A Reel Review: JUNGLE CRUISE

In 1955, Walt Disney opened his still-popular Jungle Cruise attraction. Taking inspiration from the hit film THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1952), the ride took wanna-be young explorers on a steam-boat through an exotic jungle, encountering dangerous and beautiful wildlife. Here in 2021, the ride comes back full circle to its cinematic roots.

 

At the outbreak of WWI, Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt), along with her brother MacGregor (Jack Whitehall), hire steamboat skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson), to take them down the Amazon river in search of the fabled Tree of Life; which is believed to have special healing powers that could revolutionize modern medicine. 

 

Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, JUNGLE CRUISE is a rollicking adventure up and down the river; seeing our jungle explorers endure the sweltering heat, headhunters, pirhanna, and a German submarine captain (Jesse Plemons), who wants the secret of the Tree of Life to aid Germany’s cause in the new World War. 

 

There is a lot of fun to be had as the little steamboat evades torpedoes and navigates treacherous waterfalls and rapids, but JUNGLE CRUISE still manages to be character-driven. Lily is a scientist who wants a way to heal the wounded soldiers, and is more than capable of handling herself outdoors and in a fistfight. Her brother is a well-to-do gentleman who just wants to support his sister but is a fish out of water in the jungle. Frank the skipper is just out to make money and keep floating, although he does have a few secrets of his own. The clashing characters keep things grounded and fresh in all of the chasing, fighting, and evading. 

 

Director Jaume Collet-Serra, who is known for directing horror films along with a handful of Liam Neeson-led action duds, maintains a well-paced, high-energy film…which is balanced out nicely by well-timed intimate character moments. The action scenes, chases, and fights are a blast…and he keeps his horror-film roots in play with a few great jump-scares and creep-out moments. Visual effects are top-notch, and the film looks gorgeous. JUNGLE CRUISE stays very true to its origins; working in clever winks to THE AFRICAN QUEEN and the original ride; long-time fans of the original attraction will find a lot to cheer about. The score by James Newton Howard is excellent. 

 

Acting is electric as the entire cast seems to be having a blast. Emily Blunt is a delight as always. Her character seems a little undercooked as her Dr. Lily has little motivation to heal wounded soldiers other than in the name of science, but Blunt carries it well and makes it work. She does a lot of physical work here while lighting up the screen every time she’s in frame. Her chemistry with Dwayne Johnson lights things up even more, and Jack Whitehall provides comic relief and a surprising amount of heart. 

 

Many film fans will find cause to compare JUNGLE CRUISE to THE MUMMY from 1999, and that’s perfectly fine…because like THE MUMMY, this new Disney production is a high-energy, well-acted, great-looking, old-school adventure saturated in film lore. Take this cruise and enjoy. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

A Reel Review: OLD

M. Night Shyamalan, the once-heralded director of hits such as THE SIXTH SENSE (1999), and SIGNS (2002), has certainly taken his fair share of socks on the jaw in the last 15 years. One of the unfair blows he takes is the thought that his movies should be judged by the expected “twist” ending; if the twist is not a mind-blower, then the movie is a dud. This is true to an extent, because there’s more to a film than just a twist…but at the same time…M. Night has a tendency to pack much of his stories into that final reveal. 

 

Married couple Guy and Prisca (Gael Garcia Bernal and Vicky Krieps), book a vacation to a tropical resort with their children Trent (Nolan River), and Maddox (Alexa Swinton). They are encouraged to visit a private beach, where, along with a few other couples and vacationers, discover that the beach is making them all age rapidly. 

 

Loosely based on the graphic novel Sandcastle by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters, OLD is a closed-quarters horror-thriller where rapid aging brings about terror and fascination. The kids become teens within hours, and the adults lose their eyesight, hearing, and find their pre-existing medical conditions also advancing. It’s a mish-mash of science and fantasy, with the film often going out of its way to stop the proceedings to make sure what is happening is explained. 

 

OLD seems to take a page out of the closed-quarters classic film 12 ANGRY MEN (1957) in isolating people of all walks of life and letting conflict do its thing. The group ranges from a famous rapper, a doctor with mental issues, and a woman with epilepsy. The situation generates a lot of bickering between them all, which doesn’t get as annoying as it could have. M. Night seems to have a grasp on the human condition in how people react to extraordinary circumstances, and the cast carries it all very well. 

