Tag: reviews

We Live in Time “Review”

Release date: January 1, 2025 (UK)

Director: John Crowley

Distributed by: A24, StudioCanal

Box office: $314,537

Cinematography: Stuart Bentley

Edited by: Justine Wright

Welcome to this weeks Popped “review” batch with first up We Live in Time followed by Smile 2.

We Live in Time is focused around the beautiful relationship between Tobias played by Andrew Garfield and Almut played by Florence Pugh.

Performances were fantastic and I rather enjoyed this relationship and movie. Sadly however this movie can have wide swings depending how quickly you connect with these two.

The story telling was what killed the drive of the movie for me personally as at first they tell the story throughout periods of time of this couples relationship before the pieces come together.

Delivering the bad news up front, after introducing the characters. Made moments of the film feel draggy as I wished they setup the couples relationship and attachment between the audience first. Once the picture came together however you get to experience a touching and heart felt story.

Speaking of delivering, my favorite scene in the movie was the delivery of there child and the fun yet chaotic and sweet chemistry between Tobias & Almut along with some surprise characters that probably didn’t expect their day to turn out that way.

Not a movie I’d watch again but a good movie to experience with your romantic partner. Remember like the posters says. Every minute counts.

So go tell your loved ones how you feel and give them a huge hug today <3.

7/10 good movie!

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Piece by Piece “Review”

Release date: October 11, 2024 (USA)

Director: Morgan Neville

Distributed by: Focus Features, Universal Pictures

Budget: $16 million

Edited by: : Jason Zeldes; Aaron Wickenden; Oscar Vazquez;

Production companies: The Lego Group; Tremolo Productions; I Am Other

Hello everyone and welcome to this week’s batch of “Reviews” which started with Saturday Night and now Piece by Piece.

I included the first movie as I make the point twice that the origins of these movies kind of go over my head. So with that caveat, I’ll dive into this “Review”.

During my youth I listened to very different music and wasn’t in the scene of music while growing up. Due to not understanding lyrics I listened to anything I could bop to and headbang while playing video games.

That being said when it comes to all the music that Pharrell Williams had a hand in creating, I LOVED all those songs and within their genres is amongst my favorite songs.

I wouldn’t have watched this movie however without it being in the style of Legos. This direction was a beautiful decision for a broader appeal to the movie-going audience which already knows when coming into the theatre that the music will be amazing.

Piece by Piece tells the story of singer/songwriter AND record producer Pharrell Williams from his childhood in Virginia to his success in the music and fashion industry.

It’s a cute entertaining movie that’s also informative and powerful. Navigating the meanings behind the creation of certain songs during real-life events both on an individual level and global impact level.

I’ve personally not been a fan of the interview style which is why I appreciated having such a vibrant and entertaining style to watch while individuals spoke on screen.

Moments that stuck out to me were of course the incredible music being created and depicted visually onscreen. But also the storytelling elements of Pharrell growing up and achieving throughout his entire life to now. It was both eye-opening and informative how much he’s done and the impact on our lives he’s had even if we didn’t know in the moment.

Despite having moments I found myself a little bored. Which mostly came from the movie getting started within the first 30 minutes. I came away enjoying this movie and giving it a good score of 7/10.

I appreciated listening and discovering the story behind Pharrell Williams and encourage others to check out Piece by Piece at your local theatre.

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Saturday Night “Review”

Release date: October 11, 2024 (USA)

Director: Jason Reitman

Distributed by: Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing

Budget: $25–30 million

Cinematography: Eric Steelberg

Music by: Jon Batiste

Hello everyone and welcome to this weeks batch of “Reviews” starting with Saturday Night and followed by Piece by Piece.

I include the second movie as I’ll make the point twice that the origins of these movies kind of go over my head. So with that caveat I’ll dive into this “Review”.

You’re 90 minutes away from going live on your first live episode ever and the show still can’t be fully explained or finalized. What more could go wrong with an hour and a half to fill with 3 hours of potential content and the suites funding this thing are betting against you.

