corporation has a plan to steal the dinosaurs for more nefarious purposes. These movies, but in particular the Jurassic World films, really seem to have this difficult time balancing two perspectives regarding the hypothetical idea of bringing dinosaurs back to life and then profiting from them. I wouldn't have a problem exploring this theme, as it's at the very core of the philosophical ideas of the original film. However, Jurassic World really can't seem to make up it's mind on whether we should love these dinosaurs as some new majestic endangered species... or as horrible monsters that are a danger to us all.

Chris Pratt's character seems to have some meta knowledge regarding these films, as he seems content letting the dinosaurs die off when he's offered to a chance to save them. Perhaps Jurassic World did a good enough job pushing those nerves of sentimentality I had for the first film, but with Fallen Kingdom I felt myself constantly asking why these characters were putting themselves in danger again. Every time they've tried this stuff before, it's never worked. We've had four movies going over how we shouldn't dabble in nature. Wasn't that the moral of the first film? Mankind's own arrogance may be it's downfall?

The idea of genetic tampering and the potential consequences of such power certainly could bring up some relevant debate. The film briefly dances around the ideas but never really gives them much time. There is one area in particular where I actually found it kind of annoying and frustrating. We'll be entering the one major spoiler I'll go over (just to give you a heads up).

It turns out the funding of the expedition was supported by on old friend of John Hammond. Apparently, this man used the technology that brought dinosaurs back to life to create a clone of his granddaughter. This could have potentially really upped the ante in terms of thematic discussion. However, the characters barely acknowledge this. Perhaps the filmmakers where afraid of this becoming a very different film, but that's  pretty big plot development essentially gloss over. What's even more frustrating is the film's solution to the fate of the dinosaurs. Towards the end of the final act, Bryce Dallas Howard's character is about to make the final decision to set the animals free into the world or let them die. This is no longer about an amusement park or an isolated resort. This is about letting many wild and potentially dangerous genetically modified animals out into the general populace. The potential ramifications could make our main characters out to be pretty questionable, even comparable to the villains. This was similar problem we ran into in the Lost World.  She decides to let the dinosaurs die, but this written off immediately when the young cloned girl sets them free instead. This was so annoying safe and not helped by the major idea not really being focused on at all. It's implied that the girl identifies with the dinosaurs since she was produced by the same means. This avoids the very dark turn the story could take. If the dinosaurs were made unnaturally and then allowed to die off, what would be done with the girl? It's obviously a route the movie didn't want to focus on. Even so, this whole interesting and thought provoking development is basically a side note despite the major ramifications it could hold. So the dinosaurs are let free and I guess mankind is just supposed to deal with it. What's worse, the main characters don't seem that bothered by it even though the dinosaurs have nearly killed them in two films!

Alright, I'm going to wrap this up. My point is, Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom is a pretty fun continuation with many of the same beats  you'd expect. I guess the problem is, there were some pretty big oversights and frustratingly idiotic character decisions that seem to be writing this franchise into a corner. Even the plan of the villains seems less ambitious than before (a dinosaur auction?). I guess the next movie will be an all out war with the dinosaurs. Perhaps then the films will be able to decide who will survive, humanity or the dinosaurs. Or maybe we should just stop making new carnivores. Seriously, why do we care so much about reintroducing raptors? That has never worked out.  Then again, maybe I'm taking this silly monster movie too seriously.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY... THE END OF STAR WARS?

I don't really feel like doing a detailed review for Solo, since I'm sure there are plenty of videos and articles discussing it already. Even so, I still want to take the opportunity to discuss Star Wars in its current state.

My relationship with Star Wars is probably not that different from that of many people. I grew up watching the original trilogy and didn't have to wait too long for the prequels. However, it seems that since that time, Star Wars has continued to have a significantly larger presence in media, at least that I'm more aware of. The expanded universe of comics, novels and games gives us a near constant influx of  stories. This isn't a bad thing I suppose, but I've found myself getting less excited about Star Wars. Maybe that's just because there is rarely a break from it. With the release of the new trilogy backed by Disney, the franchise has probably never seemed more prevalent than it is now. Solo underperformed at the box office. This has caused many people to question if Star Wars still has staying power. This is kind of silly though. Of course it does. It's Star Wars.

Star Wars is a series that resonates with many people, The universal themes and character driven narratives, combined with a unique dash of space fantasy, have helped build the franchise up the behemoth it currently is. However, the primary films have been built up to such a legendary status due to the long waits and anticipation for each new release. These days, everyone is trying to tap into that nostalgic nerve and build a franchise off of it. I've talked about that on this site and on my channel many times before. Reflecting on  geek and pop culture stuff from childhood and examing my relationship with it has typically the focus of this blog . Star Wars is basically trying to copy Marvel.

I think we live in a wonderful time where many of the fantastic franchises we grew up with, not matter how popular or obscure, could potentially come to life on the big or small screen. This leads to many interesting possibilities from major studios or die hard fans with their own projects. In the case of Marvel or even Star Wars, too much of anything can be tiring. As with exposure to anything, sometimes you need a break to sit back and appreciate it. Despite my love of comic books, I do sometimes grow weary of Marvel's films. This is mostly due to them playing it safe and following the same formula, even though it's a formula that mostly works. The movies have all been pretty good. Even so, they're kind of predictable. Plus, we're now getting multiple super hero movies a year. Each year also continues to have more reboots, prequels, sequels and spin-offs. Many of these are harping on expanding or starting a new franchise. While part of me adores the fun aspect of each of these possibilities, this consistent leaning towards franchises seems to be stifling new and original concepts. I just feel like there was a greater variety of movies a decade or two ago. At least, a wider variety that people could gravitate to.

In any case, Star Wars may just be overdoing it a little bit. Solo was a decent movie, but it came in the wake of the very divisive and more canonically important Last Jedi. It also had to compete with the very popular Infinity War and Deadpool films.  In addition, interest in the side stories seemed pretty mixed based on the success and reception of Rogue One. That doesn't include the typical resistance to recasts and some behind the scenes issues.

I don't think these side stories are supposed to have the same impact as the main films. I suppose, if done well, they could potentially outdo the main trilogies. There are plenty of ways for the franchise to experiment. Then again, outside of the expanded universe,  the main franchise has generally provided the same expected beats. Star Wars does tackle more varied and interesting stories, but most audiences don't really seem to need that. I think Disney is still trying to figure out how far they can push things and still make big profits. The Force Awakens was generally liked, but stayed very close to the feel of the original trilogy. The Last Jedi attempted to subvert expectations, with a much more divisive reception. Either way, the films brought fans and casual viewers to theaters. They still made pretty large profits. With the most hardcore fans being the most vocal, it can be  harder to gauge the perception of some of these properties immediately. Disney has done a pretty good job at finding the best possible method to entertain while gaining a profit. Still, it will be interesting to see where the franchise will go. I just hope we can get a breather. After all, it's kind of hard to build up anticipation for something that's kind of always there.