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Movie Review: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”

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Movie Review: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”

            How wrong I was about 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” When I saw the first trailer, I remember groaning about starting a fourth big-screen Spider-Man continuity when we were still in the middle of the Tom Holland version, hadn’t had a proper conclusion for the Andrew Garfield version, and weren’t far enough removed from the Tobey Maguire version. The live-action continuities eventually sorted themselves out, but more importantly, the animated “Spider-Verse” quickly became the best continuity of all. And with “Across the Spider-Verse,” it continues to be the best continuity. 

            The new movie takes place about a year after the original. Miles “Spider-Man” Morales (Shameik Moore) and Gwen “Spider-Woman” Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) have not seen each other since returning to their respective universes. Both struggle with family drama, namely the decision of whether or not to reveal their alter egos to their parents. Miles wants to tell his mother Rio (Luna Lauren Velez) and police lieutenant father Jefferson (Brian Tyree Henry), but that would mean admitting that he’s been lying and putting himself in danger with no intention of stopping. Gwen wants to tell her police captain father George (Shea Whigham), but that would mean admitting that she’s been lying, endangering herself, and responsible for the death of close friend Peter Parker (who in her universe was The Lizard). 

            Gwen tries to take her mind off things by joining a band (in an opening sequence that’s equal parts pulse-pounding and head-bopping) and stopping villains that hop over from other universes. There’s still a big hole in the multiverse that nobody can close, so villains can get through, but so can other Spider-People, like the pregnant Spider-Woman (Issa Rae), anarchist Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya), and the humorless Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac). The latter is the leader of the Spider-Society, which employs Spider-People across all universes. He reluctantly lets Gwen join the organization, though he’s concerned about her relationship with Miles, who is about to have a very important role to play in the fabric of the multiverse that can’t be compromised. 

            Miles is stressed with juggling school, his father’s upcoming promotion to captain, and Spider-Man business. Still, he’s delighted when Gwen pays his universe a visit, even though she’s there for other business and can’t stay for long. Her business ties into a new villain called The Spot (Jason Schwartzman), whose gimmick is that he can create portals through space at will, a complex power that he doesn’t quite understand himself, but makes for a great stream of visual gags. Still, he’s destined to go from bumbler to serious threat in a real hurry, though the Spider-Society can’t stop him just yet for reasons that tie into that great responsibility for Miles. 

            I’m just skimming the surface of the story, which includes the return of Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson), now married with a baby, and a lengthy trip to a universe where NYC and India combine into the city of Mumb-hattan. The action is exciting, the jokes are funny, the animation is stunning, and the pace is frantic. Plus there are literally hundreds of secret goodies hiding in every corner of the screen that are easy to miss on a first viewing, but if any movie this year is worth seeing more than once, it’s this one. 

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            The movie ends on a cliffhanger and a setup for a future movie, much like the recent “Fast X.” But unlike that movie, I don’t feel like this movie was “sacrificed” to set up a more exciting movie down the line, it’s an entire feature in and of itself. That said, I’m actually skeptical of the upcoming “Beyond the Spider-Verse” because the ending of this one sets up some twists that represent some of my least-favorite conventions of comic book movies. “Across the Spider-Verse” never officially loses its footing, but it ends weirdly, by giving me the feeling that this series is about to plummet in quality. 

Grade: B

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is rated PG for sequences of animated action violence, some language and thematic elements. Its running time is 140 minutes. 

Contact Bob Garver at [email protected]

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Movie Reviews

The Fall Guy – Extended Cut (Movie Review) | Why So Blu?

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The Fall Guy – Extended Cut (Movie Review) | Why So Blu?

May 24th, 2024 by Brian White

The Fall Guy was one of my favorite television shows growing up in the 1980’s.  I would watch it each week with my dad.  I secretly had a crush on Heather Thomas at a very young age.  That bikini she wore in the opening credit sequence each week…ooh la la.  The Fall Guy is also special to me because it’s the very first TV show I ever recorded on a VHS tape.  We were poor growing up so one day my grandfather gave my dad a brand new VHS deck.  I was over the moon.  I couldn’t believe it.  We went home later that evening and I recorded that night’s episode of The Fall Guy.  I was so in awe of the fact that I could record something and watch it back any time that I think I viewed that episode three more times that same evening.  Therefore, one can kind of come to the conclusion that The Fall Guy was responsible for my love of home media products and technology.  That sounds good to me!

The Fall Guy

So when a feature film adaptation of the original Fall Guy show was announced I was already onboard with no questions asked.  It helps that Ryan Gosling and the beautiful Emily Blunt are in it, but who am I kidding?  I would have even seen this if Nic Cage and Melissa McCarthy were the main billed actors.  That’s how much I love The Fall Guy.  However, I don’t think you can really call this an adaptation of the original show.  How about this movie was inspired by?  Yeah.  That sounds a lot better to me.  So really the only sure tie in here is that Ryan Gosling’s character is named Colt Seavers.  That’s the character Lee Majors portrayed in the 80’s show.  Everything else is brand new here and just icing on the cake so let’s get started!