Welcome to Saturday Night the movie leading up to the very first episode of SNL which I’ve only seen 1 episode for which was solely for dogecoin meme.

Ready or Not: 11:30 p.m. hits, and we’re going live no matter what is shown on screen or about preparedness. To sum this film up I’d have to say “Entertaining”. Although I had no idea who these real-life people were and the sketches being rehearsed I was entertained throughout this movie.

A good movie that kept me wanting more and honestly by 11:30pm came around and the show went live I wanted to see another hour and a half of what’s to come on the live episode. Sadly there are only 10 minutes roughly of that first episode but for those that watched it live back in the day, will have a blast seeing how it all came to be within this feature.

Stand-out actors for me personally were Cory Michael Smith playing the character Chevy Chase. I kept telling myself during the film he looked like Riddler from the show Gotham, of which I can confirm was true :D.

In addition to Gabriel LaBelle playing the character Lorne Michaels whom I thought they kept calling John. His timing on the jokes and range of comedy was brilliant.

Lastly of my top 3 standout actors was Lamorne Morris playing the character Garrett Morris which was totally hilarious and brought a lot of impact and meaning behind his scenes. Calling out the times for how certain decisions and treatments wouldn’t and shouldn’t be allowed in today’s era.

I’d place Saturday Night at a 7.5/10. Loved how the film came together and had a good time. Wouldn’t complain about watching it again however most likely won’t.

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The Wild Robot “Review”

Release date: September 27, 2024 (USA)

Director: Chris Sanders

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Adapted from: The Wild Robot

Budget: $78 million

Music by: Kris Bowers

While the trailers for Transformers One grew on me the more I watched it leading to the film’s release. The Wild Robot sadly had the opposite affect. Showing way to much of the movie leading to release even dropping a trailer 3 days before release.

Within 5 minutes of watching this movie, I removed my review cap and was locked into this adorable and emotional story. They have such loving characters and a beautifully written story. I’m excited to see what’s next for this series as it’s based on a 3 book series.

If Baymax was dumbed down for kids to enjoy by Disney. The Wild Robot has Roz, who combines a smart and engaging personality and dark adult humor which honestly captured the adults and kids in my theatre. I laughed out loud and cried a lot with how connected I got with these characters.

DreamWorks is honestly back and for the past couple of years, it seemed like Universal Animation was coming for Disney. DreamWorks may very well come in with such quality movies and stories to topple the castle. Super excited to see Shrek 5 and Bad Guys 2 😀

I won’t get deep into storylines and all however will include some shout-outs for this incredible feature.

Roz finds herself awakened within the wilderness looking for its customer to complete the requester’s objective. This leads to our characters coming together in a story that I wish came out for mothers day. The connection created between Roz and the possum family was priceless! Loved these characters literally all of them had so much personality it all came together for my locked-in 2024 best-animated feature and hopeful Oscar winner.

Loved it more than Inside Out 2 and recommend all checking this movie out. Bring tissues if you connect with characters like I do haha. Easy 9/10 and thus makes it into my top 10 of 2024.

Have you checked out The Wild Robot yet? On the sidelines? Let me know what you’re thinking in the comments. Thank you all for spending time with me on another Popped “Review” Next up should be Joker unless something unexpected pops up like Megalopolis?

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The Substance “Review”

Release date: September 18, 2024 (USA)

Director: Coralie Fargeat

Distributed by: Mubi, Metropolitan Filmexport

Cinematography: Benjamin Kracun

Music by: Raffertie

Production companies: Working Title Films; Blacksmith

The Brief “Review”

Use this “Review” for those that don’t want to ruin their appetite before devouring the candy that’s going to be presented to them. Healthy substance in the lack of substance holding back the onion from being peeled? What does all that mean?

Let’s begin!

I went into this film blind to only seeing the above poster. With a perfect time slot at the theatre I went to check out this movie which upon reflection could very well be my favorite new horror movie in quite some time.

