#Warner Bros Review

[darkeraven22]

Legendary/WB Godzilla X Kong 2024 Review Part 4

Mothra ReturnsYeah. Apparently Mothra does return… For a flashy cameo. Yeah. If Legendary did a Mothra movie I would but it twice. Especially if the ladies, Ace and Bernie return for it. Yeah yeah. Her name is Jia, not Mia. Anyway she’s the new lady companion of Mothra. I mean why set this all up if it’s not to bring forth a Mothra movie trilogy? Come on. Kong Escapes the Skar Prison, with a…

[lonelywretchjervistetch]

...You ever see something in media that pissed you off so much, you were tempted to make a YouTube video about it? An adaptation of something you love that's been SO BADLY fucked over, you need to scream it into a screen to get your feelings out? A show that you had your hope up for, something that would inform your opinion of future media, then dashed that hope against the rocks like a god callously discarding a deformed child? YOU EVER SEE SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU SO MAD, YOU MAKE HALF-BAKED REFERENCES TO GREEK MYTHOLOGY THAT MAKE NO SENSE, EVEN IN CONTEXT???

...

Creature Commandos really pissed me off.

The finale of Creature Commandos came out today, so I watched it and the previous episode (which I missed), only to turn out enraged, disappointed, and really worried about the DCU going forward. And yeah, I know, I'm a sad comic book nerd crying into the cybernetic void, as a percentage of us always does when the badaptation comes a-calling, but I'm normally a VERY positive person, and this show...this show.

This series stood on a cliff overlooking a vast ocean of possibilities, dove off with a beautiful arc, twisted and turned in the air gracefully and poetically, and as it approached the surface of the water, SMASHED INTO A ROCK FACE-FUCKING-FIRST, AND IT WASN'T PRETTY!!! Ugh. I hate complaining like this, because I know it's cringe, I know it doesn't matter, I know that most people don't care, and I'm sure a lot of people disagree with me. But this made me so upset. I'm tempted to write a whole goddamn essay about it, honestly. I just had to get SOMETHING out to vent, because...I hated this. I really goddamn hated this, and I may not have felt this way if not for the ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT ENDING that we got.

Jesus tap-dancing Christ. I'm probably gonna write that essay.

[wonderoften]

[cameronlockhart]

I dunno how they did it, but My Adventures with Superman has made me actually care about Superman for once! He's never been my favorite superhero (Batman and Spider-Man are my two and only), but my god this show's been crazy good for two seasons straight! On to Season 3...

[rickchung]

Bad Monkey (prod. Bill Lawrence).

Apple's series adaptation of novelist Carl Hiaasen's sunshine noir uses its Florida Keys backdrop to maximize its intriguing sense of lackadaisical weirdness. There's so much to the interesting setup involving severed body parts, bad real estate deals, African witchcraft, and soft-boiled detective fare starring an affable Vince Vaughn. It's a fun detective comedy series with amusing characters building to a standard but clever mystery around its shady characters with suspicious motives. Lawrence balances dark, brooding tone with Vaughn's easygoing humour.

[radiodormouse]

The Looney Tunes Show holds a special place in my heart for how it revitalized the classic WB characters. While I grew up watching the beloved slapstick shorts, the show’s sitcom format appealed to me more as an adult, offering an opportunity to explore the personalities of Bugs and Daffy in more depth.

The series also completely reinvented Lola Bunny. In Space Jam, she was a bland, one-dimensional character with little to offer beyond a persona derivative of Jessica Rabbit and a stereotypically 90s tough gal attitude. But in The Looney Tunes Show, she was reimagined as a disturbed, delusional valley girl with a unique and compelling personality—one that made her not only my favorite version of Lola, but the only one I like.

The show portrayed Lola as an innocent, bubbly, almost childlike young woman, who gradually reveals herself to be a full-fledged psychopath, infamously obsessed with Bugs. The writers wisely leaned into this twist, blending the personality of a lovesick teenager with the intensity of a thriller villain—think Legally Blonde meets Fatal Attraction. This darker take on Lola was truly inspired, not only in the hilarious writing, but in Jessica Borutski's excellent redesign and Kristen Wiig's iconic performance. While Lola's unhinged antics were toned down in season two as Bugs started dating her, her psychotic distinctiveness remained intact.