 

OLD may ultimately land as M. Night’s best-shot film. His fluid camera movement hides and reveals things in clever ways, and the beach, ocean, and surroundings look gorgeous. He generates some genuine horrific moments and some excellent scares. Some of his dialogue is clunky and too on-the-nose (I can’t wait to hear you sing when you’re older, I have a spare bathing suit in my bag), which exists to foreshadow events and to explain away rapidly growing kids. 

 

The cast overall does very good work. Gael Garcia Bernal and Vicky Krieps are excellent, but the film is stolen by Thomasin McKenzie, who plays Maddox as a pre-teen. 

 

So let’s talk about that twist. It isn’t a twist as much as a reveal; just a simple pull-back of the curtain to see the wizard pulling all the levers. It makes sense, and any possible hole in the concept is filled in, even if the characters have to blurt it out. It isn’t a mind-blower, but it works. But OLD does stumble in the final five minutes; there was a natural, easy spot to end the film, but M. Night hangs around for what seems like endless minutes over-explaining and over-working to wrap things up. There is little for the audience to fill in for themselves, and one has to wonder if the Twitter-age of needing everything spelled out in a road-map had an influence. In this case, it isn’t the twist that deducts points for M. Night, but what happens after. OLD is a neat little film that just needed to trust its audience more. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: Rent it 

A Reel Retro Review: THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1952)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

 

Later this week, Walt Disney Pictures will release its action-adventure film JUNGLE CRUISE, which is based on the long-running theme park attraction of the same name. That ride, which made its opening in 1955, took much of its inspiration from the 1952 John Huston film, THE AFRICAN QUEEN. 

 

At the beginning of the First World War in German East Africa in 1914, missionary Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn), convinces steamboat skipper Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart), to stage an attack on a German steamer that is preventing the British from counter-attacking the invading army. 

 

Directed by John Huston and based on the 1935 novel of the same name by C.S. Forester, THE AFRICAN QUEEN is structured as a closed-quarters, isolation story…with Charlie and Rose making their way up the river alone; avoiding German snipers, harsh weather, and African wildlife such as alligators, leeches, bugs, and hungry hippos. The stakes are simple; Charlie just wants to lay low until the war blows over, while Rose seeks a bit of justice for her dead brother (at the hands of the invading German army), and a way for her kinsman to make their way into Africa and set things right. 

 

The long journey up-river allows for tons of character development. Charlie is a drinker and is rough around the edges, while Rose is well-to-do and a believer in the good book. With the two of them practically trapped on the little 30-foot boat, they have little else to do but banter, quip, and argue with each other. The energy between the two is electric, and the contrasting beliefs and goals clash nicely. 

 

Director John Huston took the production to Uganda and the Congo in Africa and it pays off. The scenery is gorgeous and looks fantastic for a nearly 70-year-old film. The harsh living and travelling conditions on the little boat are captured in full, and the two lead actors are not afraid to have themselves presented as dirty and un-attractive. A combination of location and in-studio shooting is done, although the transitions between the two are sometimes jarring. The storyline of Charlie’s love for gin is a curious one; his drinking never seems to impede their progress or cause any real problems, and Rose’s hard objection to booze seems rooted in faith…perhaps a precurser to Prohibition.

 

Acting is fantastic. With the bulk of the film focusing on just Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, there is plenty of space for the two to really stretch. Hepburn goes from a mourner to a freedom fighter with ease, and is not afraid to get down in the murky water when she has to; far from a damsel in distress and worthy of top-billing with Bogart. Bogart is a delight; rough around the edges but full of heart. 

 

The finale finds our two heroes stripped of everything on their way to bombing the German steamer, including Charlie’s beloved boat. The final solution comes about out of a little bit of dumb luck, but it does work and the film finishes in thrilling fashion. THE AFRICAN QUEEN is full of amazing photography and wonderful performances, and is a cruise worth every nautical mile.

