Tag / andy serkis

by Jaime Rebanal

Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Review

✯✯✯✯

Rian Johnson’s latest film, a Star Wars film for the matter – isn’t the sort that one would expect him to pull off, but even for those who have stuck so closely with the Star Wars franchise, they didn’t get the same story that they would have wanted. If The Force Awakens only was the welcoming return for the franchise to the big screen after George Lucas’s prequel trilogy has come to an end, through the reintroduction of nostalgia – then what Rian Johnson has set his audience in store for is more possibility, all from the fact that he of all people had went behind what we would want to recognize on the surface as a Star Wars film. But nevertheless if this film were proof of anything, it would be that Star Wars finds its way of speaking to many generations over the years.

Continue reading →

Advertisement
by Jaime Rebanal

Black Panther – Review

✯✯✯✯

The king of Wakanda himself finally takes the screen as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after having appeared briefly in Captain America: Civil War. Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman as the titular king, the most pleasing thing to report about Black Panther is that they had indeed given royalty the proper cinematic welcome for audiences of all sorts. It feels relieving to see a Marvel Cinematic Universe that I can comfortably say that I liked, without any “buts” to get in the way – for after this and Taika Waititi’s entry with Thor: Ragnarok, it would be easier to hope for more superhero films that give their own directors enough room to express themselves properly without much interference getting in the way.

Continue reading →

by Jaime Rebanal

War for the Planet of the Apes – Review

✯✯✯✯

I’m still unsure on what ground these new Planet of the Apes movies have any right to being nearly as good as they are. The first reboot, Rise of the Planet of the Apes was a pleasant surprise and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes had put good use to what had already been set in motion by its predecessor to create a broader canvas within its narrative, and now with War for the Planet of the Apes, it may very well be all coming to an end. With director Matt Reeves returning behind the camera, it was only fitting to expect more exciting results would come by and my expectations were met perfectly. Knowing that one story was already about to come and meet its own end, what Matt Reeves has formed in War for the Planet of the Apes was only the most fitting conclusion that this new Planet of the Apes franchise has received – enough for me even to say they might as well be a better series than the original films at that.

Continue reading →

by Jaime Rebanal

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – Review

✯✯✯✯

Right after Rise of the Planet of the Apes one already knew that the story would continue, and that’s where Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has come by. And if Rise of the Planet of the Apes only had come by in the same manner that any superhero origin story would have played out by setting up the tone for films yet to come, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes already has found itself more room to create a more distinctive identity. But being as I’ve never particularly been the hugest fan of the original film franchise, it’s nice to see that these new films are able to form an identity of their own for it takes me by surprise how much I enjoy them. These aren’t just mindless, disposable blockbusters that only find themselves living within the moment, these films leave behind an impact that calls out for far more – among many reasons I’m glad these new Planet of the Apes movies are around.

Continue reading →

by Jaime Rebanal

Rise of the Planet of the Apes – Review

✯✯✯½

I’ve never exactly been a huge Planet of the Apes fan (I do really enjoy the original film, even though the rest never did much for me) yet coming out of the theater from Rise of the Planet of the Apes back when it came out was a thrilling experience. Years of not having seen it only left me feeling that perhaps I was far more impressionable considering how perfectly the original Planet of the Apes film had managed to stand the test of time, and yet as I watched Rupert Wyatt’s reboot of the franchise in Rise of the Planet of the Apes for my first time since then – so much of the joy that I remember having felt seems to have faded away. That’s not to say I dislike Rise of the Planet of the Apes because I still enjoy it well enough as it is, but considering what has only come forth within the future, it doesn’t feel as exciting as it was back in 2011.

Continue reading →

by Jaime Rebanal

24 Hour Party People – Review

✯✯✯✯✯

My music habits at the time might have become an influential factor in my decision to seek out watching 24 Hour Party People as quickly as I did. I was only getting myself into the music of Joy Division and quickly they became one of my favourite bands, and I’ve already familiarized myself with Sex Pistols – but my knowledge of the scene was fairly limited at best. I then stumbled across 24 Hour Party People hoping to gain further knowledge of what it was like during said era and I immediately thought to myself after finishing it that it was something I had to watch once again. It was perhaps a result of a mood coming by from the music I was listening to at the time, but if Steve Coogan’s Tony Wilson wasn’t one of the most charming roles I’ve seen him play, then I’d only imagine something all the more wonderful if I watch him more because I’ve already been a big fan of everything I’ve seen him do together with director Michael Winterbottom and with 24 Hour Party People, what they created is probably their best work yet.

Continue reading →