Review: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

UPDATED POST with Jenna's Review: At this point in time, I could take or leave the whole superhero thing. There’s just too many shows and movies out there to keep track of. That said, the movie fan in me will never say no, so I’ll still be watching them all, even though I won’t have a clue what’s going on in some. However, the sheer number of trailers and TV spots for Batman v Superman infuriated me beyond reason. I watched the first trailer, which gave me more than enough, and by the time Wonder Woman and Aquaman were announced, I gave up.  Gutted!  I have been that busy the lsat few months that I completely missed this, I really wanted the IMAX experience as well.  I will add to this when I finally get around to watching the DVD! 

AND here I am having purchased the DVD and FINALLY watching it!

I steered clear of everything after that point, and so now I’m not sure what’s a spoiler and what isn’t anymore. I won’t mention the ending of course, now even I am that dense, but if you haven’t seen the movie yet, you might want to move along.  Now, here is where I fell down, I was desperate to see Suicide Squad when it was released, I didn't think anything of it...that is until the first 3 minutes of the film was a MASSIVE spoiler for B vs S...waaaaaaaah!!  Soooo I knew how it was going to end, before I even started it!

It’s taken me a few days to even work out what my feelings are towards Batman v Superman, but before I read too many other reviews, I think it best to get my feelings down before I change my mind about things. I want to be clear in the fact that I enjoyed watching this. It was entertaining, and I didn’t feel like it was as long as it was. However, it was a mess. The plot was all over the place. And so rather than try to write a well formed review, I’m just going to splurge my feelings all over this post.  I am struggling to form coherent thoughts about this but one thing I can say is that I DID enjoy it, even after hearing all the terrible reviews and people moaning - I still liked it!

So, in the style of the movie this post is about, here are my feelings about Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), in the order that it lands at the front of my mind:

How many times do we need to be reminded that Bruce Wayne’s parents were murdered in front of him as a child? Was there seriously anyone who watched this who really didn’t know how they died?

Let’s talk Batman himself. I’m not passionate enough about the comics to rank the multiple forms Batman has taken over the years, but I really liked Ben Affleck’s version. He’s got that grumpy charisma that I pictured. I still can’t shake the image of that batsuit looking like Lego Batman, though.

Seriously. Cannot. Unsee.

Superman, on the other hand, was the mopiest hero I’ve ever seen. Guy had a permanent ‘I can smell a fart’ face the entire time. Yes, okay, that bathtub scene was pretty hot, but then my practical side kicked in and started stressing about all the water on the floor. You’re so irresponsible, Clark Kent!

Jesse Eisenberg! He plays douchebag so well that I kind of assume him to be like that in real life. Was he really playing Lex Luthor though? He’d make a perfect Riddler, I think. Anyway, I appreciated all of his scenes, bringing the humour to an otherwise dark movie.  As one of my many obessesions, I thought Jesse Eisenberg was great, perfect combo of dark and twisty and comedy.

Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, and...the other one. Cyborg? Was there any point in them being here other than to promote their own movies? If not, couldn’t they just go Deadpool, break the fourth wall and have a sandwich board with their respective release dates on? On the subject of Wonder Woman, her score was awesome, but it felt so out of place with the rest of the soundtrack that it stood out for all the wrong reasons.  I had issues with this myself, one thing I really did dislike about this was that it didn't appear be a movie in its own right, rather a very looooong trailer for Justice League and all the individual movies that will go along with it.  I'm pretty sure I felt the same about the second Avengers movie which felt like a set up for Captain America: Civil War!!

The action scenes were really well done, and the main reason I enjoyed the movie itself. I’ve been spoiled lately with the fight scenes in Daredevil and there was one Batman scene in particular here that really stood out. It was one of those where you want to say ‘oooh, I really felt that!’

Am I remembering this wrong or was Lois Lane a total badass in Man of Steel? Her only purpose in this was to be saved. Oh, and to throw that weapon into a pool of water for no reason, only to have to fetch it again. And be saved. Doh. Man up, woman!  She didn't add much value to this one, did she?!  I do love Amy Adams though so I can't complain too much.

I have to say the action scenes were great, they weren't so fast that you couldn't see what was going on but enough action to keep you on the edge of your seat.  I liked the story, even if it was a bit confused at times but I did find myself annoyed at Batman going after Superman all the time, just get over it.  Why not just sit down and have a chat with him?! he seems like a reasonable guy "Listen Superman, people are scared of you because you are an alien and could kill everyone with a blast of your eyes - any chance you could take a sabbatical until everyone calms down?" Clark "Sure no problem, see you in a year or two, i'll be in Bali". Admittedly, it would have been a much shorter film but much more realistic!!