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

Reel Facts: Humphrey Bogart would win an Oscar for Best Actor for his performance; his only career win. Much of the cast and crew were ill during the rough production on location; Bogart and Huston later bragged they escaped sickness by not drinking the local water and instead relying on the whiskey they had brought with them. 

 

 

A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Perfectly Cast Super Villains

Last week, Reel Speak ranked the perfectly cast superheroes in cinema (read it HERE). Since every great hero needs a great villain, we now come to Reel Speak’s Top 10 Perfectly Cast Super Villains. 

 

When the grandfather of all superhero films, SUPERMAN took flight in 1978, the new film genre had an air of legitimacy by casting actors who were well-regarded in all film circles. That is a tradition that continues into today, with the lineups of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), looking like the call-sheet on Oscar Night; Robert Redford, Cate Blanchett, Michael Douglas…to name a few. The caped and armored genre based on the comic books of decades past has become a go-to for actors and actresses looking to become icons in some form or another, and many of them have taken on the roles of the Big Bad; the villain in the story, the antagonist, the yin to the hero’s yang. The most perfectly casted villains are the ones who made it their own while staying loyal to the comic roots; the ones that became cultural icons while upstaging or nearly stealing the show from the hero. 

To qualify, the actor or actress needs at least one appearance in a live-action, feature film, and be based on a comic book. And a reminder; this list reflects the best pairings of actor and character, and not necessarily a ranking of the best super villains in film...because that is another story. 

 

 

So let’s get nuts…

 

 

 

 

10. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

First Appearance: SUICIDE SQUAD (2016)

SUICIDE SQUAD is by far the most dysfunctional film made in the last 20 years; failing in both concept and execution. But it’s lone bright spot is Margot Robbie in the role of Harley Quinn; the slightly insane super villainess and on-again, off-again lover/partner to the Joker. Robbie captures the character’s playfulness; never taking things too seriously and yet still deadly with a baseball bat or hammer. Her cultural impact can be seen at any Comic-Con or Halloween party, with her now trademark shorts and t-shirt seen by cosplayers everywhere. 

 

 

 

9. Tom Hardy as Bane

First Appearance: THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012)

Tom Hardy stepped into the role of the masked hulking baddie who remains one of the few who could break The Bat, in Christopher Nolan’s third and final Batman film. Hardy not only put on the muscular pounds for the part, but pulls off a stunning intimidating voice that sends chills. With his face mostly covered, he does a lot of acting with his eyes…which was just as frightening. 

 

 

 

8. Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman

First Appearance: BATMAN RETURNS (1992)

This Blogger doesn’t have a lot of great things to say about the first five Batman films made from 1989 to 1997, but one of the few would be Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman in Tim Burton’s second film from 1992. Pfeiffer is tasked with playing the role in two forms; the mousy and timid Selina Kyle, and then the vicious and seductive Catwoman. She makes the difficult transition seem flawless, and renders Batman powerless not with muscle but with her feminine side. 

 

 

 

7. Josh Brolin as Thanos

First Appearance: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)

Marvel’s ultimate Big Bad made his first cameo in 2012 at the tail-end of THE AVENGERS, but it wasn’t until 2014 when actor Josh Brolin stepped into his golden armor. Brolin provided the voice and motion-capture for Thanos and perfectly captured the character; a voice that had intelligence behind the menace…one of the few villains whose rationale actually made sense. 

 

 

 

6. Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor

First Appearance: SUPERMAN (1978)

Gene Hackman already had an Oscar under his belt when he took on the role of Superman’s arch-rival Lex Luthor in the still-magnificent SUPERMAN from 1978. Hackman plays the character as a beleaguered CEO; constantly wondering out-loud why he is surrounded by nincompoops while trying to make his dastardly wheels turn. As one of the best screamers in Hollywood, Hackman goes from cool to rage in a breathtaking blink. 

 

 

 

5. Alfred Molina as Dr. Octopus 

First Appearance: SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004)

Alfred Molina takes on the character of Doc Ock, one of Spider-Man’s greatest foes, in Sam Raimi’s often overlooked sequel. What makes Molina so perfect for the role is that he doesn’t really look like a bad guy; even after he has his transformation with his trademark sunglasses, green overcoat, and menacing tentacles. Molina takes the character from a loving husband and mentor to Peter Parker to a formidable threat with ease. 

