eddmurua Reviews

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

Wow, I miss this one in the theaters

[10/10 · 27 May 2024]

What a surprise! I wouldn't ever guess the quality of this movie by the very silly "MCU but bad" type of trailer we got. I thought this one was going to be a lazy "by-the-numbers" "video games inspired" type of movie with mid humor all over it.

But my God no. The story and adventure is amazing. The humor is present in every single scene and yet is great too, almost 100% of the time, with incredible performances/timing from every single actor, closer to James Gunn MCU humor than typical Marvel.

And the rest its just phenomenal. Good story, good characters (with their own arcs), great action and superb special effects. Just an amazing movie I should've seen in Theaters.

Reunion (II) (2024)

Entertaining. Forgettable.

[5/10 · 27 May 2024]

The movie doesn't take itself that seriously with a very comedic tone, but to be honest, the resolution of the crime, even if not particularly great, does satisfy the convention of the genre in my opinion. Maybe less convoluted than the good ones, but good enough.

If I compare it with the two Rian Johnson ones of the genre, the Knives Out movies, I can say that it has worse writing, probably, but they are less obnoxious, less pretentious and the resolution of the mystery probably less convoluted and requiring less nosense, with more likeable characters.

But contrary to the Johnson ones, I would forget about this one very quickly. I was entertained and that's about it.

The Red Sea Diving Resort (2019)

Like Argo, but worse

[5/10 · 26 May 2024]

It's not all bad and we do have some pretty interesting and fun sequences, some because of the action and some because of the tension, although the bad score doesn't help them resonate as much as they probably should have.

And like the majority of the Netflix products, (at least at the time), the end result is another mediocrity with fine acting, a mediocre story/script and basic and superfitial characters that do not elevate the simplistic story.

Apparently based on real events, I'm not sure how much I can blame the movie for what it lacks, but in it's just too forgettable in my opinion and like "Argo", but worse, considerably worse.

The Lion King (1994)

Incredibly mature for kids

[8/10 · 26 May 2024]

There are many reasons to believe this is a perfect movie for kids. I won't deny them. I love the themes that explores and the ways to do it, with very hard to stomach scenes, but never overdone, just appropiate for the subject matter. The writing is just incredible.

And yet, I want to give it a 10 for that, and the visuals and the score... but I didn't joy quite a few things.

The acting, other than the great Jeremy Irons, is just awful. I didn't like anybodyelse. Because of this, the humor and Simba's climactic scenes didn't land for me. The songs are all over the place and the story seems a bit rushed and lacking details (that we get in the new version). Still great of course.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

MI turns into Fast and Furious until it finally comes back

[6/10 · 25 May 2024]

I mean, you have to love the final act. That whole last sequence that lasts for about an hour is breathtakingly great. Everything about it works so well it makes me think there was a perfect action movie here, with a little more self-restraint.

But as it is, the 2h47m runtime gets in the way, with way too long scenes of boring exposition, flat characters that the actors never find a way to make interesting with the poor dialogue they are given to work with, and a villain that by design can't possibly be amazing.

Regardless of the score, it is a movie that does justify paying to see it on theaters though, and that already means a lot nowadays.

Her (2013)

About humans and the concept of love

[8/10 · 24 May 2024]

The acting is excellent, including Amy Adams and Chris Pratt with really minor roles, even If I feel an uknown actress instead of Scarlett Johansson would've made more "anonymous" the IA, which would make more sense for the movie.

Besides the performances, the movie is also visually interesting, pretty (in the ways this type of movie can be) and the dialogue is just elite, allowing superb character development and exploring the themes of the movie, especially in the second half.

And about that, the only criticisms that I could come up with is that the first half does feels a little long and there is not a whole lot of secondary plots, although that may be for the better. The ending is supreme is makes it excellent regardless.

The King of Comedy (1982)

Kind of a (genius) mess

[8/10 · 24 May 2024]

Tied together by a great third act I felt the movie was unfocused. It gets lost between the absurdist black comedy and the psychological drama.

Sarah Bernhard's character was impossibly annoying and probably even unnecessary in my opinion (even if her character is important for the film's social criticism), and the rest of the supporting cast was also bad (Jerry Lewis was ok).

The movie also feels a bit long, even if De Niro is fun to watch (although never as menacing as I think he should've been considering what he was doing. Regardless, it works), but that third act is so tight and good that it compensates for all the problems. It's not perfect but it is pretty great.

