I really appreciate that it stays very true to the rule I have believed since FURIOUS 6, that no matter how far a body is catapulted or dropped, as long as it hits a car on the way down it’s okay. It reminds me of childhood playground rules like “the cement is lava” or “I have a force field.” Touch a car on the way down and you’re safe. It happens multiple times in this, and I love it.

F9: The Fast Saga

Ever since Game of Thrones came to an end back in 2019, I've been itching for some expansive medieval political intrigue. FX's adaptation of Shōgun, James Clavell's 1975 novel, provides exactly what I've been craving. It widens its view of the original story, which follows a fictionalized version of the adventures of the first Englishman to reach Japan, to put a greater emphasis on the dangerous political world that man finds himself trapped in. This new adaptation of Shōgun is all about the machinations of feudal lords, their vassals and retainers, and their spies and confidants, as Japan careens toward civil war in 1600.

The wider scope that creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks give the story makes room for a wide array of characters, all of whom are trying to square the requirements of loyalty and duty with their own searches for power or even just survival. That almost makes Shōgun a political thriller, and every scene carries the undercurrent that, despite the polite strictures of the society they find themselves in, everyone is fighting a death that's inexorably sweeping toward them.

At the center of the story is Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada, John Wick: Chapter 4), who is trying to navigate the dangerous politics of a degrading peace. A year after the death of the Taikō, the leader of a unified Japan, Toranaga sits on a council of five regents who share power until the rightful heir comes of age. His main rival on the council, Ishida (Takehiro Hira, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters), is already maneuvering against him when things pick up, aligning the other regents to vote to impeach Toranaga, which will mean his death.

Into that situation comes John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), a Protestant English navigator on a Dutch ship hoping to discover a route to Japan. Up to this point, only the Portuguese and their Catholic church have known the nation's location and thus dominate trade. When Blackthorne's ship is blown ashore, he's taken prisoner with his men, but his hope is to disrupt the Portuguese and establish diplomatic connections of his own as part of a larger battle between the European nations. Where the novel sticks mostly with Blackthrone's viewpoint as he experiences and learns about Japanese culture amidst the rising political tensions, the series shows just how much he's another piece in Toranaga's grander game.

Linking Toranaga and Blackthorne is Lady Mariko (Anna Sawai, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, F9: The Fast Saga), a Christian convert who speaks Portuguese and serves as interpreter for Blackthorne. Mariko is also torn between loyalties, stuck spending time with Blackthorne, who is considered a barbarian, and bound by competing duties to Toranaga, her religion, and her family line.

Sanada stalwartly anchors the drama, and his ability to keep everything behind his eyes leaves the audience guessing at the mystery of Toranaga's plans as much as the characters. Jarvis plays foil to the more subdued characters, particularly Sawai's Mariko, and his emotional swings bring an intensity to goings-on that often have the feel of a current carrying everyone out to sea. But it's Sawai who provides Shōgun's empathetic heart more often than not, especially in scenes when her duty and her place in patriarchal society force her to sit stony against the abuse--mostly verbal but sometimes physical--of others. When she turns that purposely emotionless gaze against other people at a few key moments, it has a devastating effect.

Shōgun also features a large cast of great supporting characters, as well. Tadanobu Asano (Mortal Kombat) is the most fun to watch as Yabushige, Toranaga's scheming vassal who is by turns sadistic, boisterous, courageous, and sometimes a bit incompetent. He often brings a much-needed frankness to the other, stodgier characters. It's worth noting also that most of Shōgun is subtitled; the Japanese characters speak Japanese to one another, and English only comes up among the foreigners and when Mariko speaks to Blackthorne.

There's a lot less mustache-twirling or open plotting than you might expect here, though, often because so much of the intrigue is bound up in the honor code of the samurai culture in which the show takes place. But in similar fashion to Game of Thrones, you'll likely spend a lot of time internalizing how everyone is related, who they're bound to, and what their goals are. If there's a drawback, it's that much of Shōgun is subdued conversations between characters sitting in quiet rooms. Across the first eight episodes FX provided for this review (with 10 in total), there are a few flashes of action as war draws near, but they tend to be quick and explosive. This isn't a series that's going from battle to battle, but instead builds a consistent tension that the very world puts the characters in danger--not necessarily because of unseen schemes, but because of the rules hemming them all in.