 

 

 

4. Terence Stamp as General Zod

First Appearance: SUPERMAN (1978)

He made his first appearance in SUPERMAN, but it wasn’t until SUPERMAN II in 1980 where he was able to make the character his own. As one of the few foes who could kick Superman’s ass on his way to ruling Planet Houston, Stamp finds a way to exert fear every time he’s on the screen, and his actions and hubris make us hate him. 

 

 

 

3. Ian McKellen as Magneto

First Appearance: X-MEN (2000)

Ian McKellen was already 61 years old when he stepped into the helmet and cape of the diabolical Magneto; the mutant who could control all metal in Bryan Singer’s X-MEN. As a character who suffered unspeakable trauma during WWII, his judgement against humanity in the way they treat what they fear is understandable, and in a way, we root for him even when he is betraying his own friends. McKellen captures this, and plays the part with a dignity and grace that few actors have been able to put into their villains across four film appearances. 

 

 

 

2. Tom Hiddleston as Loki

First Appearance: THOR (2011)

When Tom Hiddleston first stepped into the role of the God of Mischief, brother to Thor, and wanna-be king of Asgard, we had no idea that he would become the cultural icon that he is today; having played the character in six feature films and a TV series. Loki is an unpredictable character with the ability to be loyal to his brother and friends one second, and stabbing them in the back the next. Hiddleston pulls this off with ease, and with one glance can go from menacing to caring. 

 

 

 

1. Heath Ledger as Joker

First Appearance: THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)

The late great Heath Ledger steps into the role of the Clown Prince of Crime in Christopher Nolan’s grand Batman film, THE DARK KNIGHT from 2008. Where most super villains are out to destroy the world or rule it, this Joker was an agent of chaos; not just for his own ha ha’s  but to educate us in the hard truth that nothing is ever set in place. Ledger plays this stunningly well with a breathtaking performance in voice and a broken walk and stature; invoking fear with humor, threat with intelligence. The Joker is a Batman foe that has no superpowers, but as it’s been stated elsewhere, he has that super-sanity that easily throws Batman’s ideas of law and order. Ledger throws everything we thought we knew about Joker into chaos here, and today people use his ideas as a philosophy for their own lives; a little anarchy into the established order. When Ledger was first announced in the role, many people laughed…but it is his Joker who gets the final ha ha. 

 

Reel Speak's Top 10 Perfectly Cast Super Villains

1. Heath Ledger as Joker
2. Tom Hiddleston as Loki
3. Ian McKellen as Magneto
4. Terence Stamp as General Zod
5. Alfred Molina as Dr. Octopus
6. Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor
7. Josh Brolin as Thanos
8. Michelle Pfieffer as Catwoman
9. Tom Hardy as Bane
10. Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn

A Reel Review: SPACE JAM - A NEW LEGACY

In 1996, NBA superstar Michael Jordan starred in the live-action/animation hybrid SPACE JAM, which saw Jordan competing in a basketball game alongside Warner Bros. animation legends Bugs Bunny and his looney friends. Here in 2021, the hopeful heir-apparent to Jordan, LeBron James, follows in his large Nike footsteps for another game. 

 

LeBron James (starring as himself), and his son Dom (Cedric Joe), are zapped into the Warner Bros. computer servers by a rogue artificial intelligence called Al-G Rhythm (Don Cheadle). To escape, they must play a basketball game alongside the looney tunes characters. 

 

SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY loosely follows the plot of the first film, with LeBron having to recruit a team to win the game. The stakes are higher this time around courtesy of some family drama; young Dom doesn’t want to play basketball like his dad and would prefer to design video games. This is picked up on by Al-G Rhythm (major groan with that name), who seduces Dom to play for his squad. There is a sub-text at work here about parents not giving their kids time and space to grow into their own person. It’s meant to give the film some heart and depth, but director Malcolm D. Lee, along with his six (!) credited screenwriters, handle the family business with the dexterity of an Acme cannon; everything is heavy-handed and clumsy. 

