A Reel Review - AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Marvel Studios has been putting their classic lineup of superheroes through various adventures over the course of 21 films since 2008. The main course has always been the Infinity Stones; six cosmic rocks with unspeakable power, and they have led our heroes through deeds and perils in war, space travel, mystic arts, espionage, betrayal, family drama, and great loss. For their grand finale, ENDGAME, every single adventure from their thick past becomes relevant. 

The surviving members of the Avengers; Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and new-to-Earth Nebula (Karen Gillan)…are still reeling from their devastating loss at the evil fingers of Thanos (Josh Brolin), who has successfully wiped out half of all existence. 

Marvel godfather Stan Lee had always said that superheroes should be human first, and heroes second. The early goings of ENDGAME make these characters, whom we have grown and bonded with over the last decade, as human as any character-driven Oscar nominee we’ve ever seen. The Earth is in shambles with half of all life gone, and our heroes, whom we have seen super and mighty, are reduced to helpless mourners; forever grappling with their failures and coping with great loss of friends, family, and the trillions that they were supposed to protect. It’s heavy and powerful stuff, and uncommon for the flash and boom of a standard superhero film. 

Once the Avengers discover a possible solution, one that can (a) kill Thanos and (b), undo the damage that he’s done, ENDGAME kicks into high gear as our heroes go on a mind-bending and brain-boggling journey across time and space…and this is where the greatness of ENDGAME appears. The directing team of Joe and Anthony Russo, working on a brilliant script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, have the Avengers face the biggest moments of their past; moments that bring serious emotion. We have one hero have a conversation with his father before he was born, another speaks to his mother on the day she will die, and another sees the woman he loved but never had a chance to be with. At no other time has the Avengers, or any other superhero been portrayed so human on the screen and it gives ENDGAME a tremendous amount of emotional weight. 

For a film that clocks in at a touch over three hours, ENDGAME doesn’t feel like a chore. Pacing is brisk, and even the quiet moments keep things moving. As emotional as the film is, the laughs are some of the best we’ve seen in a Marvel film, making for a perfect balance of comedy and tragedy. Balance seems to be the key term, as the script allows time for every character to have their special moment. Everyone is key and has an important part to play on this massive playing field, and nearly all 21 Marvel films are amazingly represented one way or another. 

With so much drama, comedy, and tragedy going on, the entire cast has a lot to work with and they all shine. Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Hemsworth turn in some of their best work, and be prepared for more than one surprise character. 

The complex and risky plan the Avengers are trying to pull off is not without its risk, and eventually the bad guys catch a whiff of it and begin to cause chaos on a scale that the Avengers have never seen before. It all leads to a colossal final battle where every hero in the universe is present in an awesome spectacle never before seen on film, and the battle really matters to us because steps have been taken to see the Avengers as human first. When the dust settles, there is loss, and just as this Blogger correctly predicted HERE (no spoilers), there are goodbyes to be said. This is then topped off with even more emotion as a beloved Avenger is given a proper, and incredible ending. For good measure, the Russo’s provide a perfect bookend as things end just as they began, and gives us a lot to think about and ponder long after the credits (worth staying for), are over. For the past decade, Marvel has re-defined superheroes and the modern blockbuster, and ENDGAME stands as not only the finale to their Infinity storyline, but as an end to the old way of making blockbusters. The bar has been raised to galactic heights. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

A Reel Preview: Everything You Need To Know About AVENGERS: ENDGAME

This week, the biggest, grandest, and most anticipated film of this millenniumarrives, when Marvel Studios releases AVENGERS: ENDGAME. Here now is a non-spoiler preview and everything you need to know before assembling at the theatre. 

What is this about? – ENDGAME is the 22^ndentry in Marvel’s series of superhero films; a series that started in 2008 with IRON MAN. It follows up the devastating events of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR from last year. This time, the surviving members of the Avengers; Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, War Machine, Ant-Man, Rocket, and newcomer Captain Marvel are still reeling from their losing battle with the Mad Titan Thanos, who successfully wiped out half of the existence in the universe.

Who is in this? – The massive cast of returning heroes includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Brie Larson, Karen Gillian, and Danai Guirra. Bradley Cooper returns as the voice of Rocket, and Josh Brolin provides the voice and motion-capture for Thanos. 