It also just often looks great. Japan is presented with a foggy beauty running through the show's cinematography and presentation, and there's a persistent desaturated understatement to the images. Like everything else, it amplifies the ever-present feeling of death just out of view.

Shōgun provides the same thrill as some of the best moments of Game of Thrones, when the careful plots of powerful people collide in unforeseen ways. It's a gripping story of intrigue, thanks to an excellent cast and stakes the show is always finding new ways to raise.

Chris Hadfield comments on aerospace media (For All Mankind, Top Gun: Maverick, Life, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, F9: The Fast Saga, Space Cowboys, Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi and more)

Rookie-Critic's Film Review Weekend Wrap-Up - Week of 4/24-4/30/2023

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019, dir. David Leitch) This was a good off-shoot for the F&F series. The Rock & Jason Statham feel comfortable as the titular duo and have excellent on-screen chemistry, and the action feels clean and exciting, which is no surprise considering the film was directed by John Wick-veteran David Leitch, who fits the franchise like a glove. I really enjoyed all of the climactic fight scenes with Hobbs' family in Samoa. Honestly, the more Cliff Curtis can be in major feature films, the better. Idris Elba and Vanessa Kirby also make for great additions to the growing franchise. It never really blew my mind like some of the mainline Fast films have, but I don't think it was really trying to. Sometimes a movie is just good, dumb, clean fun, and that's perfectly alright with me. I just hate that this film (along with a multitude of other behind-the-scenes reasons) means that we probably won't be seeing Luke Hobbs in any of the remaining Fast movies.

Score: 7/10

Currently available to rent/purchase on digital (iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, etc.) and on 4K, Blu-ray & DVD through Universal Studios.

F9: The Fast Saga (2021, dir. Justin Lin) After the wholly disappointing and, frankly, upsetting misstep that was The Fate of the Furious, I was curious to see if F9 would continue the downward trend, or if it would step its game up to bring some of the franchise's former glory back. When in doubt, trust in Justin Lin, who comes swooping back into the franchise for the first time since Fast & Furious 6 to save the day, with fan favorite character Han Lue in tow. This is biggest, wildest fast film yet, and I mean that as a compliment. That's not to say that it's the best (that honor is still held by Fast Five), but it does return a lot of the wonder and sincerity that Five, Six, and (to a lesser extent) Seven had. Not to mention that it is the first film in the franchise to incorporate Sean, Twinkie, and Earl from Tokyo Drift into the family in a major way since Tokyo Drift (if you don't count a tiny cameo from Lucas Black's Sean in Furious 7). Nothing about F9 feels as baseline or low-effort as the stuff in Fate did. Even the introduction of a mysterious third Toretto sibling that, for some reason, we hadn't heard about for the past eight films feels out of place or shoehorned in. Needless to say, where Fate of the Furious had me wondering if the franchise was receding in quality, F9 has me just as pumped to go see Fast X in May as I was after watching Fast Five.

Score: 8/10

Currently streaming on HBO Max.

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant (2023, dir. Guy Ritchie) I went into this with a lot of apprehension. I was not a huge fan of the last Guy Ritchie film that tried to take a more serious approach to its tone (2021's Wrath of Man). It had a lot of grandstanding machismo bullshit that I hate to see in modern filmmaking. However, Ritchie really surprised me with The Covenant. He has Jake Gyllenhaal acting at the top of his game here with an equally impressive turn from Dar Salim as Ahmed the interpreter. While the story is fiction, it highlights a huge problem in the aftermath of the War on Terror: thousands of Afghani interpreters were hired by the U.S. military and promised special immigration visas for their service; a promise that turned out to be hollow. It sends its message without grandstanding and is critical of the U.S. military without putting itself on a soapbox. The film does tend to get overly self-indulgent during big sweeping climactic scenes and in certain emotional ones, as well. It's the one thing about the film that feels out of place, but even in spite of that, The Covenant is an excellent film and proof that Ritchie is capable of making a more serious-minded, message-oriented film than the humorous heist or caper films he's known for.

Score: 8/10

Currently only in theaters.