 

To assemble his team, LeBron journeys through the Warner Bros. servers where he encounters nearly every character and property that WB has ever owned; including the world of HARRY POTTER, the DC Comics superheroes, TV’s GAME OF THRONES, and even the classic CASABLANCA. While it’s fun at first, this is (again), handled clumsily and the thousands of background characters are shoved down our eye-sockets over and over again. Classic characters show up a thousand times and nearly upstage the looney tunes guys and girls, and most of them are poor imitations looking like cheap Halloween costumes. 

 

The film is updated to catch the attention of today’s younger audiences, with the computer-generated basketball game a mess of headache-inducing graphics, loud noises, and insane camera movement. There is a lot on the screen at once and it’s hard to find something to focus on. The looney tunes characters look and sound fine, and their old gags still work well, although a few jokes such Granny going all MATRIX and Porky Pig doing a rap act are just eye-rollingly bad. Other issues: Actor's sight-lines don't seem to align with the virtual characters they are supposed to be looking at, and on top of everything else...the movie has nothing to do with "space". 

 

Acting is shit. LeBron James shouldn’t quit his day job. Don Cheadle seems to have been told to act like a cartoon. 

 

After all the noise and predictable outcome, A NEW LEGACY goes for an emotional ending which at first seems like a surprise (a major character dies), but then the movie just changes its mind for no real reason. Between the choppy writing, awful acting, and a migraine of a palette, A NEW LEGACY feels like it exists just to showcase LeBron and WB’s catalog of property. That’s all it is, folks. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: Fuck it 

A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Perfectly Cast Superheroes

With the release of BLACK WIDOW last week, (read Reel Speak’s review HERE) actress Scarlett Johansson made her ninth and perhaps final appearance as Marvel’s master-assassin and one of the anchors of the mighty Avengers. Since her explosive debut in IRON MAN 2 way back in 2010, she has elevated the character from the obscure pages of the comics to a cultural icon, becoming one of many actors and actresses to accomplish the feat. Of those many, Reel Speak has chosen the best to do so, leading us to The Top 10 Perfectly Cast Superheroes. 

 

When SUPERMAN first took flight in 1978, its inclusion of top-tier actors right away sent a signal that the caped genre could and should be taken seriously. Since then, award-winning actors and actresses have donned the tights and armor, with some giving the genre more legitimacy in even the stuffiest of film circles. The best casting decisions and performances were able to elevate the character into our culture, and become even more popular than their comic origins. These are the men and women who embodied their characters perfectly; so well that it’s impossible to imagine anyone else in the role. Superhero films require us to buy into a lot; and these are the ones who helped us to believe. 

And this list reflects the best pairings of actor and character, and not necessarily a ranking of the best super villains in film...because that is another story. 

 

 

 

So let’s don some capes and masks…

 

 

 

 

 

10. Michael Keaton as Batman

First Appearance: BATMAN (1989) 

This Blogger has always found Tim Burton’s BATMAN from 1989 to be vastly over-praised, with most of the love that it still gets rooted in nostalgia. But there is no denying the popularity Michael Keaton has in the role as Batman/Bruce Wayne. Keaton plays the part as an eccentric oddball; a clever diversion from the Bat persona…and his time in the suit does provide a presence that can felt over our shoulders every time he’s on the screen. 

 

9. Patrick Stewart as Professor X
First Appearance: X-MEN (2000)

Bryan Singer’s now 21-year-old X-MEN re-introduced the world to mutants, and kicked off the superhero genre that we are still enjoying today. Leading the way in X-MEN was Patrick Stewart, who was fresh off his run in STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION. Stewart plays the powerful telepath and leader of the X-Men, Charles Xavier…as a loving father figure, teacher, leader, and civil rights advocate. He radiates a warmness that was always missing from the comic version of the character, but for the big screen it works and it works well. 

 

8. Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow

First Appearance: IRON MAN 2 (2010) 

She can go undercover as an executive assistant and then kick you in the forehead before you knew what was coming. Scarlett Johansson’s role as Natasha Romanova, which has lasted over a decade, has seen the character go from international spy, to co-leader of the Avengers, to a faithful friend, to a loving adopted aunt to the Hawkeye kids. Her arc was one of the strongest of the massive Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and many young girls had someone to relate to in an Avengers squad made up mostly of men. 