Did this scene remind anyone else of The Green Inferno?

Aaand that about sums it up! If you’re still reading this ramble, I both apologise and applaud you at the same time. Regular posting to resume shortly!

Liked the film, if I didn't think about it too much.  As I have just found out from the ranty rant rant above, if I overthink it I start to pick holes and enjoy it less!

Review: Suicide Squad (2016)

I have been looking forward to seeing this for so long, maybe too long.  However the combination of super hyped up excited for an age and the rumours of bad reviews put me on some sort of middle ground in terms of expectations.  I wasn't expecting the best film ever but I was still excited for what it was going to be.

Doesn't it just feel like we've building up to this movie for years now?! I don't know how I managed it but I watched the first trailer and stayed away from the rest, I didn't want to watch the entire movie after about a million trailers and 'TV spots' were released.

Does everyone already know the back story to Suicide Squad, who can have possibly not heard about it in the thousands of trailers floating around.  Anyway, short version is Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) assigns group of criminals to do the tasks that the Government cant be seen to be involved with.  With that shes pulls together Deadshot (Will Smith), El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), Boomerang (Jay Courtney), Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) lead by Rick Flag (Joel Kinneman) to take down their latest enemy.  Funnily enough, that being someone they released into the world as part of their programme (but that's none of my business!)

The intro to the Squad was probably my favourite part, I liked how each character had their own theme song of sorts, and the graphic overlays were cool, especially in 3D. I'll stick up a spoiler alert now, but I did find it funny that the only Squad member to not have an introduction got killed off within seconds. Um. Way to make it obvious and not shocking in any way at all.

I do have issues with this so lets get them out of the way first, it was a little bit flat.  I was expecting something (a bad guy or plot line) to really peak my interest and it never happened, it never quite reached its peak in terms of story.  Also, does anyone understand why they all became friends, initially I got the idea that they came together to try to escape, then they bonded over having to save Waller or they would all die.  Why didn't Deadshot kill Harley Quin? Why did Boomerang come back after he had the chance to walk away? Why do they care when they are supposedly cold bloodied killers?!

That is all my rants for today, because with all it's faults I still loved it.  I actually liked the fact that they had all bonded and become friends (even if it didn't make sense).  I really liked all the characters particularly Harley Quinn, I cannot wait to see her in her own movie.  She absolutely stole every scene she was in even with Jared Leto's Joker on the loose. The story had its faults but it was entertaining, I didn't fidget at all and forgot all about my ice cream and let it melt :( RIP ice cream...

It was entertaining, but it was bloody exhausting at the same time. Why we had such little time introducing these characters and their backstories just to fill the rest with what felt like the longest finale ever is beyond me. Margot Robbie and Will Smith were amazing, sadly Jared Leto didn't have nearly enough screen time for me to have a proper opinion, and I honestly couldn't give a rats ass about the other characters. Captain Boomerang only gift was his never-ending coat pockets, Killer Croc was 'gangsta' and Diablo was just too busy feeling sorry for himself. Oh and who's side was the katana-wielding girl on?!They were pointless to the story! No, story is the wrong word here, because that was all over the place.

Shouldn't Suicide Squad have been all about trying to get these 'bad guys' to work together? They just fell into line and chummed up within an instant. Sorry for drawing comparisons but the Avengers had a harder time working together than these guys. Also, they're meant to be the worst of the worst, but Deadshot is an absolute sweetheart.

I loved the back stories for each of them as well, which is usually the bit I dislike but as I didn't know these characters as well as some others it was interesting to see where they had come from.  Plus with there being so many, they were short and sweet not half the bloody film showing one person being bitten by a bloody spider! (I thought you liked Spiderman! Sad face.) I did the first time I saw the origin story and then they just kept them coming!!

It was fun to watch, it was better than Batman V Superman, and it wasn't anywhere near as terrible as I had feared it would be, but dang it Warner Bros, you were given enough time to get this right! A popcorn flick at best, sadly.

