The Last Duel

                               There's no question that Sir Ridley Scott is one of the many directors I look at and consider one of the greatest of all time, but then when his latest film about the last trial by combat in medieval France, and in all fairness I was a bit unsure because this was a movie that was co-written by both Matt Damon and Ben Affleck along with another professional writer Nicole Holofcener. For which is staring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and that part I was a bit weary of because I had no idea how I was going to take these guys serious when it comes to a movie like this. Unfortunately, Sir Ridley Scott must have heard me questioning his latest film because I didn't expect to consider this one of the best films of 2021. But in fairness the cast also includes Adam Driver and up and coming actress Jodie Comer who does a fantastic job in the film as well. Now I'm no expert when it comes to filming Trial by Combats but when it comes to this movie Ridley just made the Game of Thrones creators look like a bunch of amateurs when it comes to making it epic.

                               Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) is a respected knight known for his bravery and skill on the battlefield. Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) is a squire whose intelligence and eloquence makes him one of the most admirable nobles in court. When Le Gris viciously assaults Carrouges wife (Jodie Comer), she steps forward to accuse her attacker, an act of bravery and defiance that puts her life in jeopardy. The ensuring trial by combat, a grueling duel to the death, places the fate of all three in God's hands.

                               In a year or decade where it’s nothing but Superhero films, lazy written rom coms, or remaking classics from the past. It's really nice to go to a well, a mediocre (though sh*thole) theater and watch in epic movie like this and I'm honestly am not lying for that fact because without a doubt with all that's been happening it did feel nice to see something that was in the grand scale of epicenes that took me on the edge of my seat. And, sure the bromance of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are in the writing but they at least have a real writer Nicole Holofcener, but it’s really Ridley Scott's direction, that makes the film amazing, his vision of being able to make a story based on true events and turn it as real as possible is what makes this hands down the best film of 2021. In all honesty it’s been close to seven years since Scott made a period piece or biblical movie, though Exodus: Gods and Kings was a decent movie the big difference I would say with this movie is that it's a story that I believe everyone can relate to, and sure you can say I'm over exaggerating but in all truthfulness, Medieval France and today's world is no similarities with only a slight difference it’s not a man's world anymore. And what Scott does great in this film is the hard truth you would see in Medieval France and that it’s not a great place to live unless you’re a Nobleman or a Knight and especially when it comes to women it's not all glitz and glamour life when it comes to marriage, and Sir Ridley does a fantastic job in showing you that trait. I will admit I was a bit weary when it came to Matt Damon and Ben Affleck staring in the movie, but the way I see it in terms of what makes the film amazing is that Ridley does a fantastic job in bringing out the most in his actors, especially Matt Damon because despite my unsureness about him I do remember seeing a preview where Damon shouts "CONFESS" I was like oh wow, Matt Damon's coming out to play and to be honest Damon does a great job playing a Knight whose bit of a hypocrite but a man who will do anything to protect is wife. Now when it comes Affleck I don't think Scott needed to do much with him because Affleck does a great job playing a scumbag and the scenes that he's in I could imagine he does that in real life moreover could imagine he gives JLO a baby he'd be in the hospital saying to her "well good luck having the baby Hun I going to have in orgy with Adam Driver". Jodie Comer is really the greatest part of the whole movie, she's really the anchor of the entire cast for many reasons this was her story throughout the entire movie, and sure the movie is told through perspectives but her characters story is the most truth when you get to her side of the story especially in scenes where she's tragically attacked that was some powerful acting on her part and even when people don't believe her, or trying to hold her own about the risks she might endure if she loses, Jodie does an amazing job holding her ground and I hope she gets nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars. Adam Driver I have to say does a great job playing the antagonist in the movie but I also praise the guy who plays the attacker to Jodie's character because that's really the hardest thing to portray on film because I don't think any actor wants to do something that evil, and I have to give him praise for having to convince everyone on film furthermore I can't wait to see him coming back for Ridley's next film House of Gucci because he's doing some great work after his Star Wars gig. There were a lot of battle sequences but I have to say the Trial by Combat sequence is hands down the best thing I've ever seen in movie theaters because its honestly two trained knights in medieval Iron Man armor swinging anything they got their hands on, and I was just amazed in terms of two men wearing heavily plated armor and you can barely move around nor strike a perfect blow on your enemy and I still can't get over how well choreographed and well filmed that sequence was furthermore I have to say that fight sequence is up there in the best Ridley Scott fights I've seen in years. There hasn't been a lot of movies this year that peaked my interest especially last year and coming up with the final years but hands down the Last Duel was no doubt the best movie I've seen this whole year moreover felt great to watch a movie that wasn't a superhero film or remake, so that felt really great in seeing this great film especially in the movie theaters. So in short, if you’re looking for something new and different I would suggest picking this week to go see it, if it's at your local theater, but I would make it a date night don't take your kids to see this because their obviously not ready for the themes to this story. 

