August Recommendation: The Little Things

 

                                This little film I'm recommending for the month of August, is in all honesty a different take on the homicidal mystery, though to be fair the film itself does take a predictability when it comes to whose the killer and whose not the killer, and sure you're going to be unknown in terms of your emotions, but deep down The Little Things is a nice and different look when it comes to homicide cops. Staring Academy Award winner Denzel Washington in one of his few roles where he actually looks the part when it comes to age difference, along with other Academy Award winners such as Rami Malek and Jared Leto who'd you'd think might be the prime suspects but as I said before you may think but you don't know, knowing is not at all half the battle in truthfulness.

                                 Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon (Denzel Washington) joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter (Rami Malek) to search for Serial Killer whose terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke's past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.

                                  I believe most of the murder mystery films I've seen are always somewhat of the buddy cop movie, some are usually the ones where the cop solves the case but isn't the same person anymore, or the ones where it's both a murder mystery but with a gangster twist in the mix. This one feels more like a cop film with a mix of PTSD, and having a hard grasp towards the madness of murder, and honestly what I like about the film is that it shows a much more different twist instead of the usual ending or scenario's when it comes to murder mystery genre. This is probably the first time in a while I've seen Denzel acting in his realistic age, meaning he looks the part of his character in this film and as always, he's still amazing when it comes to acting on screen. Both Rami Malek and Jared Leto are both great as well I think as some thought, I assumed that one of them were the killer because each of them looks so creepy and weird but luckily my prediction wasn't all truth. I will admit by the end of the movie I didn't know what my emotions were telling me to feel but after a brief discussion, I admit this was a great character/actor driven film where the main attraction are the ones carrying the movie together so if your trying to find a good movie to watch on a certain movie night then I would defiantly check this movie out on HBO Max furthermore, promise you'll not be disappointed.

   

The Room

 

                            

                           You know what make YouTube the greatest thing on earth? Because it’s the only thing ever where you can find a movie like this, for which I'm talking about Tommy Wiseau's The Room. And I had to admit I was a bit worried about how I was going to take this moreover I did felt scared in watching the movie as well, but then once I watched the first fifteen minutes of the film, it surprisingly wasn't all bad, I mean sure this movie was no doubt bad on so many levels but it was more like mesmerizingly bad more like I thought of myself as a scientist or a psychiatrist and am curious in studying Wiseau's brain while he's still alive talking and yet I'm still haven't got answers in the end. Though I'm going to say this before I begin to talk about the movie, when you think about the movie and all of its un-natural flaws, you have to look at this poster that's on here and think to yourself "okay I understand him now". For many reasons, that face alone explains a thousand words all together, either that man couldn't get enough money to create a more reasonable image to promote the film or he'd really thought he was super awesome and decided to promote the film with just his face on the cover, but before he was able to do that, got really wasted furthermore came in late and looked like s**t moreover just looked at the photograph and said "It works".  So that's my two cents on the poster because while I'm typing this review, I just can't stop looking at it, it's just so mesmerizing. But on a serious note let’s talk about this infamous bad movie that everyone considers the worst movie ever made?

                            The way I can describe the movie is that it’s basically a over-dramatic soap opera, in which the story centers around a love triangle, in which a woman deceives two best friends into hating each other so she can get what she wants in the end, which is all I can say hell I don't know I'm no Shakespeare.

                           Okay so back to what I was saying about this film being not all bad, when I said it not being all bad what I meant to say that this wasn't really the worst I've ever seen in my whole life but let’s be frank I've seen a lot of crap from movies like Roller Gator, Fifty Shades of Grey, Gone with the Wind, Blade Runner 2049 and I'm just going to throw this in for s**t's and giggle's, J.J. Abrams Star Wars Trilogy 7-9. And honestly that's just the cherry topper there's other bad movies I can name unfortunately I really don't have the time, this movie alone is just bewildering bad that I was just so confused of what is going on from the story and what the characters are thinking, moreover getting some giggles out of the over the top dramatic moments. But also while watching this film I already had certain moments of how I wanted to fix this movie despite the fact that this film was already made, like why don't Lisa blackmail Mark into forcing him to have sex with her so she can do whatever the hell she wants, plus being a crazy woman, or why couldn't there be a twist at the end of Mark just having enough of this madness and telling Johnny that Lisa forced him into having sex so that way he can expose how crazy of a monster she is, see PROBLEM SOLVED. Unfortunately, this film is already made so really it doesn't matter. Now I've did my research and heard a lot of tales prior to looking up the Disaster Artist on Wikipedia, and I would think yeah it does make sense in terms of what was going on set, moreover Wiseau's egotism exploding  every day while shooting the movie or the fact that he didn't give a script to any of his own cast as well, or that everyone realized that the film itself wasn't going to see the light of day so that's the why everyone didn't give a hundred percent performance, which makes sense but deep down what was more fascinating was that Wiseau thinking that he was awesome and that he was making in his mind the greatest movie of all time, when clearly it shows that he didn't know how to make a movie, though if your trying to make your first movie happen you need to understand a few things, starting with you don't know anything all you have to do is make the best movie you can make, be the caption of the movie set even lead your troops into battle and most importantly be reasonable to your actors in terms of giving them what they and not giving them what they want, but to really sum it all up you need to be the leader every day of your life if you want to make your first film moreover your entire future. Which in all honesty reminds me of a interview I watched of Matt Hannon aka Samurai Cop where he talks about the time he was on set with director Amir Shervan and Hannon states in his own words of how miserable it was to work with Shervan moreover how he himself didn't give a hundred percent performance in the film but yet Amir put it on camera. Bottom line this film isn't the worst I've seen even though the film is bad is just not the worst thing I've seen, but the film really needs to be seen as a lesson tool for any eager filmmaker or writer that wants to make it big, because what this film provides, is an ego check to the very soul of that person who leads. I do say that once this insanity is over Dr. Fauci needs to do in experiment on the human mind of bad filmmakers like Neil Breen Uwe Boll and Michael Bay on why they are and what made them this way.   