Superman: Unbound (2013 Video)

Very stiff and boring, like the characters design

[3/10 · 24 May 2024]

What a questionable decision to make the characters look... like that. I guess some people would like it. But it's appropiate that they look stiff, because that's the movie too. The beyond simple story has no twists, it goes from action sequence to action sequence and stops only for very brief moments of exposition.

And the exposition is all very basic, just to present the new characters, Supergirl and Brainiac, the villain. And like the story itself, both are uninteresting and could've used more time to develop the characters and make us like them.

In the end, it would've been better with a less robotic Superman that never seems to be worried no matter how ugly the situation was, making the well done action sequences boring and repetetive.

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)

A very long, not that good Breaking Bad episode

[5/10 · 20 May 2024]

Aaron Paul carry this movie with way better acting than ever in the show, where he pretty much relied on coolness (although he did improve towards the last couple of seasons).

The movie doesn't look cheap like other Netflix productions, but it also lacks artistic flair, in my opinion. There is little different from the tv series and it really looks what it is, a good tv movie.

It has some intense moments, yes, but not emotional character evolution to merit a whole movie. A lacking experience in that sense (I kept waiting for something big to happen).

In the end the movie is like two or three Breaking Bad episodes combined, just not three of the best ones.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

What a masterpiece

[10/10 · 18 May 2024]

I promised myself that I was never going to rewatch this movie after the first time.. And it was the easiest promise ever because this movie deals with drugs in the least exciting and glorifying way possible.

If this isn't films as art... then I don't really know what is. It works at every level: as a message about drugs (with four lives destroyed by addiction); as an experimental film with weird editing and cinematography and score; as a characters based story with room for the actors to showcase their talent.

Could be seen as a bit "over the top" I guess?

A key decision was not to glorify the "fun" aspects of drug abuse, creating some kind of horror fable for the ages.

Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)

They went bigger... and worse

[3/10 · 17 May 2024]

They went global with this one and regardless how well that is done or not, it too away the intimacy of the at least a bit "plausible" storries contained in Raccon City in the first two entries.

The first 30 minutes were incredibly boring and kind of pointless. I remember fun characters and tension from the jump on the first two, and yet on this one there is only exposition (Umbrella), a bit of action (Alice) and the presentation of a bunch of new forgettable characters.

Once it picks up, it's fine, but Alice's new powers kind of ruin the tension and the Umbrella corp scenes were awful this time. Already not particularly good, the... ambition(?) of this one made it worse.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004)

Same level than the first one

[6/10 · 17 May 2024]

The production design was incredible. Some of the scenes looked like directly taken from the video game. For the time, the special effects were fine. Doesn't seem like much, but it's very important when you base the movie on a very influential and iconic game.

The plot is very simple, but it manages to create tension with the heroes trying to survive the mission, it contains some fun (if predictable) twists and it's fun from start to finish.

But at the same time, yeah, this franchise is what it is, so it won't change anybody's mind that didn't like the first one as it doesn't elevate the source material that much.

Resident Evil (2002)

Entertaining movie based on a video-game. No more no less.

[6/10 · 17 May 2024]

Without the most flair or talent, they managed to create a compelling personal story for the protagonist (Mila) and explained the (very simple) context and plot efficiently.

Once the action kicks in, the pace is great and the survival aspect mesh really well with the somwhat intriguing plot. The characters are thin, of course, but they work too, without annoying "comic-relief only" or "the defenseless" victim.

I'm sure someone could find plot-holes and there is nothing special here on any level. It's probably more mediocre than good, but I enjoyed it slighlty more than the usual non descriptive zombie/action flicks.

Irrational Man (2015)

A good premise. A terrible movie

[1/10 · 17 May 2024]

The premise: can you rationalize crimes as "good"? It's edgy. That's the only not even good, just interesting, thing that Allen nailed here.

The castings were atrocious. Phoenix looked more like a lazy teacher (Jack Black, "School of Rock") than a depressed philosopher. Emotionally though, Phoenix was able to act himself into the role. But my God Emma Stone displayed one of the poorest acting jobs I've ever seen. She didn't seem smart enough, interesting enough, emotionally involved enough for any part of her character.

Besides that, the movie took itself way too seriously for its own good. It wasn't even close to being fun but it was too ""wacky"" to take it seriously.