Who is behind this? – ENDGAME is directed by the directing team of Joe and Anthony Russo. The brothers have long been in the employ of Marvel, having directed some of their most successful films; CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), and last year’s INFINITY WAR. Prior to saving the world and wiping out the galaxy, the brothers were known for their work on the TV series ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT. ENDGAME is produced by Kevin Feige, who has been producing films for Marvel since 2000. 

Random Facts – At three hours and one minute, ENDGAME is the longest Marvel studios film and the longest superhero movie to date. The trailers so far have only shown footage from the first 15-20 minutes, which means only 3% of the film has been seen in the marketing * ENDGAME and INFINITY WAR were filmed entirely on digital IMAX cameras, making them the first Hollywood film to be shot exclusively in the format * This film will conclude the Infinity Stones arc; a story that Marvel has been putting on the screen for 11 years over 21 films * The term “endgame” was mentioned by Iron Man/Tony Stark in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), and by Dr. Strange in INFINITY WAR * Chris Evans has appeared as Captain America in one film a year except for 2015 where he appeared twice; totaling ten times * 

What to expect –We can expect the unexpected when it comes to Marvel movies, especially ones helmed by the Russo Brothers. But what we can expect is some great action, some epic set-pieces, and resolutions to several plotlines started in INFINTIY WAR and prior. But most importantly, we can expect characters to shine. The late great Stan Lee, the godfather of Marvel, always said that a superhero should be a character first and a hero second. That philosophy has carried into this series of films, and with this being the likely final appearance of much of the primary cast, we can expect our beloved heroes to have more than their share of moments. And that brings us to the question everyone is asking; will any of our heroes be killed? It is certainly possible, but this Blogger doesn’t believe it will be the bloodbath that many are thinking. This Blogger predicts one or two minor deaths, and then one big death that will have everyone talking about and weeping over for another decade. 

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AVENGERS: ENDGAME lands in theatres on April 26^th, with limited showings on the 25^th. 

A Reel 30: FIELD OF DREAMS

“If you build it, he will come…”

This month marks the 30^thanniversary of Phil Alden Robinson’s FIELD OF DREAMS. 

It is a cultural milestone, piece of Americana, and often regarded as one of the best sports films of all time. Adapted from W.P. Kinsella’s novel Shoeless Joe, FIELD OF DREAMS told the story of a struggling farmer who tears down his crop and livelihood to build a baseball field…which leads him on a journey across the country with a reclusive writer to unravel a mystery rooted in baseball of the past and his own family; specifically, his dead and estranged father. 

Phil Alden Robinson, who had a reputation as a screenwriter, began pitching the idea of a film based on the novel as far back as 1981. Studios passed on it for fear of it being not commercial enough, but it was eventually accepted by Universal Studios in 1987. The film was shot with the novel’s title, but the studio decided to change it to FIELD OF DREAMS. Robinson hated the change but was told by the book’s author that the original title for the novel was supposed to be The Dream Field, and that it had been changed to Shoeless Joe by the publisher. 

The lead role of Ray Kinsella, the broke farmer and family man, went to Kevin Costner, who was fresh off another successful baseball movie, BULL DURHAM. Costner accepted the role believing that FIELD OF DREAMS could become a next-generation IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. In the book, Kinsella seeks the help of reclusive writer J.D. Salinger, but Salinger threated to sue if his name was used, so Robinson re-wrote the character as Terence Mann, with James Earl Jones in mind. Amy Madigan was cast as Ray’s wife Annie, and Burt Lancaster would sign on in what would be his final role. The character of infamous baseball player “Shoeless Joe” Jackson would go to Ray Liotta. 

Filming took place in Iowa in the spring of 1988 at various locations. The famed baseball field that Ray would build was built and shot on the farm of Don Lansing, and the field stayed put for decades as a tourist attraction. With this being several years before the CGI era, the scene with endless headlights pulling into the field at night was done with the cooperation of the community; The nearby town of Dyersville was blacked out, and extras drove countless cars to the field. James Horner provided the score. 

FIELD OF DREAMS was released in April of 1989 in just a few theatres and was gradually opened to more screens and would play in theatres up until December. Reviews were positive, and it would be nominated for three Academy Awards; Best Original Score, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. Robinson would earn nominations from the Directors and Writers Guild. In 2017, FIELD OF DREAMS was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. 