                                  

Lying and Stealing

 

                              Typical movie night, browsing through Netflix, then I spotted the ever-beautiful SI Swimsuit model Emily Ratajkowski, and to be fair as a guy I'd thought that this would be more intriguing than her last film We are your Friends. Though, I than began to realize through the course of the movie, it really wasn't going to be as good as I hoped it would be. The film as you already know is entitled Lying and Stealing, and the film stars Theo James who was in the Divergent movies and, well the Divergent movies and Emily Ratajkowski who I admit as a guy when I saw the cover on Netflix I myself was like "ooh so pretty". Although there was one actor I did recognized in the movie and that was the guy that played Micro in the first season of The Punisher, and shamefully that was it. And in a certain way the film itself has some unique and creative ways when it comes to stealing art, although the film just slowly begins to lose its touch till the final fade to black and end credits. So, anyway let’s talk about the dire consequences of Lying and Stealing.

                            Ivan Warding (Theo James) is a thief, who specializes in stealing art from the elite of Los Angeles. He is obliged to a crime boss and wants to get out of the business. Elyse Tibaldi (Emily Ratajkowski) is an in-debt aspiring actress who is also a con woman. Together they plot one last heist and con that will set both free from their obligations. 

                            On a positive note I have when it comes to the movie, is the creative ways of the stealing of the art sequences it does. Give a great example the first heist that James character does I was oh that makes sense, so granted this is a fictionalized movie but I like the ways the character is able to use realistic ways to get in and out especially when it’s a one man crew and if my memory is correct he does at least two heist in the film and some of the unique ways he's able to pull off each heist I have to admit is pretty cool in how he's able to get away from it. Now that's pretty much it when it comes to the positive side of the movie, because the story itself moreover the direction of the movie goes it was really hard to take serious and I myself thought that this would be a hidden gem but deep down it just wasn't going to be as good as I hoped it would be. Theo James is a decent actor, but in just really doesn't provide the typical good-looking guy that the male audience can look at and root for, and the same goes to our leading lady. I'm sure that Emily is a strong woman in real life but when it comes to a movie like this all she is, is eye candy and all honesty I didn't think she could hold her own as I hoped she would. And when it comes to the story and direction of the movie I just found it so lackluster and more meh to the whole thing especially when one of the heist is come from stealing off a guy who collects Nazi memorabilia, and really now thinking about it I call so many fouls with that concept for many reasons I refuse to believe there's a man out there that lives all by himself and collects things from Nazi Germany because how are you able to explain that to insurance agents or hell even your own tax returns or any person in the whole world, that there's a man or woman out there who has a Nazi collection especially when that person has one of Hitler's paintings, in fact how the hell are you even going to sell that anyway? Ah well, just certain stuff like therefore this movie didn't reach my enthusiasm. The antagonist in the movie I didn't find very threatening at all especially when he's forcing Emily to take part of her dress off and force her to sit on her lap it just looked really weird moreover very sleazy from the look of it. Um, so deep down the film does well in terms intrigues and creativity it sometimes hits high but at the end the film just ends up with shooting itself in the leg. I get it was trying to be the different take of the Thomas Crown affair, but I would of suggest trying to make itself something new. So, if you’re in the mood for a movie like this on Netflix, just walk away because this really wasn't worth watching. 

        

Spider-Man: Miles Moreales

 

                             Originally, I bought the latest Spider-Man game on the PS5 because I figured I would be able to purchase a PlayStation 5 by now. But with this insanity we're still in plus the ability of picking the right time to purchase one well, let’s just say it's probably going to be a while thankfully I don't have to worry about Assassin's Creed Valhalla because I haven't even finished Assassin's Creed Odyssey yet. So, for now I figured why not at least give a chance in playing it on the PS4. And truth be told the game itself did not disappoint me at all. Also, to give everyone up to par this does not focus on the Spider-Man we all know and love it goes to the other Spider-Man who got his big break from the into the Spider verse film, Miles Morales.  In retro spec is more of an edger version of Spider-Man kind of like a John Shaft of Spider-Man. So, let’s get talking about this latest story game to Spider-Man.