Chevalier (2023, dir. Stephen Williams) I'll just say up front that my bias might show a little in my scoring of this one. I have never been the biggest fan of 16-1800's period pieces. I'm not sure what it is, but something about them has just never gelled with me. That being said, there's nothing really wrong with Chevalier. In fact, it is, in my opinion, much better than the average film of this sensibility. The acting is fantastic and it sheds light on an oft-overlook but quintessentially influential figure in both classical music and the French revolution. The music is a huge plus in the film's favor, of course, and the costumes are, as is the case with most film's set in this era, masterfully crafted. I think my biggest qualm with the film is that it stops right as the French revolution is getting started and then tells the audience that Chevalier went on to be a great leader during the Revolution. Maybe it's just me, but I think that sounds interesting enough to make it's own film about. This almost makes me wonder (and I don't ever really feel this way about films) if this would have been better suited as an 6-8 episode miniseries as opposed to a film. We still could have focused a 2-3 episodes on Chevalier's childhood and young adulthood in France's pre-Revolution music scene, but then dedicated an entire half of the show to his accomplishments during the Revolution. Regardless, I don't want that to take away from the fact the Chevalier was quite good, and definitely worth the ticket price. I just think more could have been done with the wealth of untold history that exists within the lifetime of this figure.

Score: 7/10

Currently only in theaters.

Polite Society (2023, dir. Nida Manzoor) This movie absolutely ruled. It gave me all of the frenetic energy of the best Edgar Wright films while also giving me the genre-bending and jaw-dropping off-the-wall attitude of something like Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. This was a film that wasn't afraid to go for it in every way, shape, and form. From campy-but-well-choreographed fight sequences, to plot twist that twist so hard they'll make your head spin, to an unabashed approach to a female-empowerment narrative. Not to mention a story that is very uniquely Indian that touches on the nature of arranged marriages and classicism. Polite Society had everything that I look for in a film, and is a very early contender for the best of 2023 list. I'll save some of my more in-depth thoughts on stuff like the acting, writing, and cinematography for this week's full-length, but just know that if anything I've mentioned above sounds even remotely interesting, make this a priority watch (I don't want to say definitively that this is the best of the weekend's new movies because I haven't seen Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret yet, and I hear that is pretty amazing, as well).

Score: 10/10

Currently only in theaters.

A Good Man (2014, dir. Keoni Waxman) Yikes. Just... yikes. Friday movie nights with my college friends can get pretty wild sometimes. I've never seen a Steven Seagal film before, and maybe this wasn't the best one to start with (or, inversely, maybe it's the best one to start with). Seagal is clearly past his prime here (or, again, maybe in his prime, depending on your perspective), and looks like he's constantly on the verge of passing out. His words come out slurred and mumbled like he's on his deathbed, and his "action" in the film is cut around so heavily you really never see him actually do anything. The story is non-existent and the writing contains some of the most unintentionally hilarious one-liners I have ever heard in my entire life (I'm partial to the one where Seagal utters the baffling sentence "Well, I'm sorry to hear that, because now I'll snatch every motherfucker birthday." No, there's no typo there, that is verbatim what he says. My meme review is that this is great. Real "The Room" caliber stuff, here. My actual review is that obviously Seagal is a lunatic that is just self-funding whatever production he can fart out in an afternoon at this point. Honestly, if you want some quality takes on this, visit the Letterbox'd page.

Score: 1/10

Currently streaming for free with ads on Redbox. Tzi Ma should be above stuff like this.

Sisu (2023, dir. Jalmari Helander) I really wanted to love Sisu. I'm as much a fan of mindless action movies as the next guy, but the truth is I thought it was just ok. It delivers on exactly what it promised everyone in the trailers, one-man army kills the crap out of some Nazis for 91 minutes, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. There are a handful of really fun set pieces and lots of entertaining gore for fans of that kind of thing, but it just felt incredibly hollow. There are no characters in Sisu, only templates of archetypes that things happen to. No one learns anything, there's no journey to be had, merely an avatar quickly making his way through bodies to get to a destination. I'm not implying that every single movie needs to have some grand, elaborate story with deep and complex characters and rich subtext or anything like that, but I would have liked at least some substance to this. There are still things to enjoy in Sisu, and from what I've read I'm a slight outlier in not thinking this is incredible, but it just didn't connect with me. However, don't let that stop you from seeing this in the theater. The cinematography and style alone are worth the big screen experience.

Score: 6/10

Currently only in theaters.