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FIELD OF DREAMS is a film that wears many caps; it’s a baseball movie, but it also works as a family drama, father-son story, a ghost story, and a mystery. Far and away from the standard sports film, it is a character-driven story with the sport as the backdrop but finds a way to make that sport vital to the telling. Its innocence and earnestness gives it a wide appeal and makes it a lovable family film that all ages can enjoy. FIELD OF DREAMS has been one of the favorites of this Blogger’s family, and no one with a soul can possibly walk away without a wet face after the film’s final shot…of a father and son playing a long-overdue game of catch. FIELD OF DREAMS is indeed a place where dreams come true. 

“Wanna have a catch?” 

A Reel Opinion: What's Next?

Here in 2019, it is with a great mix of emotion, excitement, and melancholy to know that two of the biggest, popular, and most successful franchises in film history will be coming to end in the next eight months. Marvel Studios will be ending their run of superhero films with AVENGERS: ENDGAME at the end of April, and STAR WARS will wrap up the Skywalker saga in December with Episode IX, THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. While we know that there will undoubtedly be more films from these two mammoth money-makers, the ending of their primary storylines and final goodbyes to beloved characters; a journey that has taken decades to get to, begs the question of what could possibly be next. 

That question takes Reel Speak back to 2003. It was December, and this Blogger and his very own Fellowship had just screened Peter Jackson’s glorious and triumphant THE RETURN OF THE KING; the finale to THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. The eventual box office monster and Oscar-gobbler was a wrap on a series of films that had dominated theatres and most of our film-talk for three years, and similar to 2019, it was sad to see such a great run end. During libations on that cold December day, this Blogger’s best friend and loyal reader of Reel Speak asked, “what’s next?”

The question not only asked what we had to look forward to, but also what could possibly come close to the heights of THE LORD OF THE RINGS. The question was fair as blockbuster filmmaking then wasn’t at the level it is today. The STAR WARS Prequel trilogy would be ending in 2005, and in the superhero business…Marvel had their name on a few X-MEN and SPIDER-MAN films that ranged from okay-to-great, and DC Comics had absolutely nothing going on; perhaps still reeling from their disastrous BATMAN run in the 1990’s. 

But then a funny thing happened on the way to 2019. In 2005 Christopher Nolan re-imagined and re-invented Batman for the big screen, starting with BATMAN BEGINS, and peaking with his Oscar-winning THE DARK KNIGHT in 2008. It was a bold step forward for DC and for superheroes on film, showing that movies with capes and masks can be considered legit cinema. 

And then Marvel reorganized and launched a new franchise, beginning with IRON MAN in 2008. The new series would bring older and nearly-forgotten comic heroes to the big screen such as Captain America, Hulk, and Thor…and elevated even their lower-tier characters such as Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Rocket & Groot into household-name status. The franchise ignited a popularity in comic-books that had not been seen in decades, and made comic conventions (comic-cons), wide-reaching pop-culture events and a target for major movie studios. 

Four years after IRON MAN, the surprise of the millennium came when STAR WARS creator George Lucas handed over the reins to Disney, which immediately announced more films. Beginning with THE FORCE AWAKENS in 2015, the new storyline picked up after the events of THE RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) and awoke a sleeping fanbase and recruited a new one. Long-time fans were re-united with old friends such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, while new fans fell in love with new characters Rey, Finn, Poe, and BB-8. The films were box office monsters and brought STAR WARS back into everyday conversation. 

And this year, both Marvel and STAR WARS will be closing the curtain on their current run. So, what is next? Marvel may be saying goodbye to Iron Man and Cap but have plans with a new generation of heroes…and their recent re-acquisition of the famed X-MEN and FANTASTIC FOUR franchises (FOX studios had owned the rights), gives them a near-endless slate of characters to re-introduce to the world. STAR WARS will be taking a break from cinema for an undetermined amount of time, but more films will be arriving down the road, and they have plenty of TV projects to keep us star-crossed. On the DC side of things, they’ve been all over the map in terms of quality, but have recently found hope in WONDER WOMAN, AQUAMAN, and SHAZAM!. And besides all the blockbusters, the Academy has had a focus on smaller films which tell personal, character-driven stories…which provides us with a balance of the massive and the intimate in cinema. 