I call it – The Everything Everywhere All At Once Candy Corn? Confused? So am I. Let’s keep it brief. It’s not for everyone but for those that enjoy this. It’ll be staying with your horror-loving self for years to come. It’s going into my top 10 movies of the year and I’ll even lock in an Oscar nomination while we’re at it.

Want some more?

If Everything Everywhere All At Once was a horror movie on society’s creation of individuals in the spotlight. By the way, the movie I’m referencing was my favorite movie of the year that it was released. 9/10 – Cinema

The “More” In-depth “Review”

The opening of this movie focused on an egg being injected and splitting into two, which was the most fabulous and bizarre experience entering a movie. I praise how brilliant it was coming out at the end. Most surreal and clever use of cinematography that just captivated me from the start.

What’s this movie about without spoilers and giving too much away? It’s your 50th birthday and after being in the spotlight for so many dozens of years you’ve noticed those around you have grown tired of what’s being offered and seek for a replacement. Someone younger and “Hotter” to be the eye candy going into future years to come.

Well, good news! I have the substance of your answer. So impactful you’ll birth yourself a younger one.

Loved the chapter-like story introducing Elizabeth Sparkle and introducing the layers of this tale forever being peeled back revealing so many different layers that the creativity was insane how deep the writing and creativity went.

The Substance is VERY R Rated and I’d recommend you be comfortable with your party members that you’re watching this title with. You’ll get to know ALL about these characters on an up-close and personal level. Spotlighted on and more in the frame than any other movie currently out at Theatres.

I mentioned it above but I’d lock in my Oscar nomination on this title. The category that instantly jumps out is that of the editing and sound effects/music. I’d have to display the categories before me to truly pick but I’d lock this title in for nomination for sure.

Remember you are one! This movie was horror done smart and I freaking loved it! It’s not for everyone. But those that enjoy cinema and horror can truly get to sit back and enjoy this combination as something new and horrifying in so many ways. The eye of beauty and the beholder of such envision can only come from within when faced with such hatred and ugliness in the world.

The onion layers will speak for itself. Will it affect you as you dive deeper in? Only by watching The Substance will you be able to tell. I was back and forth between a 8.5 and a 9 but the ending and the bow tie that I’m all about. I went with a fucking love it 9/10. Lets freaking GO! With that we have 2 8.5’s remaining on the top 10 of 2024 and I’m excited to see how this list wraps up going into November before we finalize the entries in order by end of December.

Thank you all for reading this “Review” of The Substance. Did you check this title out? Think I’m crazy for comparing it to Everything Everywhere All At Once? Then I’d love to hear in the comments section. This has been Prowen with another solid batch of Popped! “Reviews”.

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Trap “Review”

Release date: August 2, 2024 (USA)

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cinematography: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom

Music by: Herdís Stefánsdóttir

Production company: Blinding Edge Pictures

How should we start this “Review”. It’s M. Night Shyamalan’s best movie post 2020? Not on the level of Split but maybe Glass? If that gives a pictures lets open the door to Trap.

I applaud the trailer for setting up this movie. It does a great job of setting the scene and informing the viewer what this movie is about. The movie dives a little deeper in than the trailer reveals but the intro and the trailer work nicely hand in hand to one another without revealing anything futher.

Thoroughly enjoyed the dynamic relationship between the daughter and her dad as we navigated the scenes developing during this feature. I can’t go into much detail to contain the trap and the inner webbing of threads revealed throughout the movie.

I was very entertained throughout the majority of this feature. Hitting 8/10. Sadly without going into much detail the “plot twist” that M. Night placed on this movie could have audiences split. It brought my score down to a 7.5. However depending what they do next with this world/universe could bring it up or drop further without some solid writing.

I recommend everyone interested in the trailer / film go watch it. Then lets discuss the feature afterwards because there’s a lot to be discussed. A small post feature scene before the credits fully role. Nothing to stick around for at the end of the credits. Save yourself 5 minutes :D.

