Mickey 17 “Review”

Release date: March 7, 2025 (USA)

Director: Bong Joon-ho

Screenplay: Bong Joon-ho

Budget: $118 million

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Adapted from: Mickey7

Maybe my interest levels were set high as I waited all weekend to check this out…. shall we?

(Added after writing….P.S – If you plan to watch this, maybe turn back now….)

Mickey 17, I wish they cut almost an hour of content / story that could have been used to better the storytelling and establishing the world and reasons for the characters motives. (Yea I’m going to hold back on my rant from last night after watching the film).

Maybe that content was told in Mickey 1 through 16 but this movie had so much useless bloat. Setting up parameters and then throwing away those parameters moments later within the same scene. Unlike a few features I’ve checked out recently where the final act looses me. This title had the opposite effect.

Pacing and introductions were fine at first however the pacing was slow and bulked by pointless sex scenes. Sex jokes and useless bloat that was setup just for a plot point that could have been told in such a better way than using up 40 minutes of screen time. Like who the fuck / when the fuck did the opposition get setup. That came out of freaking nowhere. Anyway, the final act brought my bored, totally over the characters and awful plot back into a sense of enjoyment when the point of this story finally clicked into place. (Slight spoiler but it’s in the trailer and posters so…) I loved the aliens (Or residents) of the planet we end up going to.

If it wasn’t for that saving grace I was honestly wondering why was this feature made. I understand now why people are praising Robert Pattinson and the directors previous works. Because the movie was almost dog ****. My wife and father in law said they had a good time and enjoyed it so I’m sure my thoughts are the minority on this one but something about it just didn’t click / connect to keep me entertained.

I’ve already bagged on a particular title from last year so I wont do so again. So let’s use a more recent example feature that bombed / got low ratings but I actually enjoyed. “In the lost lands”.

While In the Lost Lands had a terrible script and executed storytelling poorly drastically towards the middle and ending. I loved the world that was built. The characters, despite dialogue missing a lot. Was held together with a specific style that was fun and entertaining. Despite Mark Ruffalo being annoying so you hate him to want him out the picture. I really hated the character for hating the character itself. I felt no connection in any positive light to himself and his wife. I hated them both. I disliked all the scenes they were in and felt the story was dragged down with all the bloat before it got somewhat good. In the Lost Lands I was captured by the world where I didn’t care the movie got poopy. I was having a good time. Mickey 17 was saved by the aliens and thank fuck for that because I could have walked out and felt like I missed nothing from the experience.

Unpopular opinion ? Maybe. But that’s why it’s a “Review” my honest thoughts / experience watching this title. Want a rant / a breakdown into why I didn’t like this title even further? Then let me know in the comments and I’ll continue. Would I recommend… probably not when better content is out. Curious to see what kind of experience you’ll have? Then check it out and hopefully have a good time. Bring this down to an hour and half movie I’d of given it a 7 but with the bloat and boring almost hour of eh, I’d give this a 5.5 / 6 out of 10. An above average feature. It’s a movie…..

Well there it is, my “Review” on Mickey 17. Was it smart to switch this release with Sinners. I think so. Having this now allows a potential better movie in the summer and hopefully washes the bad taste out of my mouth from the sauce.

Excited for Looney Tunes, curious to check out Black Bag aaaaand seeing the early reviews coming in for Opus… Maybe we’ll get a new addition to the bottom 5 movies of 2025. Mickey 17 didn’t make it on the list but it’s one of my lower rated features thus far for 2025.

I think Ne Zha 2 broke me setting the bar so high that all I want is to devour that content again and again. Longing for the English Dub to release and the third title to be confirmed / discussed :D.

Thanks for coming to Popped blog for your Movie “Reviews” and hopefully the sauce wasn’t so bad that this left an after taste in your mouth for movies going forth. Overall though 2025 is shaping up to be a better year for content thus far…..right? 😀 Maybe we should break the spring down comparing to last year once we hit April.

March 12, 2025 0

In the Lost Lands “Review”

Release date: March 7, 2025 (USA)

Director: Paul W. S. Anderson

Budget: $55 million

Story by: George R. R. Martin, Paul W. S. Anderson

Distributed by: Constantin Film, Vertical

Based on: “In the Lost Lands”; by George R. R. Martin

From Resident Evil to In the Lost Lands, Milla Jovovich has been awesome for those turn your brain off popcorn movies. The trailer hooked me giving vibes of the later half of Resident Evil series movies. Shall we discuss In the Lost Lands now….

I thought we were in for a good time and mostly I was. But before we take that twist and turns shall we discuss the awesomeness that this world is. Combine the world of Mad Max with cinematography of Sin City and characters from (Although didn’t quite get there but could have if cooked proper) Diablo games. This combination and added cherry with Milla Jovovich & Dave Bautista acting was awesome and such a fun popcorn film.

Then the script showed dents. Dents became holes then a sour grape mess. The actors did their best with this but my fun ride of a 7 dropped to a 6.5 fine scoring mid way through. When I finally got my wish of the witch using her powers outside of her intro setting. I wanted the clock to turn back and unsee the poor quality that was the entire scene.

Again, it was bad but fun to experience. I see worse scores online depending where you look. So if you’re not digging the intro, you wont like the mid way point. If you don’t like that the ending just gets worse. But if there’s any enjoyment from the characters and visuals. Then maybe it’s something to stick with. A guilty pleasure movie if you will. I doubt this will sprout into a franchise, series or even get a sequel….. but if it does…. I’ll be getting myself a ticket to check it out.

Not put off yet by the above? Then let’s discuss the film a little more.

