kevinoliver94 Reviews

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

A masterful weaving of the old and the new

[7/10 · 19 December 2015]

Don't let the shrill minority fool you, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is one of the greatest films ever set in a galaxy far, far away.

J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan have accomplished what I thought to be impossible: they have resurrected the Star Wars franchise with more life and vigor than ever. From a beautifully nostalgic, yet not overbearing story to crackling dialogue that doesn't take itself overly serious, this film is brimming with everything we ever loved about Star Wars.

The acting is better than we've ever seen it, with our returning cast, specifically Harrison Ford churning out their best performances yet. My favorite part of the film, however, are the new players. All of the young cast, specifically Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley stun in their respective roles.

This film plays as a love letter to fans, from a fan. And while it's impossible to please everyone in the internet age, as a man who loved the original trilogy long before the prequels, I can assure you that if you consider yourself a Star Wars fan, you will fall in love with this film.

I implore you to see it multiple times. It's gotten better every single time. It's now tied with A New Hope as my second favorite Star Wars film behind The Empire Strikes Back. This film will stand the test of time for generations to come. Thank you J.J. and Larry for this gem of a trilogy kickoff.

Creed (II) (2015)

A love letter to Rocky and film fans alike

[10/10 · 25 November 2015]

There's no other way to say it; Creed is a knockout.

From start to finish, this film exhilarates and crackles with brilliant on screen performances and masterfully directed fight sequences. It wholeheartedly captures what was so brilliant about the first film: the characters. Yes, I'll return to theaters to see the fights, but it's the characters, particularly Rocky and Adonis that truly captivated me from start to finish.

I can't say enough great things about writer/director Ryan Coogler. The way he masterfully captures the modern spirit of Philadelphia and the visceral tension of standing toe-to-toe with a man who wants to see you hit the ground is second to none. What stood out the most, however, was his writing of Rocky Balboa. The subtle nuances that we love about the Italian Stallion are effortlessly worked into the script and flow like water from Sly's crooked mouth. Speaking of, the script would be for naught if it weren't for the beautiful performances by Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone. I'm not ashamed to say I was brought to tears at various parts of this film.

I'm just so happy to say that this film wasn't a disappointment. This film exceeded my wildest hopes of a 7th Rocky installment and had me feeling amped up for hours after the credits rolled. I can't wait to see more from the talent involved in this film, and I proudly endorse and recommend Creed to Rocky fans and film fans alike.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Best possible end to the best possible trilogy.

[9/10 · 20 July 2012]

This film is one of those few films that sends chills up your spine, as if everything happening is happening to you. The storytelling of this film is simply amazing. Everything you see on screen, as with the previous films, feels so extremely real thanks to the marvelous Christopher Nolan and the cast he put together. This is the first film I have ever seen where there was no weak spot in the cast. even the newcomers (Hardy, Levitt, Cotillard, Hathaway) nailed their roles as if they were born for it. It is a spectacle to watch as well, with a scope much larger than the past films. I wondered how the scope and the stakes could be larger than the dark knight....and they definitely were. If Christian Bale and Nolan do not win academy awards for their roles in this film, it will be confirmation that the system is flawed. I would also like to single out Tom Hardy. His role as Bane will go into history as THE most terrifying and menacing villain in film history. There was not a single time when he was on screen that he didn't give you more cause to fear him. Also, Anne Hathaway shocked me with her amazing Selina Kyle. She nailed the role and stole your attention whenever she was on camera! She was very well cast. Overall, it currently holds the top spot for best film ever in my book.