          

                                 

October Recommendation: Ready or Not

 

                                   I can't describe the excitement I'm having right now especially for a movie I was looking forward to recommending since close to a year ago. Since where now during Halloween season, it’s always traditional to recommend a Horror based film, specking of tradition. Ready or Not in a brilliant horror film about a richer than God type family who have very not so good qualities about them. Staring Hugo Weaving's niece Samara Weaving along with Adam Brody who I thought did a fantastic job in this as well as Andie McDowell. Now, I'm very picky when it comes to the horror film genre I really am, for many reasons that they're times I look at a scary film and I look to it as what would scare me the most nothing to over the top like Eli Roth does with his movie or any of the Conjuring films especially where they had the worst title ever "The Devil made me do it". So anyway, enough talk because I'm getting way ahead of myself here lets finally talk about this amazingly well-crafted horror film I'm recommending for the month of October. 

                                   Grace (Samara Weaving) couldn't be happier after she marries the man of her dreams at his family's luxurious estate. There's just one catch -- she must now hide from midnight until dawn while her in-laws hunt her down with guns, crossbows, and other weapons. As Grace desperately tries to survive the night, she soon finds a way to turn the tables on her not-so-loveable relatives.

                                  What I love so much about the movie is the fact that it’s something new and something different in the world of Horror, as I said many times before when it comes to Horror and suspense it really has to be a blend of both, no fancy thrills just some good and simple scares that can put the audience on the edge of their seats. Furthermore you really don't have to use so much gore like Eli Roth does in his movies and don't get me wrong there some WTF moments in the movie but there used in the best ways not just being disgusting all the time. But in all honestly if you ever want to make a scary movie you always must have a half and half of both suspense and horror to grab your audience’s attention. Re-watching the movie in order to prepare for the recommendation, I learned saw new things but that's what I love is that the more I would watch this great film, I learned something new moreover the more I get to talk about it and I haven't seen Psycho for quite a long time but I would probably pick up some little things I haven't seen in quite a while. What also makes this film amazing is that the whole film is set within a full landscape of the mansion, with the possibility of no escape and no way to out run the crazy family, for which brings the great concept of not being able to contact the outside world, especially when you have a crazy family on your tail, that's what makes it so amazing. Now this is in fact a scary film, but it also has some comedic moments in the film and will get to those in a bit especially with Adam Brody because he deserves some great praise for his performance in the movie. But right now I'm going to spend some time talking about Samara Weaving, this is probably the first time I've noticed her in terms of movies I've seen her in moreover I had no clue her Uncle was Agent Smit aka Hugo Weaving, but she does in outstanding job playing the heroine whose a bit clueless then becomes traumatized of what is happening but then becomes fearless at times and she does it in the best ways possible, and this is up to with roles like Ellen Ripley and Sidney Prescott, furthermore she does in all in a wedding dress throughout the entire movie. Adam Brody does in amazing job in this film for many reasons he plays a character that at first realizes what really his family is all about and yet is haunted by this at a young age but in conflicted at what to do in these moments of the movie and Brody does a great job at that, moreover I'm glad he's getting some good work because this is coming off a long road from starting off in The O.C. I'm not going to go in further detail on what makes this film amazing because I don't want to spoil this for all of you that haven't seen it, but if you’re looking for a different and new kind of Horror movie to watch this Halloween, I would highly recommend watching Ready or Not this is hands down one of the best and defiantly in my to five best horror movies of all time, despite the fact that this film was flown under the radar but defiantly needs to be seen because this was freshly new and different and had a great time watching this film and without a doubt one of my monthly Halloween movies to watch. And here's the sad thing, now that I've recommended this great film to watch on Halloween season, I don't know what other scary movie to recommend next year because there's nothing that can top Ready or Not.   