 

7. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman

First Appearance: BATMAN V. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (2016)

Zack Snyder’s DAWN OF JUSTICE was supposed to be all about the slugfest between Superman and Batman, but when walking out of the theatre, all anyone could talk about was Gal Gadot’s debut as Wonder Woman. One year later she would lead her own film, and the character would become an instant icon for girls and women everywhere. 

 

 

6. Christian Bale as Batman

First Appearance: BATMAN BEGINS (2005)

Where Keaton played Bruce Wayne as an oddball, Christian Bale played the man as a tortured soul with a strong inner-core; a deadly combination for any adversary. As the lead in Christopher Nolan’s DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY, Bale matches the grounded trio of Batman films with grit, and his physicality leaps through the screen as one of the most brutal versions of The Bat we’ve ever seen. 

 

 

5. Chris Evans as Captain America

First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)

By 2011, the MCU had managed to bring us new versions of Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk with great success…but there were still doubts that the star-spangled man could be taken seriously on film. Those doubts were obliterated faster than a Hydra fort when Chris Evans started throwing that shield around. As the blue-eyed, blonde-haired kid from Brooklyn who called everyone “sir” and “ma’am”, Evans made Cap a national hero again, and over the course of nine years, seven films, and a few cameos, solidified the character as a film icon. 

 

4. Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther

First Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)

No actor in the last 20 years has made a cultural impact the way the late great Chadwick Boseman has in his role as King T’Challa, the Black Panther. As the first superhero of African descent in American comics, Boseman undoubtedly felt the pressure of his role, and he accepted and carried it with honor and grace. After his show-stealing debut in CIVIL WAR in 2016, Boseman would play the character three more times, including his own solo film, the Oscar-winning BLACK PANTHER in 2018. 

 

3. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine

First Appearance: X-MEN (2000)

Hugh Jackman’s role as Logan/the Wolverine, the self-healing clawed mutant with the indestructible metal skeleton, lasted nearly 20 years over the course of eight films and one show-stealing fuck-yourself cameo. Jackman plays the character as an animal; raw and protective, and when unleashed throws awesome fear right through the screen. His presence in the X-MEN franchise was so heavy that the films without him sorely missed his claws. 

 

2. Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man

First Appearance: IRON MAN (2008)

Robert Downey Jr. was just making his way back up the Hollywood ladder when he was brought in as the lead in the first MCU film. As the billionaire, philanthropist, playboy Tony Stark, Downey put a lot of himself into the character, leading to an unpredictability that made us eager to see what he would do next. Downey would play the character in nine feature films with one cameo, acting as a co-leader of the Avengers, part-time adversary to Captain America, and eventual father-figure to Spider-Man. We loved and hated him, and his emotional exit in AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019), still stings today. He is Iron Man. 

 

1. Christopher Reeve as Superman

First Appearance: SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE (1978)

No actor or actress in cinema has owned the role of a comic book character as well as the late great Christopher Reeve has with the Man of Steel; not in looks, stature, physicality, or longevity. Playing Superman requires double-duty; to play the noble hero and his nerdy alter-ego: mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent. Reeve switches between the two with ease, with one transition amazingly done right before our eyes. As Superman, he used his physicality to make the flying scenes believable, and with one look let us know that he was there to fight for truth and justice. Since 1978, several actors have played Supes on the big and small screen, and they are all reaching for the high standard set by Reeve. This is who we look to when we need to believe. 

Reel Speak's Top 10 Perfectly Cast Superheroes

1. Christopher Reeve as Superman
2. Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man 
3. Hugh Jackman as Wolverine
4. Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther
5. Chris Evans as Captain America
6. Christian Bale as Batman
7. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman
8. Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
9. Patrick Stewart as Professor X
10. Michael Keaton as Batman

*

Read Reel Speak's Perfectly Cast Super Villains (HERE)

A Reel Review: BLACK WIDOW

In 2010, actress Scarlett Johansson debuted Marvel’s famed master-assassin character Black Widow in IRON MAN 2; nearly stealing the show in the process. She reprised the character seven more times in a supporting role across the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), including her heroic end in AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019). Here in 2021, after a long delay, she finally gets her own film in BLACK WIDOW. 