In addition to Ryan and Emily the film also stars another actor I love watching, Aaron Taylor-Johnson.  He’s always so good!  Rounding up the rest of The Fall Guy main cast includes Hannah Waddingham, Winston Duke and Stephanie Hsu.  And if you seen the film already and wonder why it’s so silly, then look no further the words it’s penned by the screenwriter of Hobbs & Shaw, Drew Pearce.  Also, it’s made by the same director of the aforementioned movie, David Leitch.  And it’s billed as one of the best date movies of the year.  So what more can you ask for?  That was a rhetorical question.  However, if your answer to that was KISS, then you’re in luck.  “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” is prominently featured throughout.  No joke either!  I lost track of how many time you hear the KISS version, an instrumental take or even YUNGBLUD’s version.

The Fall Guy

The Fall Guy is billed as a love letter to action movies and the hard-working stunt crew who make them.  I can definitely get behind that tagline.  The film is about a stunt man after all.  His name is Colt Seavers (Gosling).  When we first meet him he’s Tom Ryder’s (Taylor-Johnson) stunt double.  But when a career ending stunt goes wrong what gets Colt back in the action?  And why doesn’t everyone want to kill him all the sudden?  I won’t tell you any of that here, but I will say this.  Emily Blunt play’s Gosling’s love interest in this one and that’s why it’s billed as the ultimate date movie.  You got two of the best looking actors in Hollywood today in an over-the-top action comedy (not like the original TV show at all) with a good looking romance thrown in.  It has all the makings of a big box office popcorn movie with a heavy side serving of KISS.  I know right.  How can you not “fall” in love this one?

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Now you’re probably wondering why am I writing a movie review about this a month late?  Well, it’s because The Fall Guy is now (as of May 21st) officially out on home digital platforms.  Pick one a digital retailer of your choice and buy it today (you no longer have to “bring” it home).  Furthermore, The Fall Guy has been officially released as an Extended Cut with an additional 20 minutes of never-before-seen footage featuring more action, more laughs and more stunts.  Check out the video down below for more information and to check out our two good looking main stars or do they call those box office draws in movie talk?  Also, IF you’re curious as to what all makes up that extra 20 minutes of footage check out this article HERE.

Available NOW from Universal Pictures!

Purchase The Fall Guy – Extended Cut

at Movies Anywhere HERE

The Fall Guy

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'Bhaiyya Ji' movie review: Bajpayee’s 100th film fails to deliver

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'Bhaiyya Ji' movie review: Bajpayee’s 100th film fails to deliver

A Manoj Bajpayee film sets the bar high with expectations of a power-packed performance. The expectation is even higher when it’s his 100th movie. While the stalwart does justice to his role, the story feels jaded.
‘Bhaiyya Ji’ is the story of sibling love and vengeance. Bajpayee plays a reformed Robin Hood, who comes out of ‘retirement’ to avenge the death of his brother. His backstory is something we have seen on screen multiple times – this Robin Hood holds the power to change lives in his village. He doesn’t even hesitate to kill people to protect the ones he cares about.

One might think it a remake of a south Indian film. The similarities are many.

A larger-than-life character single-handedly destroying an evil villain and his army of henchmen.

This one line sums up the entire movie, with the only saving grace being Bhaiyya Ji, Bajpayee himself. When his younger brother is killed by a ruthless politician’s son, it is up to Bhaiyya Ji to break the promise he made to his father and get back to business, to avenge the family’s loss. 

The actors playing antagonists do hold their own. But the direction fails to impress, and the action scenes are run of the mill.

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A few scenes will make you chuckle but those expecting an out-and-out mass entertainer will be disappointed.

A personal milestone always needs to be appreciated. While Bajpayee hits a century, his team ends up on the losing side with this revenge drama. 

Published 24 May 2024, 23:28 IST

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Review: How online platform Letterboxd unifies all film lovers

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Review: How online platform Letterboxd unifies all film lovers

Letterboxd made its first appearance in 2011 by co-founders Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow. Together with an eye-catching UI design, the ability to browse, review, and keep track of various films has attracted many users to the platform for years.

There are plenty of options displayed with one simple click into the app. Similar to a majority of social media websites, Letterboxd contains a home, search, activity, and profile tab, all of which are easily accessible. Most notable of these features would be the search tab; users are able to browse through a category of their liking, whether it be by the ‘most popular’ or ‘highest rated’ films. The various and endless amount of cinema these categories expose to its users has expanded, as well as refined, the tastes of many.

Of course, the ever-changing opinions of audiences bring us to an exciting aspect of the platform: reviews. Each film showcases its overall rating from its viewers along with a count of how many reviews have been made so far. People who are curious about the public opinion are given the opportunity to read an abundance of honest reviews and, additionally, make one of their own. Leaning into its social media traits, Letterboxd has also made it possible to engage and develop a bond with others by liking or replying to their reviews.

In my personal experience, Letterboxd has been an entertaining platform for all things cinema-related. Adding films to my watchlist and browsing through reviews during my moments of free time have deepened my connection to–and interest for–the film industry.

Letterboxd has steadily developed a unique community on its platform while simultaneously expanding the tastes and critic reception of its users overtime. If you’re looking for something to watch, people to engage with, or a place to let out your feelings on a movie, I highly recommend this app!

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