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight

 

                          Where during Halloween season, so I figured why not talk about a movie that's both a superhero film but also has a scary spin to it. Unfortunately, this is one of the first times ever when it comes to watching a movie moreover witnessing a twist that I wasn't a big fan of I yelled out "f**k you" to my own TV. Batman: Gotham by Gaslight is a unique and surprisingly great story of what would happen if Batman existed in the 19th century and fought Jack the Ripper, for which is based on the graphic novel and was kind of a turning point to the DC Universe where they can introduce alternate universes. While the graphic novel was in excellent read, all I can say about the film was, that its kind of like a navel destroyer whose about to destroy a submarine until the submarine launches its final torpedo and all of a sudden the destroyer fails to maneuver. 

                           Simplest stories as they come Batman is trying to discover the truth behind Jack the Ripper, with the help of Alfred and Selina Kyle. But in the world of Gotham you can never trust people, especially when they're the allies you trust the most.

                           Loved the Graphic Novel don't get me wrong, but their certain twists and turns that I can look at a movie and I just permanently hate for which destroys the entire film for me. And in all honestly the film itself wasn't all that bad to be truthful and there were moments where I liked and predicted, because again I've read the novels so I knew certain elements that were coming, but what I also liked was the fact that all three main Robins were in this movie (Dick Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake) for which I thought that was pretty cool because I always thought all three should be together with Batman but up until that point I didn't realize that story element but now I kind of wished they should incorporate that for future Batman stories. Now, what I don't like most about the movie was that and I'll try as best as I can not to spoil the movie for you, was the reveal of who was Jack the Ripper, and to me that was the point where I was almost close to saying f**k you out loud but I couldn't due to my neighbors next door but it was just one of those reveals that was like hell no I cannot support that because I would never in a million years believe that person would be Jack the Ripper and I was wanting to shut it off but I'm already in hour in fifteen minutes in so there's no going back, but that was just then I automatically hated the movie. So if you’re looking for a Halloween movie to watch in your own free time, you can go nuts in watching this animated movie but I must warn you this will make you hate it near the end of the story, even if you’re not a Batman fan.  

                           

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms

 

                        Well hey everybody, we have another sequel to the Mortal Kombat Legends series and surprisingly enough, was still an entertaining movie from start to finish. Moreover, you also get some great humor to come along with the movie also there's a bit of things that I liked what they did more than the live action Mortal Kombat film. Although I will say this I do in fact enjoy last year’s Mortal Kombat film but I do think it was great that they finally gave Liu Kang the spotlight on this film unlike the first film where it focuses on Scorpion which is fine with me but I truly think that whenever you start out with the story of Mortal Kombat, you should always focus on the Luke Skywalker of MK Universe. Anyway, I'm getting way out of hand when it comes to talking so let’s get right into the fight.

                          With Outworld trying to invade Earthrealm, Sho Kahn and Raiden proposes a final tournament that will seal the fate of Earthrealm. Scorpion on the other hand is on the run from the mad God Shinnock who’s trying to bring pieces of a special artifact that will resurrect the One Being that could bring death upon the world. With the fate of the world resting on the balance only Liu Kang and his allies can bring about peace and prosperity.

                          I do like all the new things they bring to the sequel moreover I think they kind of in a sense over crammed it, in terms of length and story. What I do love about it, is that both Raiden and Sho Kahn act like reasonable men, sure Kahn is without a doubt a tyrant and dictator but he does know when to bring fairness when it comes to war even if the mother f**ker is tough to kill, sorry just having some PTSD flashbacks of MK9 on the PS3. What I like about Raiden is that no matter how powerful he is he's still human inside of him even if he chooses to sacrifice his own. The other thing I like about the movie is Scorpion becomes more of the voice of reason when he interacts with the younger Sub-Zero, when it comes to fighting each other than accepting they must work together. I will say that they did crammed both storylines of the sequel games and not given enough length or timeframe of the movie and I still wish they at least improve Johnny Cage's character because the way I look at Cage I always think of him as the Bill Murray when it comes to comedic sense of humor. But in the end the movie does save itself with the best line in the whole movie where Sonya yells at Cage "Don't be such a baby, it's just a kick in the nuts", in which I need to applaud whoever wrote that line because that's one of the best one liners I've ever heard in the entire Mortal Kombat Universe. I honestly don't think that you need to watch the first movie, but I would recommend doing so just to get a full head up. All and all both cartoon films are excellent in their own way and I would highly recommend watching them if you’re a Mortal Komabt fan. 