                            Following the events of the first Spider-Man game, Miles Morales is doing the best of his abilities filling in for Peter Parker as he leaves for a trip with Mary Jane. Though things start to get a little dramatic when old friends show up and Miles Uncle whom he never seen in a while looks him up. But as we all know when it comes to city of New York there's not rest for the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. 

                            I will always say this, Insomniac Games stands tall as developing the best version of Spider-Man, just like Rocksteady stands tall when it comes to developing the best Batman game. In all honesty I can't really decide which is better between the original Spider-Man and this latest version for many reasons they're both great in their own way, each of them posse the great way to spend time in New York, fighting bad guys moreover finding some great ways to research some unique sounds for beat melody's. A side from all of the fun side mission's and the story line I will say probably the fun things in the game was the fact that I can go in to camouflage mode and all of my enemies are like what where did he go, which in all honesty if I had that ability I would make tones of Predator sounds for not reason just to screw with everybody. I do like the relationship between Miles and his uncle aka The Prowler in this game more than the Spider verse film, mainly because its Miles who at first gets to know his own uncle and then gives him in open mind about how the world needs to be better than what it was. So, all and all not a whole lot to say because the game itself is a same structure content like Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. But still a great game from start to finish and I personally can't wait for the next Spider-Man game to come out so to all gamers if you haven't got a PS5 yet, then I would suggest picking this game up on the PS4 just to pass the time until your able to buy a PS5. 

    

Assassins Creed 1 and 2 Replay Review

 

      

                    Been doing a sort of retro game replay through some of my video games I have over the years and I figured what better way of doing a replay review then to play one of my favorite open world stealth games Assassin's Creed. In my entire PlayStation gaming I can't think of any other than Mortal Kombat or the new Doom series, that I can point to and say I can stay in this world all day and never get tired of it, and Assassin's Creed was that game where the stealth game play is so simple that even a newbie whose had a hard time with other stealth games can play this one and say is amazing, moreover give a great example I do remember playing the Hitman games and although I do love Absolution and some moments of Blood Money, and I'll throw in the original 2007 Hitman movie but from a gamer's stand point of enjoyability I really didn't feel like wanting to replay this again. And going back and replaying the first game it just felt like you were stepping back into a world that was so amazing in terms of visuals and being able to do things that you necessarily can't do per-say when it comes to game play and storytelling, moreover you get to live in the Crusades era if that's not exciting enough when it comes to video games I don't know what is. And the same goes with Assassin's Creed 2, hell after watching the Showtime series, The Borgias I've now just got my history lesson furthermore began to see how awesome being in Renaissance Italy was.

                  The story itself centers around Desmond Miles, who is kidnapped by Abstergo Industries and is forced to live the memories of his Ancestors who were once part of a secret organization called the Assassin's, who stand for the free will of all mankind and are preventing total dominance of Templar control who in their minds through the course of each game you get to relive the Crusades era and the Renaissance era of history. 

                   I remember the first time seeing a copy of the first Assassin's Creed game and I was just thinking to myself wow I get to relive in the Crusades and granted this was 2007 furthermore was and still a huge fan of Kingdom of Heaven, so I'm sure your well aware of why I decided to buy it, though while playing I noticed a lot of references with some of the parkour movies (hence Casino Royale 2006) moreover I was like wow this is kind of cool almost like a ninja clan with hidden blades and doing a lot of Parkour. Though as always, I sometimes get tired of the game, so I put it back on the shelf to gather dust. Until the sequel came around I was like wow this is branching out in ways I can't even imagine especially when you involve historical figures like Leonardo Da Vinci who helps out the protagonist, while you have Rodrigo Borgia aka Pope Alexander IV as the main antagonist moreover again after finishing The Borgias a year ago I was pumped in terms of reexperiencing that part of history. Though to be fair in 2009 I never understood the concept of open world games and I do say replaying these games now I have to say this was really fun to do, when it came to getting upgrades and improving your fighting style. Ezio has always been the example of the hero's journey, though in all honesty I do wished I get to experience more story and adventures with Altair because he was the original Assassin and I'd like to see more of where his story goes next instead of just reading books or playing portable gaming moreover researching him on Wikipedia, but in all honesty you can't win them all so not that I'm complaining for many reasons I have to replay Revelations as well so well have to wait and see. I did see a lot of differences between both games, the first was really just a simple game that was clearly supposed to be a quick project almost like what the first Mortal Kombat game was in terms of development where there was nothing fancy also takes a lot of time to master the surroundings, but still a fun game when you get the chance to understand the story. The second game the possibilities are almost endless where you can do almost anything and relive events that happened, in which me I was like "oh I had no idea I can do this", especially when it came to remodeling your own headquarters, even though I had a hard time finding all of the feathers and in all truthfulness didn't want to replay the game all because of trying to find all of the feathers so maybe another time when I feel like it. I will say Assassin's Creed is defiantly in my top five of favorite game series it’s one of the greatest when it comes to stealth action and amazing when it comes to opening a whole world moreover getting a history lesson along the way. Moreover, without Assassin's Creed, open world gameplay wouldn't be successful as we move forward into the future of gaming. Well now back to playing Brotherhood furthermore bear with me when I say this is going to take some time to play and finish.