Cinema history, like any other history, tends to repeat itself. This December we may be asking “what’s next” once again; hopefully the answer will be just as satisfying as the last one. 

A Reel Review: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Teaser

On this day, the eyes of the galaxy turned to Chicago, Illinois…where Disney unveiled to anxious fans the long-guarded title and long-awaited first footage of the 9^thepisode in the STAR WARS saga. The event was Star Wars Celebration, and the special panel which was streamed live on the internet was hosted by Stephen Colbert, and attended by director J.J. Abrams, LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy, and key members of the cast…along with a massive crowd of enthusiastic and emotional STAR WARS fans…representing the best in fandom and showing that the franchise is alive and well. There were no major spoilers given out during the panel, and the highlight was the debut of the first teaser which ended with that elusive title…which we now know to be THE RISE OF SKYWALKER. 

Here are the highlights from the teaser. 

It opens with this stunning shot of Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, alone in a desert with what seems like Luke’s re-forged lightsaber…which was in pieces at the end of the last film, THE LAST JEDI. This beautiful looking setting, filmed in Jordan, has Rey on foot in a showdown with who we assume to be Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), in his TIE fighter. The scene is very reminiscent of the classic film NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959), and it ends with Rey pulling off one hell of a move. 

Then we have Kylo Ren up to no good…

Our beloved BB-8 with new droid/character, D.O. 

Billy Dee Williams reprises his role as Lando Calrissian for the first time since RETURN OF THE JEDI in 1983. Here we see him back in the cockpit of the fastest hunk of junk the galaxy…and really enjoying it. And as a sidenote, he seems to be back in the outfit his younger self wore in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (2018). 

Rey and General Leia sharing a moment. J.J. Abrams said during the panel that deleted scenes from THE FORCE AWAKENS (2015) are being recycled to give the late, great Carrie Fisher a proper role and sendoff. 

Some of the primary cast all together. Rey, Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac), Threepio (Anthony Daniels), and Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo). Abrams said during the panel that the group shares the adventure this time, as opposed to them all being split up in the previous films. 

Throughout the trailer, we have a voiceover from Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), telling (presumably) Rey that we’ve passed on all we know, and this is your fight. And in the end, he repeats his line from THE LAST JEDI; no one’s ever really gone. This is followed by a familiar, and sinister laugh we have not heard in a long time. 

That led to the reveal of the title, and those of us who were watching the live panel were then greeted by Ian McDiarmid, who played Emperor Palpatine in the original trilogy and the Prequels, who said in his old sinister voice; roll it again! 

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What does it all mean? That old laugh and McDiarmid’s presence at the panel all but confirms that the Emperor has some role to play in EPISODE IX. The title of THE RISE OF SKYWALKER may seem like it refers to one person, but this Blogger believes that refers to Luke’s legacy. OR, remember that little kid at the end of THE LAST JEDI, and how Luke said it was time for the Jedi to end? That could be the key; there are no more Jedi...there are Skywalkers. But the best part about the title is that this is the first time the famed Skywalker name has been used in a title…and in the long term that gives it a new, lasting identity. For now, this was an amazingly jaw-dropping beginning for the end. 

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STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER arrives December 20^th, 2019. 

Watch the teaser HERE         

A Reel Review: HELLBOY

In 2004, visionary director Guillermo del Toro brought the popular comic character HELLBOY, a demon living among us fighting for good, to the big screen. That film and it’s 2008 sequel were loving homages to the monster movies of old, and the amount of care put into it was evident and showed that HELLBOY was in the right hands. Guillermo’s HELLBOY 3 never happened, and here in 2019 a new batch of filmmakers reset the board for a brand-new version. 

Hellboy (David Harbour), working for the secret organization BPRD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense), which is led by his adapted father Trevor (Ian McShane), races to stop a resurrected medieval sorceress known as the Blood Queen (Milla Jovovich), from regaining her power and destroying mankind. 

