Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets 3D Movie Review

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Valerian and the City of A Thousand Planets

3D Movie Review Written By: Adolph Vega

Watch my video review for Valerian below :

 

3D

 

The 3D visuals for this movie are very impressive and make an enjoyable yet flawed experience. This movie mostly uses the diorama 3D visual effect. This visual effect gives the viewer a perspective into the screen and makes great use of 3D depth. Occasionally the movie uses pop out 3D and it looks nice. I do feel like the pop out 3D element is muted and not as pronounced as it could have been. The 3D doesn’t look good in a few scenes within the darkness of space. Those dark scenes look slightly out of alignment and give the viewer a disorienting ghosting double effect. Fortunately those dark disorienting scenes are rare. Overall the 3D is definitely a worthwhile addition to this movie, but it’s far from a perfect 3D visual presentation. 

 

Final Verdict:  Good 3D

 

Movie

 

 

Prior to watching this movie I had no knowledge of Valerian and it’s comic book history. Sadly this movie does a pathetic job of introducing this universe to a wider audience.

 

Valerian is actually the name of the male lead character that works with his partner Laureline. Valerian and Laureline work together for the galactic federation. Dane DeHaan plays Valerian and Cara Delevingne portrays Laureline, and sadly I didn't like these lead characters. This movie shows them working together as a team and sadly they have zero chemistry together on screen. I also question the acting ability for both individuals. The acting is bland and wooden for both of the main characters. Dane DeHaan as Valerian sounds like a bad impression of Keanu Reeves throughout this movie. Cara Delevingne as of Laureline seems bored throughout this movie. Laureline will often become frustrated at Valerian and his antics and she is always criticizing him. Many times the criticisms are justified but regardless I found this back and forth banter between these characters to be tedious and annoying to watch. Sadly this movie is focused on two very unlikeable protagonists.

 

The movie throws the viewer into the deep end and doesn't do a decent job of setting up this universe. This movie is a science fiction movie that is set several hundred years into the future. In some ways the movie is similar to “Star Trek” and humanity has joined an intergalactic federation of planets. Unlike most “Star Trek” stories (excluding Deep Space Nine) this movie is set mostly within one location, which is a gigantic intergalactic space station. This space station is called Alpha and is home to over a thousand planets and cultures that live together in peace. This movie has a massive cast of characters that are not properly introduced. It’s really hard to keep track of all these characters and their motivations. The main story is about Valerian and Laureline discovering the truth about an alien species that was thought to be extinct. The story flies by at the speed of light and the movie rarely takes the time to give the viewer an explanation to what is going on. When the movie does try to explain itself it feels forced and inorganic. The movie is extremely rushed and underdeveloped and I felt like they crammed too much into one movie.  The premise within this movie is interesting and captured my imagination with many fascinating elements. One scene within this movie has a character interacting with a parallel invisible dimension while being present in a visible dimension. This inter-dimensional scene is very creative and is fun to watch.  The alien designs are inspired and look unique and new. The movie introduces a trio of small brown aliens called the Shingouz. These aliens’ trade secrets for money are full of personality. These aliens looked similar to the 1980’s “Alf” character and I really loved these silly aliens and they were a wonderful element of this movie. Another alien named bubble can morph itself into different forms, and makes for a very fun strip tease scene. Many aliens within this movie are not bipedal humanoids and I appreciate that element of the movie. Too many works of science fiction portray space aliens that look extremely similar to humans or other earth approximating creatures. So I applaud when works of science fiction take some effort and make creative creature design. Even the aliens that look humanoid do look distinctive. I really enjoyed the ideas represented within this movie; I just wish it were better executed.  

 

Before I conclude this review I must discuss the visual effects. The visuals for this movie are simply gorgeous. The special effects are a real treat and are the definition of eye candy. Many scenes look lush, with rich vibrant colors that look appealing and attractive. The visual style is distinctive and it works well for this sort of movie. I enjoyed the computer graphics and how they presented other worlds, and other dimensions. This movie looks beautiful and compliments this movie perfectly.

 

In closing this is a movie that I wanted to love, but I couldn’t get over it’s many flaws. I was entertained by this fun action sci-fi movie. Miserably the awful wooden acting and the poor story development hamper a remarkable premise. The ideas within this movie are compelling but are poorly executed within this movie. Unfortunately this is a beautiful mess of a movie.    

