Pacific Rim: Uprising

Mmm, big and dumb; generally an irresistible combination. And if you're one of those people--boys, really--who grew up watching Japanese monster movies, you'll probably be more inclined to enjoy this outing then if you grew up watching, say, Merchant-Ivory dramas. So, does that mean it's any good. There are things to appreciate. One nice touch here is the climactic setting in Tokyo; where better to have this kind of battle than the capital of monsterdom? Respect, for sure. The rest of it? Meh; for the most part, this one's pretty run of the mill. The action is action-y, with lots of self-consciously "epic" shots sprinkled in, which is so-so, but the comic moments generally fall flat. The enjoyment here really depends upon who you are as a film watcher. If this is your thing, you'll dig it (and know that going in). If not, well, then the machines won't be the only things that crash and burn.

Hotel Artemis

I have a bad feeling about this. ‘This’ in this instance meaning the future as depicted in movies. It’s never all that good; in fact, most of the time, it’s depicted as downright wretched. So it is here. That in and of itself is not a reason to pan a movie, but it had better not the only thing in the presentation—there’d better be something else on display to make the audience feel like they should care about what’s going on in that still-to-come dystopia. This outing, for instance, nearly gets there with some likable characters, including Jodie Foster doing her game best to provide some major depth to a story that, all in all, is lacking in the dimension department. A lot of what goes on here seems oddly detached. It probably doesn’t help that everyone on the screen/scene is, at best, morally ambiguous. Pay attention you storytellers out there: goodness still matters. It’s hard to root for criminals from the jump, and even when they display some redeeming qualities, that doesn’t automatically get a spectator cheering. At least this film has brevity going for it; it clocks in at a tidy hour and a half, and that helps raise some goodwill where the rest of the proceedings fall short. You can check in here, if you like; just don’t expect five-star accommodations.

Fist Fight

How weird that somebody actually thought this was a good idea. Hell, maybe it would have been with a different cast of comedians--people who bring some of the funny with them wherever they go. Only Tracy Morgan qualifies as that here, and even his contribution is somewhat hampered and muted. The biggest problem seems to be lead Charlie Day, who just doesn't have the funny chops to serve as the Everyman who is imposed upon and make it work--all of this is just wearying. Plus, the overarching idea--that American high schools are out-of-control jungles where anything can happen, including insanity and violence--just isn't funny in and of itself. Either satirize--which requires some subtlety--or make it slapstick--which requires something violent, but paradoxically gentle and innocent. None of that lives here. The few laughs mostly show up towards the end; otherwise, watching this one is a chore. Everybody gets detention.

Monsters University

I watched this flick with little enthusiasm at first--I have an established bias against these later Pixar movies, for various reasons--but gradually I warmed up to this one. The story hit every college movie cliche imaginable, but the movie eventually comes out on top despite its deficiencies, mostly because of plenty of good gags and jokes, and one fairly unexpected twist towards the end that redeems a lot of the triteness.

Pacific Rim

I can almost see a single tear trickling down from Gamera’s eye: his genre is finally all grown up. And this is exactly that: the Japanese monster movie made to adult proportions. This one is entertaining, to be sure, but like its Japanese forebears it’s also very difficult to take seriously. Suspension of disbelief really gets thrown through the ringer; when a pan-dimensional portal at the bottom of the ocean that spits out giant monsters is NOT the most unbelievable part of your story...well, that’s a tough row to hoe. There’s also a little too much plot getting in the way of the smashing stuff, and some but not quite enough cheeky humor. It should be said, though: it looks great; first class visuals all the way. All together, acceptable, but not really something special in this day and age.