For a sci-fi/fantasy film, HELLBOY has a lot going on. There’s the race to stop the Blood Queen from re-assembling her hacked-up body parts, a sub-plot with King Arthur and his legendary sword Excalibur, a treacherous secret society, mediums who talk to the dead, giants who feast on human bones, and Hellboy’s daddy-issues while he discovers his past and ancestry. The plot quickly becomes convoluted as the structure of the film falls into a clunky pattern of lets-talk-things-over followed by fight-the-bad-guys and then repeat the cycle over and over again. It’s redundant to the point of predictable, and predictable leads to boring. The talking-things-over scenes get dull in a hurry, as “darkness covering the world” is mentioned over and over; the word “darkness” feels like it’s uttered 10 billion times. 

With so much being crammed in, the film feels rushed with no time to fill in the important details. The BPRD gets no background or framework at all, and the characters have no time to breath or express themselves. The action is CGI overload and despite a generous amount of bloodshed and bodies being torn to bits…just comes off as bland and uninspired. And the problems just keep rolling in; the editing is a hack-job (Milla Jovovich doesn’t look like she was ever on the same set as everyone else), many scenes are pointless (Hellboy is betrayed and makes a deal with a crab-woman which never comes back around), characters act without explanation (Hellboy is betrayed for no reason, and Trevor has a potty-mouth for, again, no reason), the tone shifts in awkward ways (we go from horror to comedy in weird places), and inconsistencies all over (Hellboy is supposed to working for a secret organization, but he walks around in open public and no one even blinks at him). It’s just a mess from top to bottom. The CGI is cartoony, and Hellboy’s face is a mix between an extreme bitter-beer-face and a wax figure that’s half-melted. 

Acting is all over the place. David Harbour sounds like he’d make a good Hellboy, but he can’t seem to get through the 50 pounds of rubber and makeup. Milla Jovovich is like a plank of wood, and Ian McShane gets derailed by the all the goddamn swearing that has no context.  The lone bright spots are young Sasha Lane who is an old friend of Hellboy, and Daniel Dae Kim as a BPRD soldier with a secret. 

This version of HELLBOY went through a lot of turmoil during production; ranging from director Neil Marshall being consistently messed with by the 16 (!) different producers, and the cast members being in a minor state of revolt. Many movies have troubled productions and can pull it together on the screen, but this giant mess makes it obvious the wrong hands were involved. This movie can go right to hell. 

BOTTOM LINE: Fuck it 

A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Stephen King Movies

For over 40 years, the works of famed horror novelist Stephen King have been adapted to the big (and small) screen with varying degrees of success; some are great, some are okay, others deserve to be burned and never spoken of again. The recent release of his PET SEMATARY, the second big-screen version of the story, has sparked discussion over which of the King stories have made the best films. With that, Reel Speak proudly presents its first Top 10 Best Stephen King Films. 

To qualify, the work must be written by King or adapted from his previous works, and must be a theatrical release (sorry, no TV here). The criteria is story, character, scares, and cultural impact. Movie comes first, so any book-to-film changes are not considered. 

So lets grab that shovel and start digging…

10. PET SEMATARY (2019) 

This brand-new film has yet to be put to the test of time, but for now it earns a spot on this list thanks to its effective scares, well-developed characters, excellent performances, and a direction that generates an un-nerving, creepy atmosphere. This remake has an emphasis on family which makes it palpable, it smooths out the bumpier spots of the 1989 version, and makes some bold moves that work very well. And man, that ending…

9. THE GREEN MILE (1999)

The late, great Michael Clarke Duncan earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as a mysterious prisoner with mystical healing abilities. The strong cast of Tom Hanks, James Cromwell, Sam Rockwell, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, and Barry Pepper (among others) carry the film as not just a fantastical mystery but a character piece. It has one of the most despicable “villains” ever to appear in a King adaptation (played by Doug Hutchison), and somehow makes the death of a mouse hurt like hell. 

8. CREEPSHOW (1982)

This wasn't based on a previous King book, but it was his screenwriting debut. He and famed horror director George A. Romero (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD), paid homage to the horror-comics of old with this collection of short stories told in various ways. From a farmer (played by King himself), who encounters an asteroid, to a doomed wife and her lover buried on a beach during high tide, CREEPSHOW is one of those special, anthology-style films that have gone out of style in recent decades…but doesn’t feel at all dated and still brings the creepiness. 