Appreciate you for reading this Popped “review” and next up should be Borderlands next week sometime after the movie premiers Thursday 8th.

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Deadpool & Wolverine “Review”

Release date: July 26, 2024 (USA)

Director: Shawn Levy

Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Based on: Marvel Comics

Budget: $200 million

Cinematography: George Richmond

Go watch this movie, have a bloody good time and then come back because I’m just going to gush all over this thing like the guy from the TSA making calls to HR but secretly loving what my eyes are locked in on.

Got your attention? Yea, then buckle up sweat heart because this is one hell ova thrill ride. From the epic and very nicely paired soundtrack action scene this movie had me hooked. Yea the pacing takes a significant nose dive for awhile. The fun and laughs just ramp right back up until the next over the top set of scenes.

Who’d have known we’d be getting a sequel to not only Deadpool 2. But also Logan, *****, **** *****, AMONG SO MUCH MORE! Have you seen the movie already? Why are you still reading this. Go by 5 tickets and watch this movie already. Go have a blast. Look for the easter eggs. Watch it again. Then go back with a group of friends and eventually your family.

Based of feeling and how I started and left the showing. Easily breaking my 9/10’s to slam this down as #1 with a 10/10. If I had to pick at it and want more then I’d go with an 9.5/10. Best movie of the year? Did you watch the movie already? Yes!? Then why ask such an obvious question.

MCU Jesus is here to save Marvel and set the timeline right in it’s place. We’ve been de-railed for quite some time and Deadpool & Wolverine are here to save the day.

$200 Million budget? WoW! That’s cheap of Disney. Should have been $300 Mill as this will be making it back within opening weekend. Let’s Fucking Go with a directors cut and crank this thing to 2 and a half hours or even 3 :D.

Loved this movie clearly. Stick around to read more spoiler things. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!

WARNING SPOILERS WARNING SPOILERS WARNING SPOILERS

WARNING SPOILERS WARNING SPOILERS WARNING SPOILERS

YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!

The Cameo’s in this movie not only hit and hit hard but bloody well may have been perfect. Doctor Strange fucked up with it’s multiverse use of cameo’s and Deadpool & Wolverine have salvaged the multiverse.

Bring on Secret Wars baby! Skip Kang – This movie did it’s job. Now don’t fuck it up Marvel! Comic Con is this week! I can’t wait to hear what’s announced for the next phase on Saturday.

Thank you so bloody much for doing Blade in this movie. With how bad the modern day Blade movie is having a hellish time getting started. We have the one and only Blade in the building baby! Leave Blade here and I’ll be happy.

Loved the send off to 20th Century Fox. So good. Stay for the credits or miss out on that beautiful tear jerking finale.

Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. If you’re reading this hopefully you’ve seen the movie or abouts to and are truly hyped for what’s to come.

Can’t wait to watch this again!

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Kill(Hindi) “Review”

Release date: July 4, 2024 (USA)

Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Distributed by: AA Films

Production companies: Dharma Productions; Sikhya Entertainment

This is the first Hindi movie I’ve seen in quite some time and the trailer does a good job to prepare you for what type of movie this is.

On the other hand I didn’t do my job of explaining the movie to my wife whom had a very different experience.

Let’s get into the “Review” shall we.

Kill is almost two movies which takes roughly 45 minutes to setup the movie Kill that is shown in the trailer. I was pretty much hooked from the get go with some small character setup and introduction into what “Kill” was.

I wont go into spoilers as this was a true rollercoaster of a movie but this earns its R rating for sure. Packed with SO MUCH ACTION and intense amount of gore. My wife was cringing and eerring during this movie.

Sadly though the first 45 minutes despite having my attention. Had my wife bored and asking how long has this movie been on for. Then the tables shifted as the movie “Started” and everything we’d had seen thus far was child’s play in comparison.