 

Final Verdict : 6 / 10

TM & © 2017 STX Financing, LLC. All Right Reserved

Transformers The Last Knight 3D Movie Review

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Transformers The Last Knight

3D Movie Review

 

Written By: Adolph Vega

Watch our video review via YouTube below : 

 

3D

 

The 3D in this movie isn't good , it isn't great, it is spectacular. The movie was shoot with IMAX 3D cameras, and it looks incredible in that format. I watched this movie in laser projected 4K IMAX in the biggest screen in the state of Texas and I was not disappointed, because the massive action scenes look sharp , vivid and are perfectly executed . A vast majority of recent 3D movies are post converted and are not recorded in 3D, and you can really tell the difference with this movie . Obviously IMAX scenes are not accessible to everyone and are more expensive than other cinemas but regarding this movie it's totally worthwhile . Why is the 3D so well done ? It's because they use 3D to make the action scenes more memorable and epic . The movie has tons of objects popping out of the screen, and it looks amazing. Some objects will travel in 3D space and travel from the background to the foreground and give the viewer some truly amazing visuals. The movie jam packed full of action scenes that look great in 3D. You really feel like your staring into a window of action scenes that are actually happening. Occasionally 3D depth is used to give a sense of scale and height which makes the visuals very immersive . So many scenes use multiple layers of 3D at the same time and slow motion to highlight specific characters and weapons and looks incredible. Honestly if you watch this movie in 2D your doing yourself a disservice. I usually like to highlight a specific scene or scenes were the 3D is especially interesting or well done but this movie has so many of those scenes it's hard to narrow it down, it's all fantastic. The 3D visuals and action scenes are perfectly intertwined and go hand in hand together. The 3D in this movie is possibly one the best uses of 3D that I have seen in years. If you can watch in IMAX 3D, you won't be disappointed and I will give this movie my highest recommendation and is truly awesome. I hope this movie will inspire other movie studios to record in IMAX 3D because it's a must see in 3D movie .

 

Final Verdit:

GREAT 3D, Editors Choice 3D Award 

 

Movie

 

It is what it is. Transformers do what Transformers do.

This movie is the fifth movie in this popular franchise . You should know what to expect from this film franchise, because it's been fairly consistent in quality over the years . If you haven't seen any of the previous entrees in this franchise then I wouldn't suggest you watch this movie because you will be totally lost. This movie franchise is reviewer proof therefore; I will try to keep this review brief and be fairly straightforward.

 

The transformers have been present on earth for centuries . This history of Transformer and human interaction has been hidden and this movie reveals that story . This movie takes place in the present, but also has many flashbacks to scenes in the past. Mark Wahlberg returns and reprises his role from the previous movie. (Transformers 4: Age of Extinction) Mark Wahlberg is Cade Yeager and is an inventor and watches over several transformers . The Earth is in trouble and the transformers are both the cause and the solution to this problem. How this story was presented is interesting and better done than the previous movies within this franchise. However the story barely makes any sense. I have watched all the previous Transformers movies and I actually liked this one the most .

 

The plot within this movie very convoluted. It has many multiple parts that are happening at the same time and it can be very difficult to understand what exactly is going on. The best word to describe this plot is combocomplexlicated . Combocomplexlicated is a new word that I invented that is a mixture of the following words: combination , complex, and complicated. Combocomplexlicated perfectly describes something that is overly convoluted when it doesn't need to be . The movie has a massive cast of characters . You know very little about each character, and some of them are new and others return from previous movies. The plot is essentially an excuse for action scenes. The movie begins with an action scene, and about 70% of this movie is action, and the remaining 30% is people explaining the action. The movie has a crude sense of humor and is very corny, but I have to admit it made me laugh several times. Other times the comedy made me cringe and roll my eyes. The movie has plot holes big enough to drive an Optimus prime through. The action scenes are enjoyable to watch and are the only reason to really watch this movie. The action is big , crazy ridiculous but I was able to enjoy it .

 

The movie is far from being perfect, yet I liked it . The transformers movies are not "high art" and they aren't trying to be. This movie is all about over-the-top action and pure entertainment. I was entertained by this movie and it succeeded on that aspect. Ultimately movies are about being entertained and I cannot deny that I had fun watching this movie . I laughed , I cringed , I was confused and I had fun with this silly action movie. It is what it is , and this is possibly the best transformers movie ever,  but that isn't saying much .

 

Final Verdict: 6/10

© 2017 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All rights reserved.

Wonder Woman 3D Movie Review

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Wonder Woman

3D Movie Review  

Written By: Adolph Vega  

Watch my video review here: 

 

3D

 

The 3D element of this movie is best described as being bookended within this film. Toward the beginning of the movie the action scenes are enhanced by the 3D element,  you will see arrows fly in and out of the screen . At times the 3D works well with the cinematography and the perspective of certain characters will  appear popping out the screen as others are recessed into the background and uses several layers of 3D to make a more interesting visual presentation . The 3D looks fantastic for the first 30 or so minutes of the movie. Sadly during the middle of the movie the 3D is all but forgotten. The end of the movie has many enjoyable and interesting shots in 3D, with the destruction of the environment being a key aspect. Overall I did enjoy the 3D when it was present within the movie, unfortunately it's a non-factor for a good portion of the movie . 