All in all, I really did enjoy it despite its faults which is all that matters really.  Now I have written my review I can finally read some of these 'terrible' reviews, I have heard so much about!! You er, don't need to look far I'm afraid. I think we're the nice guys :)

Review: Man of Steel (2013)

I saw this film initially at the cinema and recently it's been on Sky Movies near on daily so I managed to catch up on it again and again and again!! It wasn't so bad though because I did really enjoy this, much to the surprise of many of my film fan friends who were disappointed after all the waiting!!

Who wouldn't love a film with that face...and that body in it!!  That would have been enough for me, it could have been 2 hours of Henry Cavill just staring at the camera and I would have given it 10/10.  I'm kidding, sort of! Mmm I'll second that! I was actually sort of gutted when him and Kaley Cuoco split up, they were so cute together! Man of Steel covers the history of how Kal-El became Clark Kent and then became Superman all while saving Earth from the likes of General Zod and his Kryptonian pals.

It is fair to say that I am overall a Marvel girl, I prefer the Marvel films (I'm not a huge comic book reader so I can't comment on that) but I prefer the humour and comedic timing in the Marvel films to the darker more serious DC films such as this and the Batman trilogy.  That doesn't mean I don't enjoy these and this one had its fair share of dry humour throughout, this being my favourite:

See, now I feel sort of awkward commenting on this. Comics wise, I'm a DC fan completely, no doubt. Film wise, I tend to steer towards Marvel for the humour  (what I actually want to say is Thor) Ta-da!!! (couldn't resist!). I saw Man of Steel at the cinema and enjoyed it, but it just didn't have wow factor for me, and it sort of dragged a bit. My other half wouldn't stop raving though so it's totally personal from my side.

Although the film was particularly long, it felt rushed to me.  I am a huge fan of Smallville which took 10 seasons and 10 years to show how Clark Kent became Superman, what this film showed in 30 minutes.  I understand not as much detail can be put into a film and that there is no way it wouldn't feel rushed, so I think Smallville may have somewhat ruined any Superman films for me that covers the time prior to becoming Superman!

Actually that makes a lot of sense! I only started watching Smallville just before the JLA was introduced, and I would rather watch a few episodes of Smallville than Man of Steel.

Aside from that though, I really enjoyed the film, particularly Kevin Costner as Jonathan Kent, who I thought should have had much more screen time and Michael Shannon as General Zod.  Cavil was a significant improvement on what I consider the boring version offered by Brendan Routh but Amy Adams lacked the tough sarcasm and general know-it-all nature of Lois Lane that I love.

I could say I would watch this again and again but I already have! Definitely recommend it to any comic book movie fans but maybe not to Smallville fans!!

Currently Watching...Arrow (Allie)

As a DC Comics fan, I felt it my duty to watch Arrow when it first came out. I never really got into Smallville; I started watching it at around Season 7-8, at a time when I didn't know the characters well at all. By the time I knew who Green Arrow was and some of his stories, it didn't matter how cute Justin Hartley was, he wasn't badass enough! Cue Arrow...

 

 

Some of my friends instantly wrote this off in the first episode, saying that Oliver (Amell) showed no emotions and was wooden, but I didn't agree. The next few episodes that followed were awesome too and I loved the island flashbacks. However, from about episode 7-8, it all slowed down dramatically, or so I thought at least. This was at a time when I was getting the train to work, and so I carried on watching more to fill in the daily commute than anything else.

Thankfully, the last 4 episodes of Season 1 blew me away and the finale was one of the best I've seen in a TV Show. I was so glad I stuck it out! Major kudos goes to Manu Bennett, who plays Slade Wilson. By far my favourite character!

Fast forward to now and I've just finished Season 2. SPOILER ALERT for any UK readers who recorded it last night! I thought the finale was good, but it didn't have the shock factor that Season 1 had, in fact, I was more shocked at Episode 20, Seeing Red, when Slade made Oliver choose between his mother Moira and his sister Thea. If they could have incorporated that last scene into the finale itself, then this would have been one of the greatest episodes in TV history. That episode had me hiding in my hoodie, crying and shouting at the TV. I still don't think I've recovered from it yet, I never will!

Again, Slade Wilson just made this Season awesome, I'm really going to miss him and I hope the show continues to be great without him. Who can forget this moment?

I'm also a shameless fan of Olicity, and I'm seriously hoping/thinking/convinced that the whole 'I love you' thing wasn't just a game. I've been wishing and wishing for them to get together since Season 1 and so I'll be eagerly waiting for Season 3!

Bonus!

 

I also can't wait for The Flash to start soon!