Also the dialogue was terrible. Too much bland exposition. Too much nosense (one example from a supposedly brilliant student surprised about an injustice she just heard that is totally mundane and known if you ever cared about systemic injustices. Only ignorant people wouldn't know about those. Was that a point of the movie? How "smart" college students are actually stupid? Then why the actually really smart professor said that she was smart?).

Also, the unnecessary and pointless voice-over was a decision that I can't comprehend (never used to say anything that wasn't obvious).

Last: the edgy premise resolves itself in a really sanitized (or there I say cowardly) way.

Joker (I) (2019)

Better than the high expectations

[10/10 · 17 May 2024]

One of the hardest things is living to the hype. This It's even better. There is little to say. I expected a masterpiece of a movie only based on comic books, a character study for ages.

And It is just that.

Perfect story. Twists. Real drama. Real pain. Darkly funny at times, but not comedic in the least. It is violent, as it should be, but never glorifying the violence like the rest of the comic book adaptations.

It is just perfect. I can say as a negative that It's not particularly original, with too many things (a few times, scenes) from King of Comedy and Taxi Driver. It is clearly better than those great but flawed movies... but it's not as original.

Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006 Video)

Very bad

[1/10 · 17 May 2024]

Story told on segments instead of a flowing narrative.

Atrocious dialogueven for animated movies standards.

Bad and lame jokes.

Awful animation and character designs.

Lame score (at moments, Looney Tunes from the 1940's Warner cartoons like).

Characters? Eh, nope. The only real character moments are terrible attempts of portraying romance. It was all too simple, cheesy and boring.

And for last, the villains: the type that literally say things like "we are in the conquering the world business" or something like "why wouldn't they just allow me to dominate them all?". A cringefest.

It's all pathetic actually. All of it.

Zodiac (2007)

Probably "too realistic" for its own good

[6/10 · 17 May 2024]

The characters are all "too mundane". Even the obsessed character (often overacted) is quite bland (not Jake Gyllenhaal's fault), let alone the incredible amount of police officers and detectives that we came across.

All the performers look bored except for Mark Ruffalo (clearly the heart and soul of the film). And even he gets axed from the conclusion in the third act (focused on Jake). I don't understand why Robert Downey Jr. Was cast for this. He was really bad. I didn't believe for a second he was a journalist.

In the end, the movie is... sterile. Almost like a mediocre documentary that can't create a narrative, it jumps so much trough time without giving the characters screentime to reflect and suffer the consequences of the unresolved case, which forces us to focus on the minutia of the police work. That seems by design and it gets old real fast.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Amazing film from the genius mind of Charlie Kaufman

[10/10 · 17 May 2024]

After the first 15 minutes I thought I was watching a lesser versión of "Before Sunset", with sci-fi touches. I couldn't have been more wrong.

This is a masterpiece on every facet of cinema. The story is complex with an original structure and super natural and deep dialogue. The acting from the protagonists was amazing (hard to believe this was the same actress that made Titanic, and even Jim Carrey disappears on the role, except for two or three moments). Mark Ruffalo and Kristen Dunst weren't that great (in smaller roles) and the rest of the cast was serviceable/good. The score couldn't possibly be better (well, maybe it could've been, but it was still great).

This is an extremely romantic movie with sci fi touches that makes easier to get into the philosophical and existential themes they approach, all without losing anything in the entertainment department.

It Chapter Two (2019)

Well done, visually pleasing mediocrity

[5/10 · 17 May 2024]

2 movies and more than 5 hours in, I still don't know Pennywise powers (what can and can't he do), the extent of them (limits), what he wants, what he needs, etc. That's a big problem, because while the actors were mostly incredible (with the exception of Jessica Chastain that was fine, but doesn't really look like the same Beverly Sophia Lillis was playing), and the story that was told between the scary sequences was sweet and kind of great, the truth is these "IT" remakes focus too much on the scary sequences which leaves no time to develop every character's arc.

Because there is not time, the pace is insane and abuses a repetitive mold. Literally every single character starts the "development" in the same way and we see them deal with "it", one after the other, all this with flashbacks from everyone that didn't add anything new to what the first movie already showed.

Like I said, after repetitive stretches we end up in the third act and insanity follows (that may be a book problem, but the movie didn't solve it) and things just happens and the movie ends. The arcs are all resolved, but again, in such mechanical way that makes less emotional, impactful.