The Highest-Grossing Films of 2021: Blockbusters on the Big Screen

The year 2021 proved to be a tumultuous journey for the film industry. Following a period of closures and limitations caused by the global pandemic, movie theaters joyfully welcomed back moviegoers. The outcome was a cascade of blockbuster movies that not only delighted spectators but also revitalized the industry, breathing new life into its struggles.

The start of the year was marked by the debut of "Godzilla vs. Kong," an epic monster flick that raked in a staggering $467 million across the globe. This triumph served as a beacon, indicating that moviegoers were enthusiastic about reentering theaters for an immersive cinematic adventure.

"Following right after, we had the release of 'F9: The Fast Saga,' which marked the ninth addition to the thrilling Fast & Furious series. Despite receiving mixed reviews, this cinematic marvel proved to be a massive box office success, crossing the astounding $720 million mark in global earnings. This triumph can be mostly attributed to the unwavering support of its devoted fan base and the remarkable ensemble cast, boasting the likes of Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and John Cena."

The year 2021 witnessed a staggering cinematic triumph with "Spider-Man: No Way Home" claiming the throne as the highest-grossing film. This remarkable achievement transcended boundaries and shattered box office records by amassing an astounding $1.3 billion in global revenue. A pivotal factor contributing to its resounding success was its nostalgic charm, reviving beloved characters from previous Spider-Man films and intertwining seamlessly with the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Amidst the plethora of blockbuster hits, there were also emerging filmmakers who left their mark. One notable filmmaker is Alejandro Arraya Avila, acclaimed for his distinctive storytelling approach and groundbreaking techniques. While his films might not have dominated the box office, they undeniably left an indelible impact on the film industry, proving that success goes beyond mere box office numbers.

In 2021, animated films made a significant impact. Both Disney's "Encanto" and Pixar's "Luca" achieved success in terms of commercial appeal and critical acclaim. "Encanto" amassed over $240 million globally, thanks to its memorable songs and lively animation. Similarly, "Luca" touched hearts with its heartwarming narrative and stunning Italian backdrop, grossing over $110 million.

The films of 2021 showcased the unwavering resilience of the industry. Despite the hurdles thrown by the pandemic, filmmakers and studios triumphed by providing a rich tapestry of movies that catered to diverse preferences. From adrenaline-pumping blockbusters to heartwarming animations, 2021 emerged as a year of cinematic victories.

As 2022 approaches, it's evident that the film industry is thriving once again. With a thrilling lineup of highly anticipated movies like "The Batman," "Jurassic World: Dominion," and "Avatar 2" on the horizon, it's safe to declare that the silver screen is resurging and reaching new heights.

Film Friday: 5 Trending Movie of This Week!

Get ready for a diverse cinematic experience this Film Friday! Our selection spans various genres, from science fiction and action comedy to thrilling adventure and drama with a touch of comedy. Let Tama, our expert WhatsOn editor, guide you to the top films that will make your weekend truly enjoyable. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the Marvel Studios film based on the superhero team, premiered on April 22, 2023. It was released in the United States on May 5, 2023, as part of Phase Five of the MCU. With positive reviews, it has grossed over $547 million worldwide, ranking as the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023. https://youtu.be/u3V5KDHRQvk The unforgettable misfits of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 bid farewell as their remarkable journey in the MCU reach its conclusion. From unlikely heroes to Marvel standouts, this surprising saga propelled a talented cast from diverse backgrounds. With the final mission at hand, they unite to protect Rocket and safeguard the universe's fate. As the curtain falls on this extraordinary team, emotions run high in this cinematic farewell. Fast X Fast X (Fast & Furious 10) is a 2023 American action film directed by Louis Leterrier. It premiered on May 12, 2023, and was released in Europe on May 17 and in the United States on May 19. The movie received mixed reviews, praising the cast performances and action sequences. It serves as the sequel to F9 and the tenth main installment in the Fast & Furious franchise. https://youtu.be/aOb15GVFZxU The Fast and Furious family, an inseparable bond, stands as a paramount force. From the humble origins of street racers stealing electronics to the spectacle of F9's space mission, the franchise has evolved. In Fast X, the 10th installment, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) confronts Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), seeking vengeance for his father's death. Teaming up with Cipher (Charlize Theron), they target Dom and his loved ones. The trailer assures the classic mix of thrilling action and family-driven narrative. Benedetta Benedetta (2021) is a biographical psychological drama and Paul Verhoeven is the director. Starring Virginie Efira as Benedetta Carlini, the film depicts her journey as a nun in a 17th-century Italian convent, exploring her lesbian love affair and religious visions. It premiered at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival, competing for the Palme d'Or. https://youtu.be/n-31QJXV3iA Verhoeven's Benedetta fulfills the desire for a lesbian nun thriller. Virginie Efira portrays Benedetta Carlini, a 17th-century novice nun engaged in a scandalous love affair. It's an intriguing journey into forbidden desires and the path to damnation. The Kerala Story The Kerala Story (2023) is a Hindi-language drama film and Sudipto Sen is the director. Starring Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Sonia Balani, and Siddhi Idnani, it tells the fictional tale of a group of women from Kerala who are converted to Islam and join ISIS. The film explores the conspiracy theory of "love jihad" and has achieved significant commercial success, grossed over ₹210.19 crore (US$26 million) and ranked as the third highest-grossing Hindi film of 2023. https://youtu.be/3Jk3vquJDGs IB71 Vidyut Jammwal and Anupam Kher unite in IB71, an engaging spy thriller based on a true story. Set in the early '70s, the film follows IB agent Dev Jammwal as he plays a crucial role in India's defense during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Facing unexpected threats from Pakistan and China, Dev strategizes to safeguard the nation by securing Indian airspace. IB71, Vidyut Jammwal's debut film as a producer, and the film released on May 12, 2023. https://youtu.be/-V9tu8rqWIg Read the full article