When Rabbits Run was announced, with Lola as the protagonist, I was excited. The first two acts maintained some of the offbeat humor and kooky charm of her character from The Looney Tunes Show. Though I prefer Lola to be a more overtly unhinged character, I found the direction taken in Rabbits Run moderately entertaining, at least initially. As the film progresses, we see glimpses of her deranged side, though it’s often dialed down, leaning into the sweet, goofy gal she is on the surface.

The movie begins with a fun parody of Disney Renaissance I Want songs, where Lola trashes a perfume shop while singing about her dream to leave behind her mundane life and create a signature scent in Paris. Rachel Ramras is serviceable as Lola, but cannot match Kristen Wiig's acting range, nor her singing abilities. The plot escalates when it turns out that the flower used in her perfume gives her the power of invisibility, sparking a series of chase sequences between her and the government, inspired more by the Jason Bourne films than by WB's Roadrunner or Tweety shorts. Lola, oblivious to the perfume’s effects, believes rival artists want to steal her creation, setting off a madcap adventure with Bugs Bunny dragged into the chaos.

While the animation quality here falls short of the standard set by The Looney Tunes Show, there are larger issues. The film stumbles in its third act, where the pacing grinds to a halt. After a dramatic leap from a plane, Lola and Bugs are rescued by the Goofy Gophers, who give her a makeover during an unnecessary and distracting musical number. With only two songs in the film, both of which are placed at wildly different points, can we even call this a musical?

The segment, along with the sudden romance between Lola and Bugs, feels out of place. While the two characters do become a couple in The Looney Tunes Show, here their relationship feels rushed and underdeveloped. The film does little to justify their budding romance, while Lola's stalker tendencies and Bugs’ clear discomfort with her obsessive behavior are left unexplored.

By the time the narrative moves to Paris, Lola casts aside her artistic aspirations, leaving her without a clear objective. The film’s focus shifts to a short-lived sequence of Lola and Bugs dating in Paris, which doesn’t capitalize on the setting or their invisibility. This part of the story feels like a retread of The Looney Tunes Show’s Eligible Bachelors episode, but without the same comedic impact. As the film adds Marvin the Martian as a last-minute antagonist, it becomes clear that the plot has become a disjointed series of events rather than a cohesive narrative. The film's conclusion lacks any real resolution, leaving the audience with little sense of closure.

Rabbits Run is a difficult film to recommend. If you’re a die-hard fan of Lola's character from The Looney Tunes Show, you’ll find moments of joy in her antics, particularly in the first two acts. But if you haven’t watched the show, I’d advise starting there. The film falters in its structure and tone, playing it too safe with its characters and losing much of the quirky, unpredictable energy that made Lola’s earlier iteration so memorable.

That said, Rabbits Run is a lighthearted, kid-friendly adventure, with simple, straightforward humor that makes it accessible for younger audiences. But for adults who appreciated The Looney Tunes Show’s mature humor—drawing inspiration from sitcoms like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Seinfeld—the movie is bound to feel like a missed opportunity.

It’s especially disappointing that Rabbits Run may serve as the final bow for this unique version of Lola. In New Looney Tunes, she’s portrayed as little more than a derivative Bugs Bunny clone, and in Space Jam 2, she reverts to a bland, tokenized girlboss archetype. One can only hope that Kristen Wiig and Jessica Borutski will someday return to the character, with writers willing to lean back into the delightful, deranged qualities that made her so entertaining. Ideally, they could even explore Lola’s character further in a project aimed at adults—perhaps tapping into the dark, offbeat humor of The Cable Guy or the twisted, psychologically charged energy of Gone Girl.

While Rabbits Run isn’t the explosive send-off that this Lola deserves, it remains a serviceable, if flawed, film that younger viewers may enjoy.

