A Review of “Elvis (2022)”

There are some weird choices made in the film that I am not entirely fond of. For example, the soundtrack incorporates modern songs such as rap and hip hop at points and it is very jarring. Why am I hearing Dojo Cat in an Elvis movie? The movie does something different by having it from the POV of Tom Parker, Elvis’s manager, played by Tom Hanks. I’m mixed about this as it felt like we got more emphasis on Parker’s bad deeds and his manipulation of Elvis rather than Elvis’s actual struggles. Hanks’s performance felt very one note as well which is a shame as I think he is an amazing actor but I just don’t think he was the right actor for the role. The movie is also very chaotic as it tries to speedrun through Elvis’s life. This lead to a very rushed and disjointed film while also brushing over a lot of the interesting things in Elvis’s life. I also wished that showed more of Elvis’s talent as a musician rather than making it seem like his wiggling is what made him great.

However, Austin Butler is phenomenal as Elvis with his voice and body language. There are so many moments where it feels like HE IS ELVIS! I also found the second half of this film a lot more enjoyable as it starts to feel more consistent in its direction. I also like the visual direction of the director as it gave the movie more style.

Overall, I found the movie enjoyable nonetheless but I wish Elvis was more of the focus rather than focusing on the manipulative nature of Parker.

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A “QUICK!” Review of “Boy Kills World (2024)”

Bill Skarsgard in an action movie? Yes Please! The story is a generic revenge flick with an interesting concept of a mute and deaf protagonist. The main character has an inner voice which is voiced by H. Jon Benjamin of Archer and Bob’s Burger fame. This sounds interesting on paper but the problem is that the lines are so obnoxious and there are too many. It is always some kind of stupid quip or stating an obvious. It has a lot of comedy but most didn’t land for me. However, you are here for the action and it delivers on those. It has a lot of gore, gunplay, martial arts and over-the-top set pieces. It really shines in the 3rd act in both the story and the action. The final fight is a top-tier choreographed fight. In the end, Boy Kills World knows what it is and gives you exactly that. A bloody, fun action comedy!

A “QUICK!” Review of “Badland Hunters (2024)“

Ma Dong-Seok is one of the coolest dudes in Korean cinema. I do think the film is a little disappointing as the post-apocalyptic setting isn’t used in an exciting way. The plot is also nothing special. It is incredibly dumb and predictable while also having minimal explanation about anything. The characters are also very bland. There is barely any exploration of any of the characters including the main character. Due to this, they all come off as one-dimensional and this makes it very difficult to care about anyone. However, it has some incredibly well-choreographed and fun action sequences. Who doesn’t want to see Ma Dong-seok kick ass!

A “QUICK!” Review of “Monkey Man (2024)”

Dev Patel is an actor I admire so of course I was interested in his directorial debut. There is a lot of great stuff here but there are some issues too. The first act has a great build-up with its sprinkle of backstory and world of crime. The action scene is fun albeit it is overly edited and has a lot of shaky cams. The movie’s pacing then goes to a complete stall with its boring second act that goes on for too long. Nothing of importance occurs apart from explaining something the audience already knows and a pointless side quest. The final act is a full-on action set piece that doesn’t use shaky cam but is incredibly predictable. Monkey Man has an interesting spin with the added Indian mythology but it is just an overstuffed and over-explained revenge story. It is a great start for Dev Patel and I will look at his director career with great interest.

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