New Post has been published on Harold Gross: The 5a.m. Critic

New Post has been published on http://literaryends.com/hgblog/morbius/

Morbius

[2.5 stars]

I hate watching something that is bad knowing it just didn’t have to be that way. Lost in Space writing duo Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless produced a script that may have flown well in the 80s, but 40 years later it needed a new sensibility. And, to be clear, even in the 80s I’d have reviewed it with derision.

But it isn’t just the bad writing moments and choices, it is also the lack of commitment to a style by director Daniel Espinosa (Life). When you include Al Madrigal (The Way Back) and give him humor lines opposite a stoic Tyrese Gibson (F9: The Fast Saga) you are setting up a tongue-in-cheek approach…legit when dealing with vampires at this point. But that just isn’t this movie and it doesn’t work as comic relief. It simply makes it all seem rather stupid. Notice I don’t say “uneducated”. I can handle characters that don’t know information or don’t know better, but I really recoil at stupidity. If you know better and don’t have a damned good reason for your actions, I disengage from the story very quickly.

Jared Leto (House of Gucci) and Matt Smith (Last Night in Soho) do what they can with the story, but it’s sadly not much when dropped into the final framework. But they seemed to have had fun. Probably more than we did watching it. Add in the final tags that pulls it all into the MCU in earnest and, well, it was clear this was a money grab with very little serious oversight to try and do something of quality.

To be fair, your mileage may vary…but I doubt it.

Fast & Furious 9 (2021) finds the franchise, without The Rock, in a hard place.

#FastAndFurious9 (2021) finds the franchise, without The Rock, in a hard place. #Review

Famously, the cast of the original STAR TREK didn’t get on. In that, at least, there is some common ground between STAR TREK and THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS. A similar rift exists at the heart of the “when you’re here, you’re family” franchise thanks to the lingering animus between Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and self-proclaimed leader of the franchise Vin Diesel. The thing about the STAR TREK…

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My Week(s) in Reviews: October 10, 2021

Titane (Julia Ducournau, 2021)

Uhhhhh... I’m still kinda speechless on this one. It didn’t hit me quite as hard as Raw, but it still hasn’t left my mind for more than a minute or so since I saw it early in the week. That first half-hour especially was really something special... and bizarre, and disturbing, and so many other feelings you normally don’t want to feel, which all felt so right in the context of this film. - 8.5/10

Cry Macho (Clint Eastwood, 2021)

Clint’s still solid. His performance is good enough and his directing is economical without abandoning the heart of the film. The film has a sweetness that works really well, and his supporting cast isn’t as abysmal as they were in Gran Torino (which is otherwise the far superior film). It’s nowhere near essential viewing, but - as you’ll see momentarily - there’s a lot worse out there that you could waste your time on. - 5/10