 

Just after the events of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Johansson), is in hiding in Europe. She is pulled back into her former life as a Russian superspy when she is contacted by fellow Black Widow Yelena (Florence Pugh), and learns that the old Black Widow program is still going; led by General Dreykov (Ray Winstone), and his henchman, the deadly Taskmaster. 

 

BLACK WIDOW is a film that has a lot to do. It works to fill in Natasha’s backstory while giving her a vital mission to complete which set in-between two of the biggest Marvel films. To accomplish her mission, Natasha and Yelena must first break out of prison former Soviet super-soldier Red Guardian/Alexei (David Harbour), and then find retired Widow Melina (Rachel Weisz). But unlike re-assembling the Avengers, this is a case of re-opening old wounds as the four of them were once sleeper agents posing as an American family…with old relationships, feelings, and grudges still very much alive. 

 

Director Cate Shortland is working on a theme of family here, with Natasha and Yelena as former sisters hashing out their grievances with each other and the two adults who once posed as their parents. The bigger picture at work is Dreykov’s recruitment (or abduction) of women, who are then brainwashed and built as his personal covert army. It’s a theme of how women are treated as a commodity, and for Natasha, this is another opportunity to wipe out the red in her ledger. 

 

The themes at work are actually so good that they overshadow the action. While the action scenes are well-staged across street-chases, gunfights, and a finale of a floating fortress, they are shown in a hectic manner and it’s often difficult to tell what’s going on. There is a too much sense of urgency in places and many scenes are not given enough room to breath. The film works better when it’s grounded and spending time with its characters. It’s no dealbreaker as there is still a lot of that Marvel fun to be had. 

 

Acting is excellent. Scarlett Johansson, who is likely playing the character for the last time, gives it her all and it shows. David Harbour is a blast as the former Soviet super-soldier, and Rachel Weisz is always perfect. The MVP of the film is Florence Pugh, who carries the most emotional baggage. 

 

For a film that is set firmly between CIVIL WAR and AVENGERS: INFINTY WAR (2018), BLACK WIDOW doesn’t feel essential, but it does fill in several gaps and adds depth and backstory to a character that we thought we knew so well. Natasha gets a well-deserved tribute and farewell, and her legacy, courtesy of a whopper of a post-credit scene, will be carried forward in the MCU. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Best Films of Richard Donner

The cinema world suffered a significant loss this week with the passing of Richard Donner at the age of 91. Over the course of 52 years he acted as a director, writer, and producer of film and television and also dabbled in comic book writing. A look back on his life and career reveals many films that have withstood the test of time, which brings us to Reel Speak’s Top 10 Best Richard Donner Films. 

 

Blessed with a talent for creating endearing characters, Richard Donner was born in New York City in 1930. He got his start in television, directing episodes of THE RIFLEMAN, THE FUGITIVE, GILLIGANS ISLAND, and KOJACK…to name a few. He was also the helmer of the classic TWILIGHT ZONE episode; NIGHTMARE AT 20,000 FEET. His first feature film came in 1961 with the aviation drama X-15 with Charles Bronson. His later years saw him act as an executive producer for popular films such as THE LOST BOYS (1987), FREE WILLY (1993), and X-MEN (2000). This list will rank the films that were all his; the ones that he directed and put his unique touch on. 

 

 

 

So let’s remember….

 

 

 

 

10. THE TOY (1982)

This film does not look good when looked at through today’s optics; a black man (Richard Pryor), is purchased by a rich white man (Jackie Gleason), to appease his young son (Scott Schwartz). But there is still a good film to be had here. Donner capitalizes on the comic genius that was Pryor and Gleason, and the chemistry that he found between Pryor and a young Schwartz moves the film in surprising ways. The cast is rounded out nicely with Wilfrid Hyde-White and the recently departed Ned Beatty. 

 

 

9. MAVERICK (1994)

Mel Gibson plays a high-stakes card player galloping across the Old West, joined by con-artist Jodie Foster and chased down by lawman James Garner in this adaptation of the TV series of the same name. Packed with twists and turns and endless changing allegiances, MAVERICK is a blast from sunrise to sunset. 