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: Replay Review

 

                                Do you ever have the feeling in life, we're you accomplished something, and it felt like you climbed Mount Everest. Well, replaying Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, which includes the story missions and the entire side missions and the DLC. Well I am not going to lie when I say this that this was defiantly my climb to Mount Everest and now I officially don't want to revisit Renaissance Rome anymore, and that's a full fledge truth the next time I play AC Brotherhood is probably when I get old and grab this from the attic and play. Anyway, all jokes a side I have to say replaying this great game was much fun than the last time I played it, for many reason's the first time playing it I was more concerned about the story mode than I was with all of the side missions plus the exploring aspects of the game. And now doing everything that the game contains I now have a full fledge respect for the character of Ezio Auditore da Firenze. So, let's step right back into the Animus and travel back to Renaissance Rome.

                                Set after the events of the second AC game. Ezio having beaten Pope Alexander IV (Rodrigo Borgia), Ezio finally prepares to remove Templar rule, unfortunately Pope Alexander IV children, led by Cesare Borgia attacks Ezio's villa of Monteriggioni. Being saved by his own allies Ezio realizes he can't defeat his enemies alone; he needs to build an army. Ezio develops a new plan to break the heart of the Templar order, financially and to do whatever is necessary to recover the Apple of Eden so no one will ever know of its existence.

                                The huge difference I can say when I first played AC Brotherhood years ago to now is that I wasn't all big on the expanded world of gaming I was just more into the historic visuals and the storyline of Assassin's Creed universe especially when they killed off the most important character Lucy or Kristen Bell (who guides our protagonist Desmond Miles throughout the game), for which now when I look back on it, that was probably a sad thing for many reasons, this is the only time I see her acting via video game presents because in real life she's not all that great especially now that she's married to Dax Shepard. Anyway, all jokes a side, it’s crazy replaying the game now and just getting a grasp and feel of how they game designers and programmers can take something so simple and be able build a huge world. Even with using both software on the PS3 and X-BOX 360, were compared to today’s games where they look nothing compared to games now where it still looks very pixilated or more like a game out of the PS2 era. I don't care what anyone says, when it comes to playing games that's premise focuses solely on the medieval Europe or Renaissance Italy it's always fun no matter what because of the amount of weapons you can use to kill your enemies because as we all know a sword is always the coolest weapon to have but when you disarm someone whose carrying a axe or halberd it's always a blast doing these little things. This will defiantly be the last time I ever say this again but binging on the Showtime show The Borgia's I have to say really paid off when it came back to the two titles of Assassin's Creed, AC2 and Brotherhood because I began to understand the world in its conflict and most importantly the historical figures that have a part to play when it comes this storyline. Years ago, I never understood the impact Ezio had in terms of character wise mainly because I didn't understand why we were continuing his storyline when I figured the developers would like the first game introduce a new Assassin that we can follow in a new adventure and new world, now after finishing Brotherhood I truly why the character of Ezio is so loved by fans because he's a man who at a young age is so consumed by vengeance for all of the wrong that has happened to his family but then he began to see that the fight was never about vengeance but more of concealing knowledge from those would use that knowledge against humanity, furthermore believing with the fact that most people don't want to know the truth and to let humanity decided of how they want to go on with their lives, because as we all know when it comes to the Assassin's and their Creed fight for free will of humanity is the most important fight out there. So, I'm not going to lie going back into replaying Brotherhood was fun but it also had its moments where I didn't want to play anymore but that's the reason why I consider Brotherhood my Mount Everest of accomplishments so as of now I'm officially taking a break from anything Assassin's Creed for a while because that almost killed me when it came to spending way too much time in that whole world.               

Jolt

 

                     

                        So after my buzz kill experience with Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard I decided to look for another movie to watch and sure enough I decided to watch this film on Amazon Prime called Jolt staring Kate Beckinsale. And strangely enough, this saved the night for me a little bit for many reasons this was in a sense kind of like Jason Stathem's movie Crank where he needs adrenaline to stay alive but with this movie Beckinsale needs a jolt of electricity to suppress her anger. For which I wished, I would have those kinds of devices if I had to put up with stupid people. Anyway when I watched a good thirty minutes of the movie I was like "wow, this doesn't seem to bad" for many reasons it’s a bit bizarre and shocking that you almost feel bad on the character but when the twist and turns come around then you just don't know what to think So, enough talk let’s talk about Jolt.