Because they forced the kids on this movie (fan service) they had less time to explain Pennywise better (if that's even possible) and develop a more coherent story and better paced story.

Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Meandering dogs

[5/10 · 17 May 2024]

In some ways I think Tarantino was trying to make what later in his career will turn into "The Hateful Eight" which is amazing, replacing the silliness and dumb references and dialogue with tension, gravitas and a sense of danger/violence with every line.

To be fair, I didn't have a bad time watching it, but it felt like a waste of time. Dated references, unrealistically dumb criminals, music I just do not like. It was ok, but the details just weren't "for me" (score, characters, references, jokes) and the story was just an excuse so even if I was entertained, I can't say it was because the movie was good.

Spawn (1997)

So bad, it's good? Also John Leguizamo was awesome!

[3/10 · 17 May 2024]

This pathetic movie has one thing going for it and that is John Leguizamo's incredible character Clown/Violator. He is hilarious and disgusting and disturbing without doing anything super "R rated" (much least for today's standards).

I totally understand if you absolutely despise this character, but it worked for me. That's the "3" points right there. Other than that, it is atrocious at everything and there is not much more to say about it. Not in a serious way at least.

If you are up for a ridiculous cartoony character, then watch it for Leguizamo and laugh with him. Also, laugh at the rest. If you expect a "real movie", then no, don't watch it.

Shazam! (2019)

DC tries to be Marvel... it fails

[4/10 · 17 May 2024]

Asher Angel as Kid Billy was good and with Jack Dylan Grazer's Freddy, they created a super strong (an extremely funny) first act. A great start for Freddy and Shazam gave me confidence for the rest of the movie.

But then Zachari Levi got more and more screentime. He was vomitive. I didn't laugh once with his jokes. I absolutely despised his interpretation.

Also, why the hell a kid would completely change his personality by suddenly being an adult? That's absurd and actually the contrary of funny.

Did the writers know that the joke is that a kid is still the same kid, but with the body of an adult? Why a shy, introvert and antisocial Billy would turn into an open, extrovert moron?

The story about "what really is family" is fine. Done a gazillion times, sure, but fine. But my God the 3rd act bored me to almost a comatose state. The action and CGI was between bad and atrocious. The ending, mediocre at best. The emotional conflict forced and its resolution over simplistic. Just not a good movie.

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

Mediocre at best

[5/10 · 17 May 2024]

I'm watching the whole series (I only saw 1 and 2 when younger). I liked it for what it was when I was 15 or something, but even then I knew it wasn't particularly good.

Besides the awful acting and mediocre at best dialogue, I have to say It was good (just that, good) for a while. All the set-up was fun, even if dumb of course, and the 2nd act was good, creating tension for Paul Walker's character.

And then... they dropped the ball. They made a scene that could've cut a lot of boring minutes of this movie, and justify the ending at the same time and yet they keep going, wasting all the tension just to have a stupid last motivation for the characters to be where the writers wanted them to be. All this in pursuit of an unnecessary and overlong "Hollywood" 3rd act that deflated it for me. Overall, I think it's ok for what it was trying to do.

2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)

It's bad... but what a guilty pleasure

[3/10 · 17 May 2024]

The plot is even thinner than the first one. The acting, worse. The dialogue, probably all ad-lib (and bad at that). If not ad lib, then shamefully bad. The action, while bigger, not necessarily better. It's also more mainstream with a "proper villain", instead of a bunch of "good criminals".

And yet, I won't deny that I wasn't bored. Probably because I got distracted by the gazillion hot women and Eva Mendes, plus, I actually liked the villain chewing the scene, for whatever reason.

So, yeah whatever. This one doesn't fail at being good because I honestly think it doesn't even try it. It's bad. But entertainingly so.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

One of the worst "movies" I've ever seen

[1/10 · 17 May 2024]

But... if this atrocity of a "movie" made Tarantino famous enough to make the really good "Django", the great "Hateful Eight" and the amazing elite "Basterds", then at least something good came out of this awful disaster.

Mediocre characters or just plain and simple annoying. Idiotic dialogue without anything interesting or clever. And a non-story of boring sequences (except the last part of the Mia/Vincent date, something close to 8 minutes? Maybe 10? In a 2.20h movie)

Overrated won't even cover 10% of how inflated the perception of this is. The MCU is "Godfather level" compared to this crap.