 

 

 

8. 16 BLOCKS (2006)

In what would be Donner’s last film as a director, Bruce Willis plays a burned-out NYPD detective tasked with escorting a witness across town to court, only to find himself mixed up in a web of police corruption in a thriller that unfolds in real-time narration. 16 BLOCKS hangs its hat on many familiar police cliches, but it feels fresh and the energy Donner infuses into the film keeps things moving. David Morse and a surprisingly good Mos Def tops off the cast. 

 

 

 

 

7. RADIO FLYER (1992)

This fantasy/drama was a flop, and the ending is questionable, but there is still magic to be found in this one. Elijah Wood and Joseph Mazzello play young brothers trying to survive an abusive stepfather, with their final solution leading to an ending that still sparks debate to this day. Filmed in a way where the entire film is shown from a child’s perspective, RADIO FLYER has a uniqueness to it and simply does not look like any other film. The strong cast is rounded out by Lorraine Bracco, Adam Baldwin, John Heard, and Tom Hanks. 

 

 

 

6. LETHAL WEAPON 2 (1989)

Donner had his work cut for him in following up his own LEATHAL WEAPON from 1987, but the addition of Joe Pesci into the already strong mix of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover provided a thousand laughs and more than one entry into pop culture. The film also dove into the backstory of the troubled cop played by Mel Gibson, along with one or two shocking moments. 

 

 

 

 

5. THE OMEN (1976)

Donner’s first commercial hit and eventual horror classic. Gregory Peck and Lee Remick play the parents of a child who seems to be the prophesied Antichrist. Loaded with atmosphere that chills to the bone, THE OMEN was one of the highest grossing films of 1976 while earning two Oscar nominations, including the one and only win for composer Jerry Goldsmith. 

 

 

 

4. SCROOGED (1988)

Bill Murray plays a beleaguered TV executive visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve, in this comedic take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This story has been done over and over in animation, live-action, and muppets over the years, but thanks to Donner’s touch and Murray’s off-the-chain acting, SCROOGED brought a freshness to the old story and has become a mainstay on everyone’s holiday watch-list every December. 

 

 

 

3. LETHAL WEAPON (1987)

Mel Gibson plays a rogue cop who is only good at killing, and Danny Glover plays a nearly retired cop who finds out that he is not too old for his shit in this action/whodunit. The chemistry between Gibson and Glover leapt off the screen, the action was full of drama and tension, and it would redefine action films for the 1990’s while re-igniting the buddy-cop genre. 

 

 

 

2. THE GOONIES (1985)

Five kids (Sean Astin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Jonathan Ke Huy Quan), set out to find lost pirate rich-stuff to save their hometown. Steven Spielberg produced and Donner directed this adventure which has become a staple in pop-culture for the last 35 years. Spielberg’s influence hangs heavy on the film, but Donner makes it work his way; creating a cast of characters that are likeable despite any of their flaws. The film captures that spirit of adventure that we as kids once had; venturing through the woods seeking treasure…but THE GOONIES makes those fantasies come true. 

 

 

 

1. SUPERMAN (1978)

Every great director has at least one film in his filmography where all the planets align just right, and for Richard Donner it was SUPERMAN (THE MOVIE), from 1978. Everything went right for Donner here; from the perfect casting of Christopher Reeve as Superman, to John Williams’ magnificent score, to the embracing of heroic ideals, to the wonderful supporting cast of Margo Kidder, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando, Ned Beatty, Valerie Perrine, Glenn Ford, Jackie Cooper, and Terence Stamp. SUPERMAN was the first superhero film to be taken seriously; a commitment that can be seen to this day. Since its release, nearly 100 superhero films have been released by major studios, and SUPERMAN set the gold standard not only for the Man of Steel, but for all the caped and armored heroes that have come to the big screen after. Donner has always displayed a talent for creating characters that stand the test of time, and this is the one that the world is still chasing. 

REEL SPEAK'S TOP 10 RICHARD DONNER FILMS

1. SUPERMAN
2. THE GOONIES
3. LETHAL WEAPON
4. SCROOGED
5. THE OMEN
6. LETHAL WEAPON 2
7. RADIO FLYER
8. 16 BLOCKS
9. MAVERICK
10. THE TOY