                         A bouncer (Kate Beckinsale) with an anger management problem goes on a furious and resentful rampage after the murder of a friend.

                         I will say this, that this was a breath of fresh air. For many reasons, that it was so ridiculous and strangely shocking but yet it was a good move when it came to saving movie night for me, especially when I sit through the miserable hours of Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard. Kate Beckinsale does a great job in making you feel for the character moreover doing the insane fights that I was like well, this bring back some great memories with the first two Underworld movies. The story surprisingly enough does a good job in explaining the who premise of Beckinsale's character and what she can do so I really have no criticism of what the film is because this is a clear definition of mindless action, and so it is, what it is so, hell Jai Courtney is in the movie so whenever you see his name on the credits you know this is either going to be stupid, or stupid good especially when he's barely in it much. So if your ever having a bad day or feel like you just watched a bad movie that makes you so mad you want to punch something, I would highly recommend watching Jolt because this is one of those movies that you can breathe easily and say that this was a much better movie than Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard.  

Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

 

                       Do you ever get the feeling when you have a typical movie night but all of a sudden you movie night feels trashed all because of the movie, then you just feel so angry you don't know how to describe that anger? Well this was one of those movie nights we're I felt my night was ruined and I had to find a backup plan quickly, but well get to that later. Usually there are times when you look at a sequel to an awesome movie with two actors who provided great chemistry work, you'd think if they couldn't go wrong. Well, unfortunately there comes a time where you should just quit while your ahead when making a smash hit like The Hitman's Bodyguard. Though sadly, director Patrick Hughes really should of made the decision to quite while you’re still ahead because really when you try so hard to make a sequel better than the first you always know you’re going to fail. Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson return for the sequel with Salma Hayek along for the ride. Regrettably there's a famous saying "Two's a company, Three's a crowd" that's best going to describe why this isn't as amazing as the original.

                       The World’s most lethal couple--bodyguard Michael Bryce (Ryan Reynolds) and hit man Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson)--are back for another life threatening mission Still unlicensed (which is weird because I assumed he was going to be licensed after the first movie ended) and under scrutiny, Bryce is forced into action by Darius's even more volatile wife (Salma Hayek). Soon, all three are in over their heads when a madman's sinister plot threatens to leave Europe into chaos.

                       This movie is a clear definition of sequels never being as good as the original was. And the sad thing was, that I actually thought this was going to be good and then I watch the movie and I'm just thinking to myself "I can't believe, I'm still watching this" It wasn't the fact that yes Sam Jackson can save a film as always but there really wasn't enough of Sam Jackson and I wanted more of Sam Jackson making fun of Ryan Reynolds because that's what made the original film great. But no we have to split the difference with both Sam and Salma Hayek, which deep down is really not as fun, furthermore the jokes aren't even funny as well especially when you have a character like Frank Grillo whose supposed to be this Boston agent in Interpol and makes trash talk with a Scottish female agent, in which I would apply to Grillo "don't quite your day job". The one plot hole which doesn't make sense to me is that Reynolds character is still unemployed for which I would think he was employed and yet was haunted by Kincaid but yet he's still unemployed and what happened to his girlfriend from the first movie? Moreover why would I ever want to feel sorry for Reynolds character when the movie is telling me to feel sorry for this guy, since were giving a little side origin story about him, which is why I'm going to say this a million times when it comes to this movie never cut screen time with Samuel L. Jackson, you should always give that man a hundred percent of the screen time no matter how bad you movie is. Even Morgan Freeman doesn't save this movie, in which if I was making this movie I would have him at least explain the whole movie, but Freeman is another clear example of how lazy a movie can be especially when Freeman is playing Reynolds Dad furthermore are making the usual joke of a character that is white who just so happens to have a Dad that's black, because the movie is trying to desperately explain that we've never seen that before, especially when the punch line of the joke says the son is adopted. Now I hopefully explained how bad this movie was and hope that I saved you into not wanting to watch this movie. But yet this was a movie that still angers me in thinking about but luckily, I found another movie to watch that took a little bit of the steam out of me, but that conversation will have to continue for another time.