 

Final Verdict: Good 3D  

 

 

Movie  

 

Wonder Woman is an iconic DC Comics super heroine and this is her first live action full length movie. This is also the first top-tier big budget female driven super heroine movie to be released. The pressure to get this movie right was immense, and I'll happy to report that this movie rocks and is an incredible cinematic achievement.  

 

The story of Wonder Woman begins on the paradise island of Themysciera. You see a young Diana Prince yearning to train with the other women on the island . These scenes on Themysciers are sincere and enchanting and give off a wonderful cinematic warmth . The warmth of these early scenes feels like a loving hug from your mother, and is an excellent way to start this story. Going back to the story, one day a man named Steve Trevor accidentally crashes his plane near Themysciera . Wonder Woman decides to help Steve Trevor return to England and thus starts her adventure of self discovery and discovery of the outside world . The outside world is set during horrors of the First World War . This movie is both a super heroine origin movie and a epic war movie put into one . The movie is fairly self contained so you don't need to watch "Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice" or know anything about the characters from the comic book to enjoy this film . The movie perfectly introduces the characters, setting and the scenario.

 

Steve Trevor is portrayed by Chris Pine and is delightful as ever as an English spy. His performance reminded me a little of his performance as Captain Kirk in the recent Star Trek movies. He is witty , smart, likeable and has fantastic chemistry with Wonder Woman. 

 

Gal Gadot who is reprising her role from “Batman v Superman : Dawn of Justice” portrays Wonder Woman aka Diana Prince. The character of Wonder Woman is the perfect combination of smart, funny, powerful and beautiful. Wonder Woman is a naive character who has never left the island of Themysciera where she grew up . Gal Gadot's performance is incredibly endearing and simply a joy to watch. The movie has several secondary characters who help Steve Trevor and Wonder Woman during this adventure. This crew is a wonderful addition to this movie and gives it  complexities . I wish that some of these secondary  characters were given more character development, but I very much enjoyed their presence and I appreciated their inclusion . The movie has a few villains and I actually enjoyed them all, and how they worked together.  How the movie handles it’s villains is something that feels unique. Even though some of the characters were lacking I still found this story to be very engrossing and well executed. The most important aspect of this movie is the characters and the story and this movie delivers on both fronts.

 

The setting of World War I is an interesting and smart decision by the filmmakers. The backdrop gives the actions of the characters more importance, consequences and it feels distinct . The elements of war are showcased by the effects of the war on the population, and on humanity as a whole . I respect the filmmakers and how they balanced this movie and portrayed the horrors of war without showing the gruesome bloody violence that war movies are known for. Wonder Woman shows that she is a true hero in many scenes and isn’t corrupted by the fog of war and remains compassionate and empathetic throughout the movie . I enjoyed how World War I was presented within this movie; it seems raw and real yet doesn’t show gore like every other war movie. I really respect how well this movie handles the element of war . I usually am not a fan of war movies but this one really stands out because of how it showcases the human element of war.

 

This movie kept surprising me . The biggest surprise for me was the humor, which felt natural and perfectly hit all the right notes. Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman makes this movie her own and her charming personality ultimately becomes the best aspect of this movie . The comedic element is genuine and based on Wonder Woman's naivety of the real world. This fish out of water trope can be overly cheesy or silly under the wrong hands but it works perfectly within this movie and gives a nice contrast for the serious themes presented  . The movie knows how to spend time on the little things and surprises the audience with a sincere smart movie that is better made than most super hero movies . The character of Wonder Woman grows in front of the camera and the director knows how and when to slow down the movie to make touching scenes. A summer war movie that has so much heart is a surprise that I couldn't ever have expected . So many decisions and story elements are surprisingly intense and intelligently crafted to make for a richer narrative . The movie really grows on you after you watched it and only gets better as you think about it . 

 

The action scenes look amazing and use slow motion in effective ways. The movie knows how to highlight action scenes to make the viewer appreciate the visuals. I have never seen a woman battle with such grace and strength as I saw within this movie. I found the action scenes thrilling and interesting to watch. World War I is brought back to life in vivid detail with action that perfectly fits the setting and is well choreographed. Wonder Woman is a trained warrior and it shows with some truly breathtaking action sequences. 

 

The movie has its issues and is lacking on a few minor aspects. Like I mentioned before some of the characters needed more development and scenetime. The final battle seemed a little too short and simple. Some story elements are not fully explained . Overall the movie left me wanting more, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but it does have some minor issues that keep it from achieving perfection.

 

Overall Wonder Woman is a massive success on almost every level. The movie perfectly balances the serious tones and comedic tones and makes for a new and different way to showcase a war movie. Without a doubt in my mind this is the best DC comic super hero movie released since the Dark Knight. This movie is both immensely entertaining and expertly executed. Wonder Woman is a wonderful movie and is a must watch.

 

Final Score: 9/10

 

TM & © 2017 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. TM & © DC Comics