The premise of this feature is based around mainly 2 characters with interconnecting stories with other characters. Jovovich playing the witch Gray Alys and our Hunter (I thought Gunslinger at first, could even be a Diablo Demon Hunter) Boyce played by Bautista. Our witch requires the assistance of our Hunter to travel the Lost Lands in search of a magical power that allows a person to transform into a werewolf.

Getting herself caught up in affairs of others by being unable to deny someone’s request. She accepts this mission placing both our leads in situations that leads to some awesome action and maybe even make you feel emotion for snakes.

Despite how bad the execution of this story was. I loved the characters and world so much a part of me would watch it again if requested. If a sequel gets announced I’d check it out. Just know, its a bad movie. Get some good popcorn and turn the brain off. Maybe you too will have a new guilty pleasure movie that you’d be happy to say you liked it or keep to yourself haha.

Popped score of 6.5/10. Lots of goodness but soured to the core. Let’s hope it makes enough to learn from this and for the script in the sequel be tweaked to a better quality. Or forget it and never think about this feature ever again :D.

March 8, 2025 0

Night of the Zoopocalypse “Review”

Release date: March 7, 2025 (USA)

Directors: Ricardo Curtis, Rodrigo Perez-Castro

Music by: Dan Levy

Distributed by: Elevation Pictures, Apollo Films

Based on: ZOOmbies; by Clive Barker

Had no expectations going in. Was either caught off guard or on moon rocks but this was a fun experience at the theatre. (Not for everyone….you’ll see soon :D)

What I’m calling, an intro to zombie movies for kids (But not all kids) – Night of the Zoopocalypse starts us off with a chase between our main wolf lead and a scary identity. This is her pack running drills to keep their survival instincts fresh and ready to protect the pack. The scope opens up to reveal their an exhibit of this zoo and we see a new face brought into the zoo during the pack lead’s teachings.

Showing that scope of the zoo, the animals, layout and environment playground for the film to have fun within later was a blast within just a few minutes. The characters were fun, good sound track and despite playing on all the movie troupes, played right into a bow tie of movie for big kids and little ones interested in a movie that’s a great entry point for zombies.

Sometimes this did get dark and scary. Other times let up and was bright and fun. The zombie gummy animals were a treat and seeing the combinations and designs was so much fun. Using the cutest of critters to be the zombies was great as you get to explore the horde navigating this space in addition to our “living” group leads.

As said from the top this was a blast and I had a lot of fun. Maybe having the theatre to myself released my inner kid but honestly I’d watch it again. Just be mindful of space rocks that come down within the zoo because you never know what the outbreak will be.

A potential sequel was teased at the end but I wouldn’t stick around for it. An audible queue and a lot of title screens. I’m not sure on the production house but I’ll be keeping an eye on these guys going forth.(L’Atelier Animation – Found out it’s a Canadian Animation Studio founded in 2014 and owned by Cinesite since 2022). Definitely got my interest and thus breaking the 7.5 pattern of late and scoring a popped score of 8/10. Great movie.

Another animated title I’m keeping my eye on is from the writers of Paddington in Peru with a title called Critterz. Have an inkling to check this title out? Waiting for streaming and catch the sequel in theatres next time? Let us know in the comments, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one.

I’m back and forth on my next couple of films but I plan to “Review” Mickey 17 either tomorrow or Tuesday night. Depends if I watch it twice or not. In the lost lands should be today’s movie. With possibly Mickey 17 or Rule Breakers tomorrow. Taking a break Monday 😛 then back in it with Mickey 17 Tuesday, Looney Tunes Wednesday & Black Bag Thursday.

Going to be a big week for movies as I catch up / ramp up throughout March before the big titles hit for summer next month / May.

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews” and I’ll see you, next time!

March 8, 2025 0

Novocaine “Review”

Release date: March 14, 2025 (USA)

Directors: Robert Olsen, Dan Berk

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Production companies: Infrared Pictures; Safehouse Pictures; Circle of Confusion

During the feature I kept thinking how much Jack Quaid hadn’t aged from Dawson’s Creek….well, that’s because I was thinking of Joshua Jackson from that and Fringe. Any who, The Boys & Companion is Jack Quaid :D. Shall we begin.

With there being 10 days until the official release of this feature I’ll be very protective of spoilers. The marketing of this film was handled very well compared to a certain title released last month. I believe 2 scenes were cut from the trailer from the film which added to certain points.

From a romantic comedy intro to a action packed twist when our couple experience a bank robbery. This was a fun ride throughout. The last act did cost it an 8/10 great popped score placing it very good at a 7.5/10 but would recommend this title for a fun action comedy with complements to the romantic comedy.

Jack Quaid playing Nathan Caine, an assistant manager at the bank is head over hills interested in Shari, an employee at the bank being played by Amber Midthunder. Nathan has a disease that affects him from feeling pain. So much that eating a slice of cherry pie could cost him biting off his tongue. Mix this “Super Power” with the fact his love interest is taken as hostage during the bank robbery, this film goes off to explore many fun ways to implement this into a wacky over the top action movie.

Sit back, and enjoy the ride on March 14th at your local theatre. Popped Scoring of 7.5/10.

Happy March everyone, looking forward to Mickey 17 this coming week, Looney Tunes next and to explore maybe some hidden gems along the way before Snow White releases end of the month. Whatever your thoughts are on Snow White, we have Minecraft right around the corner leading us into the glorious summer box office of 2025.

Let’s shoot for end of April to look ahead into Summer and cast our predictions for the slate ahead. Thanks for coming to Popped for your movie “Reviews” and I’ll see you, next batch.

March 4, 2025 0