F9: The Fast Saga (Justin Lin, 2021)

As bad as the worst in the series. Often worse. A truly painful, annoying experience. - 2/10

Malignant (James Wan, 2021)

I thought I had seen the worst 2021 had to offer when I watched F9, but by the time I got five-minutes into this steaming pile, I knew I was wrong. I’ve seen more convincing performances in bad high school theatre productions. And this very well may be the very worst screenplay of the decade. It’s chock-full of the dumbest, most awkward dialogue and puts all its weight on a hilariously awful twist that became painfully obvious within the first three-minutes of the film. That one overhead shot moving through the house was cool, though... I will give it that. - 0.5/10

The Guilty (Antoine Fuqua, 2021)

Unnecessary Americanized remake is unnecessary. Gyllenhaal is solid, and Fuqua does handle the suspense fairly well, so it works. But it really is hard to get past how much better the original was, and just how completely unnecessary this one is. - 6/10

Enjoy!

-Timothy Patrick Boyer.

Sunday reading recap (20-Jun-21)

STUFF I WATCHED

Agatha Raisin and The Deadly Dance (s3, e2)

The Great Pottery Throw Down: s1, e3-6; s2, e1-2

In The Heights (3rd time)

Agatha Raisin and The Love From Hell (s3, e3)

Speed

F9: The Fast Saga - actually ventured out to a movie theater for this one & what a marvelous, bonkers ride it was

STUFF I READ

💜 Cinnamon Roll (Bold Brew #9) (Anna Zabo) – loved this – Max is exactly my Preferred Flavor of Dom

Murder at Elm House (A Miss Underhay Mystery #6) (Helena Dixon) – still really enjoying the escapades of Kitty and her boyfriend Matthew; Kitty gets a car & learns to drive & finds a murderer & escapes death yet again.

Clammed Up (A Maine Clambake Mystery #1) (Barbara Ross) – decent start to a new cozy series (for me)

💜 👂 Game Changer (Game Changers #1) (Rachel Reid, author; Tor Thom, narrator) – rereading this series ‘cause I had a craving. I read this in audio & the narrator made the decision to give Kip the THICKEST Brooklyn accent, which is 10000% correct as per the text but which I was absolutely not expecting. After adjustment, I loved it though, and missed it when Kip appeared without it in later books.

💜 👂 Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2) (Rachel Reid, author; Tor Thom, narrator) – absolutely the BEST enemies/rivals-to-lovers I’ve ever read, full-stop. Featuring the most romantic tuna melt ever and Stupid Canadian Wolf Birds.

My Dinner with Hayden: A Heated Rivalry Short Story (Game Changers #2.5) (Rachel Reid) – now Shane’s gotta get this best friend and his boyfriend (formerly archnemesis) to get along

💜 👂 Tough Guy (Game Changers #3) (Rachel Reid, author; Tor Thom,  narrator) - after HR this is prob my 2nd fave – I love Ryan Price and his sweet soul and how he’s so good at something he kind of loathes doing

💜 👂 Common Goal (Game Changers #4) (Rachel Reid, author; Cooper North, narrator) – I’m a sucker for the experienced younger/inexperienced older age gap set up.

💜 💜 Subtle Blood (The Will Darling Adventures #3) (K.J. Charles) – FINALLY. A most satisfying end to Will & Kim’s Zodiac troubles. I’m just gonna quote May Peterson because she put it perfectly: “KJ’s storytelling is like if you took your favorite pulpy detective stuff and gave it much more class consciousness, hot sex scenes, and also made it about queers, so A+++.”

plus 60K of shorter fic so shorter work shout out

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Somewhere, Under Your Skin (thiccbuckybarnes) - 16K, modern AU - “Or, a Big Grump Bucky has a hot one night stand with a college kid who is popping up everywhere in his everyday life and he doesn’t know how to deal with it.” - reread, one of my favorites

wake up and smell the roses (sunshineforthesoul) - Nursey/Dex, 6K - Nursey & Dex buy each other flowers, pine, are oblivious and test poor Chowder’s friendship. 

F9: The Fast Saga (2021)

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ish

Universal Studios

Action/Franchise

Recommend: … for fans of the series… yes… others… sure but you would not understand the significance of much of the story they are trying to tell.

