MOVIE: Astro Boy (2009)

by benmweilertNo Comments
Astro BoyYear: 2009Rating: PGLength: 94 minutes / 1.57 hours There's no doubt that Astro Boy was one of the foundational anime series that helped establish the genre we have today. Like other well-known anime like Speed Racer, this anime finally received a movie adaptation in the late 2000s. Having only a cursory knowledge of the source material, I can't say how faithful Astro Boy (2009) is to its origins. In my opinion, there's always room for anime adaptations, since it's honestly a fairly untapped market. As for this adaptation, it's a fun movie that has quite a bit of heart despite being shockingly dark at a few key moments. As is the case for a lot of animated films, the celebrity voice acting is fine here. It's probably even a bit above average. However, voices like Nicholas Cage, Donald Sutherland, and Nathan Lane are so recognizable as to almost make it distracting when their characters are speaking. Similarly, the animation is fine—nothing...
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MOVIE: Renfield (2023)

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RenfieldYear: 2023Rating: RLength: 93 minutes / 1.55 hours Sometimes, a movie comes along that has a fun concept and delivers on it. Renfield (2023) asks, “What if Dracula’s servant realizes his boss is toxic?” With all the modern progress that’s been made in worker’s rights, this ridiculous combination is just hilarious enough to work. There’s a lot of lore surrounding Dracula, so a story that’s set in the present time plays the contrasts for laughs. That this movie is even canonically connected to Dracula (1931) makes it feel like a heartfelt sequel to its almost 100-year-old predecessor. The two actors who make this movie work are none other than Nicholas Cage (Dracula) and Nicholas Hoult (Renfield). Cage basically (and almost literally) gnaws on the scenery as he’s allowed to ham it up as the iconic monster. Hoult has shown he has great acting talent in recent movies like The Favourite (2018) and The Menu (2022). Renfield shows he knows how to play...
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MOVIE: Matchstick Men (2003)

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Matchstick Men Year: 2003 Rating: PG-13 Length: 116 minutes / 1.93 hours One of the lesser-known Ridley Scott films, Matchstick Men (2003) could have been just another heist film, and in some senses, it is. Upon watching the film again, one can easily pick up exactly when the "long con" starts up and which events lead toward the inevitable conclusion. So, perhaps it doesn't have the ability to demand repeat watchings (past about two) on its heist aspects. However, I believe the characters are what give this movie most of its charm. After all, characters make a story, and this one has some good ones. In one of his best "crazy person" roles, Nicholas Cage does an incredible job portraying Roy, a con-artist with severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. His performance is often difficult to watch and is cringe-worthy in the opening act. If this is what it's truly like living with OCD, I never want to joke about having it . . . ever. I'm almost...
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