Here are my thoughts on the movie releases from the weekend of 04.08.2022 in alphabetical order of their respective release dates. A reminder, you can click this link to see how I grade films when I review them.
ALL THE OLD KNIVES
- Plot: Two CIA agents and ex-lovers are brought back together years after a failed rescue attempt and forced to blur the lines between profession and passion.
- Review: The way this film finds a way to weave in flashbacks and change perspectives on past events even while the core of the plot is taking place over a simple dinner is impressive. Admittedly there were few times I found myself gripped and trying to figure out what would happen. Unfortunately, during the third act the movie’s weaknesses in regard to some predictable and trope turns plus an abundance of exposition finally collapse onto themselves. At the end of the day this is more of a standard melodrama than the thriller that its sold as. This is where it belongs on Prime even though I’m frustrated that it didn’t reach its potential to be greater than what the final product is.
- Initial Grade: C-
AMBULANCE
- Plot: Decorated veteran Will Sharp, desperate for money to cover his wife’s medical bills, asks for help from his adoptive brother Danny. A charismatic career criminal, Danny instead offers him a score - the biggest bank heist in Los Angeles history, thirty-two million.
- Review: When it comes to Michael Bay you don’t know if you’re going to get a future cult classic, an over the top to levels of silliness action film to laugh at or just a pure fun popcorn flick. Thankfully this new film of his is the last one. With competent performances from the ensemble including Jake Gyllenhaal as the MVP, Bay’s incredible direction of action, and personality to every character you meet on this wild ride, this is the definition of a fun action thriller to go take your dad to the theatre to see.
- Initial Grade: B+
METAL LORDS
- Plot: For teenage misfits Hunter and Kevin, the path to glory is clear - Devote themselves to metal, win Battle of the Bands, and be worshipped like gods.
- Review: Not sure if its because I’m a listener of classic Metal myself or what, but I ended up vibing with this film much more than I ever expected I would. The performances are top notch from the ensemble even with the simplistic material they were given and while the low tier budget shows, the film’s heart in regard to first love and friendship still shone through. Overall a fun coming of age film that any fellow Metal fan will appreciate and enjoy. This might just be the biggest pleasant surprise of the year so far for me.
- Initial Grade: B/C
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2
- Plot: After settling in Green Hills, Sonic is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner in Knuckles, in search for an emerald that has the power to destroy civilizations. Sonic teams up with his own new sidekick, Tails, and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.
- Review: While the flaws from its predecessor remain in terms of too many modern references and some lazy humor, I found this sequel to be a significant upgrade. Where as the first film was a talking CGI animal on a road trip movie, this actually felt like a proper video game adaptation with references to the source material and a post-credits scene that had my screening audience excited. Jim Carrey brings it once again as Dr Robotnik, Idris Elba debuts with great voice work as Knuckles, and the rest of the ensemble from the first film follows up with fun performances themselves. This isn’t just a fun genre popcorn flick for the family, it actually makes its previous movie better with its new strengths.
