ivy7om

When it comes to movies, I'm pretty easy to please. I'm a firm believer in what John Carpenter said about film being an emotional medium, rather than an ideological one. In short, how a film makes you feel is more important than any kind of philosophical message it may attempt to convey. If I'm being honest, I don't even need to agree with a film's message to enjoy it. Case in point, "The Conjuring" universe. It's a franchise rooted deeply in Catholic values, for better or for worse, that manages to scare the pants off of you regardless of your denomination. I skipped the first one when it came out (I confused it somehow with "A Haunting In Connecticut"), but have been hooked ever since I finally got around to seeing it. The second film introduced us to the demonic nun Valak, who has gone on to get her own spinoff series. I know the first "The Nun" was poorly received by many, but I enjoyed it as a throwback to the old Dracula movies. In short, it was a style of filmmaking that I hadn't seen in years and never expected to see again. This year's sequel is just as good as the previous film. Picking up a few short years after it, Maurice doesn't realize that he is possessed by Valak and is drifting from holy site to holy site, unaware that the demon is looking for something in them. He seems to find happiness working as a handyman for a former monastery turned boarding school, but isn't long before the titular nun is up to her old tricks. Fortunately, the Vatican has assigned Valak's archenemy, the psychic Sister Irene, to find the demon and send it back to hell. If she can only find it first... Pros -The scares in this movie are good. There are a couple of jumpscares, but for the most part, you're tense with anticipation about jumpscares that you think might happen. -The characters are both likeable and compelling. You want Maurice to find his happy ending. Sister Irene has grown wiser since the first film, but is also more frightened of the battle she knows lies ahead. She is accompanied by a rebellious soon-to-be nun who, considering Hollywood's track record with rebellious young characters, I expected to be insufferable. But, she's really not bad at all. Considering how Marvel wants to pivot towards female leads, they should really be taking notes from this series on how to portray interesting female characters. There, I said it and I don't regret it -Do we get more demonic manifestations that could easily be developed into their own spinoffs? You bet we do. -Valak is way more violent in this one. It really sells you on the idea that anyone could get killed off (something that's missing from all the other "Conjuring" movies). -We have a diverse cast of characters who never make us feel like we're being preached to about diversity. Again, Marvel should be taking notes. -The lore is explored in more detail. For example, we learn why Sister Irene is psychic. It's just one of many touches that contribute to the world building process. Cons -Despite being the title character, Valak has very little actual screen time. While the filmmakers do an effective job of portraying her as an ever present threat, actress Bonnie Aarons really only shows up at the final showdown. For the rest of the movie, she is mostly represented either by the possessed Maurice or by the other demonic manifestations I mentioned above (watch for the man-goat). -The CGI in this film is pretty much on par with "The Flash". -The promise of an end credits scene doesn't amount to anything substantial. -The first film stole a plot device from "Demon Knight". This one shamelessly copies a moment from "Rawhead Rex". Verdict It may not break new ground, but if you have a taste for religious horror, "The Nun 2" is way more treat than trick. Recommend.

If I'm being perfectly honest, I'm not the most knowledgeable about Blue Beetle lore. I'm told that, in the comics, Jaime Reyes is downright insufferable. In the movie, however, he is actually quite likeable. He's an honest and responsible young man who is just trying to help his family. The story is nothing we haven't seen before. It's basically the plot from Venom with the tone of Spiderman: Homecoming. If I had to rank Blue Beetle against those films, it would land somewhere in the high end of the middle. Pros -In a world where superheroes come in two flavors (edgelord and clown), it's nice to see a film that builds up its hero as a positive role model. It's something I haven't seen in awhile. -Unlike certain other current year superhero movies, most of the humor in this one is actually funny. -Speaking of humor, the notorious "Batman is a Fascist" line that got everyone upset is a LOT less offensive in context. The guy who says it is portrayed as a conspiracy theorist nutcase and virtually every line he says is a gag about how ignorant he is. So, when he says it, it's actually kinda funny. -Visually this film is stunning. I used to say that effective lighting was a lost art, but this movie brings it back. -I want the score on CD -While Marvel currently seems to be running from its comic book legacy, Blue Beetle is clearly quite proud of its own. It mentions Dan Garrett and, although he never shows up, Ted Kord plays a MAJOR role in the story. One of the best scenes is in his lair, where we see a collection of the old Blue Beetle costumes from the comics. Cons -Your mileage with Jaime's family will vary. -There is a lot that could have been left on the cutting room floor. I would gladly take this as an hour and forty minute film instead of the full two hours. -There is a scene where our hero gets kidnapped and then we're treated to a long stretch without him. That was kinda weird. -Jaime only goes full Blue Beetle in a handful of scenes. I get that it's his origin and he's learning to become Blue Beetle, but a couple of extra fight scenes would have solved this problem and some of the pacing issues at the same time. -Whenever corporate America decides to pay homage to Mexican or Mexican-American culture, it seems that the only thing it ever knows about them is tacos and a few sentences in Spanish. Verdict As far as superhero films go, Blue Beetle is kinda average. It's no Dark Knight. But, considering how below average so many geek relevant films have been lately, average is actually kinda nice. Recommend.