7. CHRISTINE (1983)

John Carpenter, director of THE THING (1982), directed this adaptation in which a high school dork buys a beater Plymouth and becomes obsessed with it…only for the car to become obsessed with him. This one had some excellent special effects for its time and elevated the Plymouth Fury in pop culture. 

6. CARRIE (1976)

This was the very first of the King novels to make it to the big screen, and although a little dated, still holds up. Sissy Spacek plays an abused teen who gets pushed too far by high school bullies and her abusive mother…and unleashes her terrible power in a literal bloodbath. It’s a horror movie that explores religious oppression and the teen experience, which gives it a deeper feel and a lasting impression. 

5. MISERY (1990)

The only King adaptation to win an Oscar (so far), and it belongs to Kathy Bates for her role as a mentally-disturbed nurse who kidnaps her favorite author and forces him to do her will. James Caan, as the poor author, is excellent and perfectly paired with Bates, and the tension and suspense built by director Rob Reiner is unmatched. At almost 30 years old, MISERY today stands very relevant considering the vile nature of obsessive fans today. 

4. IT: CHAPTER ONE (2017)

This terrifying tale of a group of kids who have to fend off an evil demon in clown form was brought to the small screen as a TV series, and then re-adapted for film by Andy Muschietti. The first part was an absolute relentless assault of terror, with Bill Skarsgard’s performance the stuff nightmares are made from; which is exactly what the novel wanted to do in the first place. We can only imagine, for now… what CHAPTER TWO is going to bring. 

3. STAND BY ME (1986)

This Blogger’s personal favorite of the King collection; a film that brings back memories of stomping through the woods with best buddies on a mission of up-to-no-good during the hot and endless summer days. Rob Reiner directed this film which follows a group of boys hiking across their home state to find a dead body while exploring lost youth and the value of friendship. The young cast is excellent, the writing sincere, and today can be quoted endlessly. 

2. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)

One of the best films of 1994. Tim Robbins plays a mild-mannered accountant wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his wife, and over the course of 20 years of incarceration finds a life-long best friend. Robbins and Morgan Freeman are both unforgettable, as is the entire cast. The cinematography and music is excellent, and the film is packed with quotes that movie-buffs often spin today. Memorable and almost mythical in its telling. 

1. THE SHINING (1980)

The late, great Stanley Kubrick directed this creepy-as-hell thriller about a family employed as caretakers at an isolated hotel with a sinister past. A masterpiece of horror that is about the psychological as much as the spiritual, it ranks as one of the scariest films ever made thanks to Kubrick’s fluid camerawork…which feels like spying more than filming. The performances by Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall are chilling, and the quotes are endless. Stephen King himself disapproved of the film, but if the original purpose of the story was to terrorize us to the bone, then no other King adaptation has done it better. 

THE TOP 10 BEST STEPHEN KING MOVIES

1. THE SHINING
2. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
3. STAND BY ME 
4. IT: CHAPTER ONE
5. MISERY
6. CARRIE
7. CHRISTINE
8. CREEPSHOW
9. THE GREEN MILE
10. PET SEMATARY (2019)

A Reel Review: SHAZAM!

Since 2013, Warner Bros. has stumbled and bumbled their efforts to bring a film series based on the DC Comics collection of superheroes to the big screen; with only one out of their first five films being worth a look. In the last two years, things have come together better, with two of their last three; WONDER WOMAN (2017) and AQUAMAN (2018) delivering with fans and critics. With a little bit of momentum going, the pressure is on to actually string together two consecutive good films, and that brings us to SHAZAM! 

14-year-old Billy Batson (Asher Angel), is a rebellious orphan searching for his long-lost mother while bouncing around from foster family to foster family. Just as he lands in a new, loving home with five other kids, including Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer), he stumbles across an ancient wizard (Djimon Hounsou), who infuses him with the ability to transform into an adult superhero (played by Zachary Levi). Meanwhile, Dr. Thaddeus (Mark Strong) is also in search of the wizard and seeks that power. 