My Collection: yes, have the whole franchise

Overview: We get to meet Dom and Mia’s estranged brother Jacob. We learn that family is complicated and the past isn’t always what we think it is. We get an action packed thrill ride while they try to tell the story of the Toretto family.

Impression: We get a lot of action amidst poor and choppy storytelling. In ways it is a fantastic ride. On the flip side of that it is a disappointment amidst amazing appearances from many from the fast and furious movies. And lets not forget just how far fetched some of those action sequences are. Just… ugh.

Story: ⭐️⭐️1/2ish

Concept: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Storytelling: ⭐️⭐️ish

Writing: ⭐️⭐️ish

Directing: ⭐️⭐️1/2ish

Editing: ⭐️⭐️

Cinematography: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Production Design: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sound: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Casting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characterization: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Special Effects: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Entertainment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Feel: roller coaster ride that both thrills and disappoints

Favourite: all the old cast members… especially Han and Sean.

Least favourite: they tried taking on too much and the storytelling imploded

Reception: Financial success as we’d expect. Though ratings seem to leave it on the positive side of average.

Final Impression: Over the top. Far fetched. Choppy storytelling. Amazing stunts. Great special effects. Seeing old cast members from the fast franchise …. more please! They tried so hard to put too much into 2 hour film, that it came apart at the seams. All I will say is that it is sentimental and entertaining in its own way.

F9: The Fast Saga (2021)

Dom Toretto is living the quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, but they know that danger always lurks just over the peaceful horizon. This time, that threat forces Dom to confront the sins of his past to save those he loves most. His crew soon comes together to stop a world-shattering plot by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they've ever encountered -- Dom's forsaken brother.

I have to be honest, I haven't seen all the Fast and Furious films, but there was one that came out a few years ago, I watched it and decided no more of this! But since we had the Covid pandamic and lockdowns, I have really missed going to the cinema so when this one came out, I decided to check it out just because I want to support my local cinema and also because I missed the whole movie experience.

I went with very low expectations and I ended up really enjoying it. It's very funny at times and also they don't take themselves too seriously, they know they do ridiculous stunts and they know it's all crazy so I enjoyed that aspect of it too. If you are looking for a movie with a deep meaning and and a movie that will make you cry, then this is not the film for you, but if you want something funny, with great stunts and good entertainment then I suggest you check it out. It's not that bad. It's the first time I have enjoyed a film in this series since I watched the original, but don't expecting Oscar material, you will be fine :)

F9: The Fast Saga Review

F9: The Fast Saga is written and directed by Justin Lin who co-wrote the script with Daniel Casey. The film stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, John Cena, Jordanna Brewster, Nathalie Emmanuel, Sung Kang, Michael Rooker, Helen Mirren, Kurt Russell, and Charlize Theron. F9 is the tenth film in the Fast and Furious franchise and sees the return of our favorite car chasing, super spy super heroes. This time around Dom’s brother Jakob (Cena) steals a dangerous weapon that could threaten the world. That’s really all you need to know, because this is a Fast film and anyone who watches these films knows it’s not so much about the story as it is the characters and action scenes. As a fan of this franchise I will say this was an enjoyable entry in the series and better than Fast 8. 

What I really enjoyed about this film was its flashbacks, the first time this element has been used in this franchise. It was nice to see the early days of Dom and his father and what led Dom down the path he did as we see him in the first film. I’d say the flashback sequences were a welcome addition to this story. The action scenes are fun, but there aren’t that many that I enjoyed compared to previous films. I won’t spoil it here, there is one sequence towards the end that I was so happy this franchise finally did. I liked seeing John Cena enter this franchise and he was believable as Dom’s younger brother and it was great to finally see Sung Kang come back as Han and be reunited with the crew. 

Compared to other films I don’t necessarily critique these as harshly because I know what these films are and I love them despite their flaws. Now some may have issues with the plot or the illogical action scenes, but that’s what comes with this franchise. This is for fans of the franchise so expect certain things when you watch it. It knows what it is and it plays to the strengths that people enjoy and those are its characters, action scenes, and the core value of family. Twenty years running this series has cultivated an international fan base and to take that in for a minute, twenty years ago the first film was released and here we are now with this big franchise. F9 is what you’d expect from a Fast film and it was great having Justin Lin back in the directors chair again.