[0solvmanidoo]

The film industry should stop just making films like they are now. Allow me to explain.

The film industry makes films and all too often they flop because they honestly suck. The flop mainly because the box office is horrible which is understandable considering going to see a movie is usually 10$ or more per person without any snacks or drinks and most people don’t want to pay that much money for a movie they don’t know or think will be any good.

Many of these movies no one asked for and sure some do end up being absolutely amazing. And people are practically begging for new and original films but these films have to be good or at least something people want to see in order for them to succeed right?

Films don’t really have the disc market to make up for poor box office performance anymore and making merchandise before a film comes out without knowing it people will like it would cause another loss. As would marketing which is another reason why many of these original movies currently seem to not be doing well and I believe lack of marketing is a major issue but why put a lot of money into marketing when you aren’t even sure the film will make enough money back to not be a loss?

I propose the film industry start their own type of Kickstarter website where the film industry can put up pages for movies they are proposing on making including things like summaries, storyboards, concepts, and more where people can back a project they want to see or poll on projects they want.

Another issue I see in the film industry is studios hiring, writers, producers, actors, or directors that don’t care about the source material or want to change a story to make it their own.

I would propose this kickstarter type website allow people in the film industry to sign up for projects that they want to work on because they are passionate about the themes or the source content or the story itself before the project is proposed. This could potentially prevent directors, writers, actors, and others from working on a project from just because of its popularity and potential pay. These people who sign up for projects could even write little summaries on why they are interested in working on the project.

Then when the project is publicized for people to back or vote on we will know that the people working on the project aren’t going to insult the people who enjoy the source material or insult the project they are working on. As we are seeing now the actions from people in the film industry insulting or being rude or other bad behavior makes a film look bad and makes people unsure about seeing the film because of the actions of people involved with it.

I know Henry Cavill is well known for being passionate about the projects he works on and I think people would have more confidence in a film if they knew the people working on it were actually passionate about it and actually enjoy working on it. (For clarification I don’t mean the Witcher because everyone knows that show was a dumpster fire from the very beginning but please think of his work playing Superman and in his other film productions instead. He enjoys getting into his roles are trying to do the best he can and I do not blame actors for bad writing or directing decisions that get okayed or final editing that doesn’t work with the story. Cavill is primarily an actor not a director.)

The pages for each proposed project could include enough information about it for people to confidently decide if they want to see it and vote on it without spoiling the ending. Meanwhile once it gets enough votes or popularity a studio could give it the go ahead to start production and give it funding.

If you think a mere summary isn’t enough to make a person decide it’s something they are interested in then allow me to use books as an example. Book readers usually only have a summary about a book to decide if it’s something they want to read. I’m sure a page with concept art, a good summary, and storyboards could really make a difference. Maybe even explain if the project is planned to be 3d animated, live action, or traditionally animated.

I too am sick of bland films, poorly made films, films where the source material is disrespected, endless remakes or sequels or prequels, or the people working on it say they don’t like the themes of it or don’t respect it, or just unwanted films that no one wanted. And I firmly believe a way for people to decide on what they want to see in a film would help film studios prevent flops or failures that may result in massive losses.

I would’ve probably made a better post than this one but I had a family member who would not stop bothering me and unfortunately annoyed me to the point I could no longer concentrate on what I was writing. But if you have anything to add or say go ahead this is just some wild idea I had.

[oakwyrm]

Well… it's still not monetised, but at least it's not blocked in all regions anymore, so I'm going to risk posting this to my socials now.

A quick jaunt down memory lane to take a look at the 1998 movie 'Quest for Camelot'.

[agentnico]

Juror #2 (2024) review

Should have been titled 12 Angry Men 2: Now It’s Personal. C’mon Warner Bros, sort your marketing out!

Plot: A juror for a high-profile murder trial finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma that could influence the verdict and potentially convict, or free, the accused killer.