SHAZAM! Starts off as a basic fantasy flick, with a young man searching for his place in the world who stumbles upon the wizard who grants him power to prevent the Seven Deadly Sins from taking over the world; a power that he doesn’t know what to do with or if he even wants it. It’s rudimentary material, but backstory becomes key and the savior in this super-adventure. Billy finds his new abilities as a way to fill a huge hole in his life, and Dr. Thaddeus, who has his own issues with family, seeks the power not just for world domination but for a way to prove himself in his father’s eyes. It’s a fantasy that works simply because the theme of family is first and foremost. 

Once Billy finds his power to turn into an adult superhero, good fun is to be had. Billy relies on Freddie, who is a self-proclaimed expert on men of steel and caped crusaders, to help him find out exactly what his new abilities can do. The comedy comes fast and furious as Billy/Shazam stumbles, falls, crashes and smashes while he tries to learn how to fly, jump, and toss lightning around. Billy also lets his new power go to his head, which creates tension between he and Freddie and eventually his new foster family…which adds another layer of family to the film. 

The action is a blast. Shazam/Billy battles Dr. Thaddeus and his big ugly demons all over the city, and with Shazam still not in total control of his powers, learns as he goes. There are a few well-earned, stand-up-and cheer moments, set-pieces are staged very well, and there’s little to no goddamn shaky-cam to muck up the works. The CGI on the demons ranges from okay to cartoonish, but their design is excellent in their horrific glory. 

Acting is a charm. Zachary Levi is a ton of fun and really shows his chops as both a comediec and serious actor. Young Asher Angel is also very good for his age. Mark Strong turns in his basic performance as yet another bad guy in his long list of bad guys. The film really belongs to the kids in the foster home; Jack Dylan Grazer, Faithe Herman, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, and Jovan Armand…all perfect in their roles. 

SHAZAM! Is not without issues. There is some clumsy set-up in the early goings as we have to sit through two prologues, and the backstory behind the source of the Shazam power could have used more explaining…other than here’s a wizard with a staff. But, by the time the finale and final battle rolls around, which is packed with a few surprises and comic book greatness, SHAZAM! sticks the superhero landing as a fun film with a lot of heart. Warner Bros. may have been looking grim for years, but a hero always arrives in the nick of time. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

A Reel Review: PET SEMATARY

Horror films have always had to accomplish more than just scaring people out of their seats. A good story is, of course, is the most important thing…and creating characters that are actually people and not just targets for blade-wielding ghouls helps too. In this modern era, all that is not enough, as the genre has advanced to the point where a theme or lesson; something to take home, is almost expected. It’s not a bad thing, as this new angle elevates horror to serious cinema, and the next film to take a step across that barrier is the latest version of Stephen King’s PET SEMATARY. 

Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), with his wife Rachel (Amy Seimetz), relocate from Boston to the laid-back countryside of Maine with their kids; eight-year-old Ellie (Jete Laurence), and toddler Gage (Hugo and Lucas Lavoie). When the loss of the family pet cat devastates Ellie, their new neighbor Judd (John Lithgow), takes Louis to a mysterious cemetery where pets are resurrected…but don’t come back the same. 

PET SEMATARY begins in familiar territory, with the Creed family moving into their new home for a fresh start on life. Their new surroundings have two drawbacks; the road they live on is a throughway for tractor trailers that thunder on by like they’re in a race, and their property is home to the creepy home-made graveyard with a long history of urban legend tales. One thing leads to another, and these two elements come crashing together as one of the Creed children are killed by a truck, and a distraught Louis, wrecked with grief, exhumes his child and re-buries them in the makeshift burial place…despite warnings from Judd that those buried there do not come back the same. 

Horror always asks us to buy into a lot, and a certain suspension of disbelief and reality is needed to take-in a film where dead children (and pets) rise out of the ground and begin drawing blood. But what makes PET SEMATARY even more palpable and believable are themes of grief, loss, and survivors’ guilt that the characters carry. There are a lot of real-world emotions at work, and it isn’t that far-fetched that Louis would try to bring his daughter back no matter what the risks were. Starting with the loss of the family cat, we genuinely feel for this family and it makes the tragedy they’re headed for all the more impactful. 

Once the scares start, they work and they work well. Plenty of jumps and misdirection are here, and co-directors Kevin Koisch and Dennis Widmyer do excellent work in ramping up the tension and dread. Flashbacks to Rachel’s past, which involve her long-dead, deformed sister come when we least expect it, and Louis’ dream-visions really mess with our heads. The editing is sharp as Koisch and Widmyer blur the line between past and present. The film looks great, and the sound-editing and mixing will have us checking over our shoulders. 

