Get Out (2017)

Get Out (2017)

7/10

Starring

Daniel Kaluuya

Allison Williams

Directed by Jordan Peele

I’m so glad Jordan Peele decided to change the ending of this film from a sad, racially charged conclusion to a happier one, with a goodbye joke for the black community to laugh about.

I’m black, and there’s no way I’d stay in a house where white people start acting strange with all this hypnotizing stuff going on. I’d be out the door in the middle of the night. The lead character, Chris, deciding to stay even after all that happened isn’t something you can blame him for—the dude was in love.

The movie is Jordan Peele’s directorial debut. He also wrote it, which is a departure from his usual comedy genre, but he pulled it off so well that I think he should keep going in this direction. The film was both a critical and commercial success, making over $194 million at the box-office on a $4.5 million production budget.

The characters in the movie are designed to be weird and unnerving, and each one delivers in ways you have to see to fully understand. On top of that, Daniel Kaluuya’s portrayal of Chris is outstanding. There’s a lot of emotion in this movie—tears, fear, and tension—and Daniel makes sure we, the viewers, feel every bit of it.

The movie doesn’t rely much on CGI or flashy visual effects. Instead, it leans on its masterful storytelling to deliver the chills. While it’s not exactly scary, it’s definitely thrilling and keeps you hooked.

The film starts with a brief introduction to the strange happenings in the town where our lead character, Chris, is headed. His introduction is memorable, with Childish Gambino’s song Redbone playing in the background as he shaves, and we meet his white girlfriend, Rose.

They go on a road trip to visit her parents, and while there, Chris notices that the family has an all-black servant duo. This makes him uncomfortable, especially as both servants behave oddly, making him suspect something’s not right.

One night, when Chris steps out for some air, he runs into Rose’s mother, who hypnotizes him. He wakes up shaken and calls his friend to explain what happened. His friend panics and tells him to get out of the house immediately. Chris decides to stay, but when he meets another black man—an incident with his phone leads to the man attacking him and yelling, “Get out!”

When Chris finally decides to leave, things take a turn for the worse as the family makes it clear they don’t want him to go.

Sadly, the movie has pacing issues, especially in the middle where things start to drag and the tension drops. The buildup to the twist works well, but once it's revealed, the plot becomes too predictable. The ending, while satisfying, doesn’t fully deliver on the emotional buildup from earlier.

You have to see this movie, especially if you’re black.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

7/10

Starring

Tom Hiddleston

Samuel L. Jackson

John Goodman

Directed by John Vogt-Roberts

The second movie in the MonsterVerse, Kong: Skull Island, is an action-packed adventure that will leave you excited for what’s to come.

The movie plays on what we’ve come to know Kong for—a human-loving creature who’s dedicated to protecting people and his territory from destructive forces. The filmmakers start with an introduction that made me wonder if they were going to take Kong in a darker, more brutal direction. But they didn’t. Instead, they took the King Kong we know and love down a path of struggle, showing how humans, in their many ways, are a danger to the world we live in.

This new take makes the movie different from what we normally see when we go watch a Kong movie and this difference made the movie more enjoyable.

The actors, from Tom Hiddleston to John C. Reilly, delivered performances that make you wish there were plans to see more of them in the franchise. The monster fights are well-choreographed, and there were moments when I jumped out of my seat as Kong gained the upper hand. The CGI depiction of the various monsters is also something to behold.

The storyline moves quickly, so if you’re not paying attention, you might miss some of the fun packed into this movie.

The film makes you think. With issues like climate change in the real world, it’s hard not to connect with the movie—unless you’re living under a rock or in denial of the damage humans have done to the planet we claim to love. Kong, in a way, represents Mother Earth’s attempt to restore balance.

Add great acting and mind-blowing CGI to the mix, and you’ve got a movie worth watching again just for the thrill.

The MonsterVerse franchise started in 2014 with Godzilla. Unlike Godzilla, I think Kong: Skull Island gives Kong more screen time. The movie is set in 1973, while Godzilla is set in 2014. Both creatures seem to have long lifespans, so it’s likely they’ve crossed paths at some point. That eventual clash is probably what the upcoming mash-up will be about.

The movie follows an expedition gone wrong. A group of scientists, accompanied by a military escort, travels to an island to study its inhabitants. They soon discover more than they bargained for and lose many men along the way.

Here are some drawbacks. The movie has pacing problems, especially in the middle, where the action slows down, and some parts feel unnecessarily stretched. While the monster fights are fun, the plot doesn’t dig deep enough, and some of the human characters feel underdeveloped.

If you haven’t seen this movie yet, go watch it—it’s worth it and makes you feel Universal has started a good job on their MonsterVerse.

Meet The Robinson (2007)

Meet The Robinson (2017)

7/10

Starring the voice of:

Jordan Fry

Wesley Singerman

Harland Williams

Tom Kenny

Directed by Steve Anderson

It happens every so often that a movie falls through the cracks and doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Everyone points out what’s wrong and the little tweaks that could’ve made it a crowd-pleaser. But for those who discover it, rejected and overlooked, it becomes a classic. They watch it, love it, and to them, there’s nothing that could make it better than it already is.

Meet the Robinsons is one of those movies for me. This CGI science fiction animated comedy was released in 2007 by Walt Disney Studios during a time when they were struggling to regain the animation dominance they enjoyed during the Disney Renaissance Era.

The movie didn’t make a big splash at the box office, nor was it a crowd-pleaser, which is probably why there was no sequel or follow-up. Everything about the animation was kept simple and sweet. By that, I mean the focus was on the story rather than the flashy inventions or time travel. The movie revolves around the life of an orphan struggling to fit into the world he finds himself in. We see his struggle to belong and the joy of finally finding people who understand and accept him.

The movie’s catchphrase, “Keep Moving Forward,” is taken from a Walt Disney quote. It’s used to celebrate failure as a stepping stone to success—each misstep is a lesson leading to the next attempt until you finally achieve your goals.

As said earlier, the plot follows a young boy in an orphanage who dreams of becoming an inventor. His inventions and mistakes have often sabotaged his chances of being adopted, but he keeps trying. With a science contest coming up, he believes this time he’ll finally get it right.

Things seem to be going well until a boy about his age shows up, claiming to be from the future. He says he’s there to save him from the attacks and schemes of the Bowler Hat Guy.

The main character’s journey touches on themes of struggle and failure, but in the end, he not only improves his own life but also the lives of those he cares about.

I think one of the things that made this movie not much of a crowd-pleaser is the character design style, it is very quirky and makes you feel you are not watching CGI, but an animation. 

This animation is cool, but the plot feels too simple, and while the emotional journey of the main character is a strength, it doesn’t give enough depth to the antagonist. The animation style made the villain seem more silly than menacing, which didn’t feel right. Also, the antagonist lacked enough character development, which made him less engaging. 

Another thing that was not in-line with what Disney does is, the story does not involve a girl or princess. It’s focus is on a young boy trying to make sense of his life.