Tag / ed skrein

by Jaime Rebanal

The Growing Potential within ‘Alita: Battle Angel’: A Review

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A combination of the creative forces of Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron already sounds like it could be odd enough as is – considering we’re also looking at a filmmaker known for making stylized B-movies working together with someone who tries to make the most out of what he can with massive budgets. It’s a pairing that already sounds odd enough as is on paper, yet the actual results already leave me wanting more. Many films have also tried and unsuccessfully adapted anime to the big screen for English-language viewers, with films like 2017’s Ghost in the Shell or Death Note being the biggest culprits, yet what Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron bring you in Alita: Battle Angel is something that feels almost like it could easily have been something out of the ordinary. But I already see great potential arising out of this story having come to the screen, with having found its footing – but only time will tell if we’ll ever get a chance to see this story reaching greater lengths. It’s a blockbuster that would without doubt benefit from having a sequel coming along the way, because there’s a lot to admire about the world building present in here – and even allowing its own ideas to resonate and grow into something greater.

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by Jaime Rebanal

Barry Jenkins Gives a New Life to James Baldwin’s Legacy with If Beale Street Could Talk: TIFF Review

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If there’s anything to be said about Barry Jenkins, his track record is already setting himself up to become one of this generation’s best working filmmakers after his Academy Award-winning second film Moonlight, so how does he manage to follow up with his third film? Adapting the words of James Baldwin onto the screen shouldn’t seem like such an easy task for just about any writer-director, yet Barry Jenkins shows himself to be the perfect choice with relative ease. But as every small detail starts to come together in order to form what Barry Jenkins manages to bring to life in his own adaptation of If Beale Street Could Talk, you already start to feel that this film was so clearly made out of love for the text of Baldwin. This is a romance story on the surface, but Jenkins also takes that template to make something more meditative, just as Baldwin’s own social critiques would have inspired from American society back in his time – for watching this film we only find his message is still alive. There’s no better way to put how fully realized an effort like this is, and for all I know it may very well be one of the decade’s most beautiful films.

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by Jaime Rebanal

Deadpool – Review

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It’s as if there’s a film that calls out to be different on the inside and it’s not breaking out enough. Deadpool isn’t a disaster by any means but what sort of joy I had on a theater viewing just faded away rather fast on a rewatch. I’d assume it’s probably because I was with the family when I watched it, but on another watch, my main issue with the film became clear. I’ve no doubt there are going to be fans who will admire what they get because of how well they connected with the character (I’ve admittedly never read a Deadpool comic) but there’s an inherent problem when only they are among the crowd that gives such high raves. I’d like the reader to understand that I’ve no issue with the fans as I respect how well they’ve grown to the character, but as one from the outside, there’s not so much offered. Continue reading →