Acting is superb. Jason Clarke and Amy Seimetz are well-matched and play the roles of grieving parents very well. John Lithgow is excellent and has officially embraced his role as one of cinema’s best elder-statesman. The film absolutely belongs to young Jete Laurence, who is asked to do a lot and pulls it off like a screen veteran. 

PET SEMATARY goes into some extremely dark and disturbing places; the exhumation for one, is something that is pretty goddamn hard to watch. The ending is a shocker and has one of those final shots that can stick with us for a very long time. This new version of King’s novel definitely brings the scares and serves as a lesson on love and loss…and a minor indictment on selfish parents and dads who think they can fix anything. It’s a clever, and effective blending of horror and reality…and gives us plenty to take home. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2019 - Episode IV

For decades, the Summer Movie Season has traditionally started on Memorial Day Weekend, when studios start to roll out their crowd-pleasing, action-packed, colorful blockbuster-hopeful films. But studios love to move the goalposts in the game they play, and in recent years the month of April has become coveted ground for those crowd-pleasers. This month follows that trend, and will end by delivering what is possibly the movie event of the decade. Here are the notable films for the month of April. 

It all rises again with…

PET SEMATARY – The second adaptation of the Stephen King novel of the same name, in which a family moves to a new home located near a graveyard with the ability to resurrect whatever, or whoever is buried there. Jason Clarke (ZERO DARK THIRTY), and John Lithgow star. 

SHAZAM! – DC Comics brings one of their most name-worthy, and perhaps their oddest heroes to the big screen. A young boy (played by William Batson), stumbles upon powers which allow him to transform into a super-powered adult (played by Zachary Levi). Mark Strong (KICK-ASS), co-stars. It is directed by David F. Sandberg, who helmed the horror spinoff ANNABELLE: CREATION in 2017. 

HELLBOY – The third film to bear the name of HELLBOY is unfortunately not a sequel to the first two films done by Guillermo del Toro, and is instead a full reboot/reset. David Harbour (TV’s STRANGER THINGS), plays the demon from hell working for the U.S. government. It also stars Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, and Thomas Haden Church. It is directed by Neil Marshall, who has directed two of the most critically acclaimed episodes of TV’s GAME OF THRONES. 

MISSING LINK – This stop-motion animated film follows a myths and monsters investigator who sets off to prove the existence of a legendary creature. It features the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, and Timothy Olyphant. 

MARY MAGDALENE – If a break is needed from all the fun movies, Joaquin Phoenix plays Jesus Christ and Rooney Mara plays Mary Magdalene in this biblical drama. It is directed by Garth Davis, who brought us the most-excellent Oscar nominated LION in 2016. Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 YEARS A SLAVE), co-stars. 

STOCKHOLM -  Based on the true story of the 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm. It stars Noomi Rapace, Ethan Hawke, and Mark Strong. 

PENGUINS – This Disney-produced documentary follows a group of penguins in the Antarctic. 

THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA – This horror film is the sixth entry/spinoff in THE CONJURING universe/series. This time around a female ghost called the Weeping Woman causes misfortune to anyone she crosses. Linda Cardellini (GREEN BOOK), stars. 

THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE – Famed director Terry Gilliam (TIME BANDITS, 12 MONKEYS), has been trying to make this film for 29 years and this month he finally brings it to the big screen. Adam Driver (THE FORCE AWAKENS), plays an advertising executive who is pulled into a time-jumping fantasy. It co-stars Jonathan Pryce, Stellan Skarsgard, and Olga Kurylenko. 

AVENGERS: ENDGAME – The grand finale movie event of the decade by Marvel Studios, which launched this current superhero series way back in 2008. It is a follow-up to last year’s AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, in which the devasted Avengers, led by Captain America (Chris Evans), and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), try to figure out what to do after the Mad Titan Thanos (Josh Brolin), has wiped out half of the people of Earth and the universe. The massive and impressive cast includes Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), Karen Gillian (Nebula), and Bradley Cooper as Rocket….among others. It is directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who helmed INFINITY WAR along with THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), and CIVIL WAR (2016). 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the month of May.