I feel oddly special for managing to seek this one out at the cinema, as in the US seemingly hardly anyone is able to watch it as studio Warner Bros are burying this movie completely, only showcasing it in 50 screens in the country. Granted I am in the UK and here the film has had a proper release, but still I liked to see it as if I’ve been able to attain the unattainable fruit. Especially as this may be the final film directed by Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, and yet no one is talking about this movie! Truly baffling, especially as this is a genuinely engaging piece of courtroom drama, and very much a perfect “dad movie”.

Taking inspiration from the likes of Anatomy of a Murder and 12 Angry Men, with the latter even references through straight up imagery copy as Nicholas Hoult stands in the jury room staring out through the blinds of the window like Henry Fonda did in 12 Angry Men when he is first introduced. Only difference is while Fonda’s juror was simply trying to act in the name of justice and doing the right thing, in Juror #2 the main character played by Nicholas Hoult is intent on doing the same thing, expect for the reason behind is that maybe, just maybe he is actually the murderer himself. It’s an interesting spin on the classic courtroom thriller genre, and one that Eastwood manages to unravel in a very well paced and enticing way.

The performances are all great across the board. Nicholas Hoult showcases a lot of emotion through his expressions, especially with his inner conflict of wanting to do the right thing whilst also saving his own skin, whilst also balancing his responsibility of building a new family. Zoey Deutch as his pregnant wife is a solid counterpart, and the extra gravitas with them having lost their first child added that extra layer to the relationship. Toni Collette enjoying a little About a Boy reunion there I see with Hoult, but she delivers a strong turn as a lawyer on the case who’s also an election candidate. Then JK Simmons does his usual shtick and also OMG Kiefer is in this?! I bloody love Kiefer! What a lad! Glad he’s in this, even though he doesn’t get to do much, but he’s always welcome.

Juror #2 is very sturdy, very classical stuff, a tale of moral suspense. Feels like it could have been made 75 years ago, in the best way. It of course isn’t Clint Eastwood’s best work, but it’s perfectly reliable and intelligent entertainment that had me engaged throughout, due to its great concept and execution. There are a couple of silly moments such as when Toni Collette’s lawyer googles the wife’s name + “husband” and multiple photos of them together showed up, cause that’s definitely how Google Images work! Or how Nicholas Hoult acts super shifty throughout that even a blind man would suspect something. But look, I’m not here to knit-pick - I had a good time! It’s real old-school, so again, get your dad to watch it - he’ll have a ball!

Overall score: 7/10

[amxndareviews]

'Companion' Review

'Companion' Review: "The way Thatcher portrays Iris as this docile and agreeable girlfriend is heightened when she finds out about her technological link. Hancock’s ability to make something simple & have wicked creative execution for each little twist."

By: Amanda Guarragi Technology has drastically changed in the past decade. Humans have pushed the boundaries of technology to a point where it has become harmful. With the increase of AI, humans have become more dependent on a quicker way to live. No one wants to work for something and be fulfilled after achieving a goal.  Sadly, this even applies to relationships. Today’s generation thinks…

[karlamon]

My ★★ review of Black Adam on Letterboxd:

[xarliclub]

🐧✨#ThePenguin en #MAX, nos sumerge en el oscuro y retorcido mundo del mafioso favorito de #Gotham mientras explora el ascenso al poder de Oswald Cobblepot.

PenguinSeries #HBOMax #GothamVibes #xarliclub #tv #cinemastodon #filmsky 🎬 #series #miniseries

[frogopolis-blog]

A quick look at Joker: Folie a Deux with FROGOPOLIS

It's da singin' Jonkler baby!

[cameronlockhart]

That Velma Halloween special is easily the series' peak. It retains all of Season 2's improvements and feels more Scooby-like than anything else the show's done.

I already didn't hate this show nearly as much as most others, but at the rate it's going, I'd be down for Season 3!

[rickchung]

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (dir. George Miller).

[It's] another stunningly harsh yet fantastical adrenaline rush of pure carnage on screen. How Miller hands action through trauma makes the bleak, dispiriting nature of loss and violence all the more viscerally impactful. It's more pure cinematic fury and spectacle.