It would have been nice to learnt more about certain characters and their groups (Without going into spoilers). Without setup from other sources, it was confusing going in trying to understand who’s who and who belongs to who’s group. You work it out by the time the film “starts” however that could be a hurdle at first for the films pacing.

Pacing was what killed it for my wife. While I’m at an 8/9 my wife was at a 3. An hour in we get an epic sound track you expect from a Bollywood movie. We ended up coming out of the film at an 8.5 for myself and a 5 for my wife. She’d watch this on streaming where I’d be happy to watch this again on the big screen.

Sadly my local theatre ends it’s showtimes today but hopefully you’ll be able to catch it somewhere near you or on streaming at some point down the road.

Thanks for joining us here at Popped! For another Popped “Review”, Longlegs should be up this weekend and Twisters next week before we get the big chimichanga movie that is Deadpool & Wolverine :D.

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Despicable Me 4 “Review”

Release date: July 3, 2024 (USA)

Directors: Chris Renaud, Patrick Delage

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Box office: $25.4 million

Music by: Heitor Pereira (score); Pharrell Williams (songs and themes)

Produced by: Chris Meledandri; Brett Hoffman

This will be a shorter “Review” as by now you’ve probably seen the first 3 and learnt the formula to these movies.

“Despicable Me 4” delivers another hit with its signature mix of humor and heart. This installment delights fans with a blend of new characters and beloved favorites, showcasing the continued growth of our favorite personalities.

Poppy stands out as a fantastic addition to the crew, bringing a fresh dynamic to the group dynamics. As is the summer trend Poppy has a cat which stars in one my favorite scenes.

The movie is a great fun ride that keeps audiences entertained throughout, mostly. Making “Despicable Me 4” a must-watch for fans of the series and scoring a Popped score of 8/10.

By the way, unless your little one is enjoying the minions flying/floating across the screen there’s nothing at the end of this movie. Saving you 6minutes.

Story Time

If you’d like to know a little more about this film then let’s carry on shall we.

Due to some rivalry based on an incident during Gru’s child hood. A new villain whom has his own minion army (That of cockroaches) has escaped maximum prison and is out to take Gru’s newly born baby son.

Placing the Gru family into a safe house by the AVL company. This forks our story between the Gru family living as a “normal” family with 3 assisting minions. With the remainder minion army going off to the AVL. Thus the Mega Minions were born (Queue the power puff girl theme tune).

Enjoy seeing our loveable bunch living in their new lives while flipping back and forth to our heroic minion fantastic 5 crew “Saving” the lives of everyday citizens.

Hope you enjoy and as I mentioned from the top. Another hit addition to this franchise but quite possibly the final one? Unless they keep coming up with new villains / missions this felt pretty wrapped up for Gru. Maybe the kids take over next? Another recent trend for bigger movie franchises.

Thanks for reading everyone, appreciate your time and support.

If you’re celebrating the 4th of July happy 4th everyone! For everyone else around the globe, enjoy “Despicable Me 4” only in theatres!

Popped Review – 8/10 “Despicable Me 4”

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Fly me to the moon “Review”

Release date: July 12, 2024 (USA)

Director: Greg Berlanti

Story by: Bill Kirstein; Keenan Flynn

Distributed by: Columbia Pictures

Budget: $100 million

Music by: Daniel Pemberton

With this being an early showing and yet to be released I wont go into spoilers. However the trailer does pretty much set the scene for this just over 2 hour ride.

“Fly Me to the Moon” takes viewers on a journey that’s both emotional and visually captivating, albeit with a few bumps along the way. The film’s greatest strength lies in its stellar cast, who deliver performances that truly elevate the narrative. Each actor brings depth and authenticity to their roles, making the characters memorable and relatable.

One of the unexpected delights of the film is the cat, whose presence adds a quirky charm to the story. It’s amusing to see cats becoming such a prominent feature in movies this summer, but hey, I’m not complaining! This feline actor holds its own among the human stars, providing moments of levity and even some surprising emotional weight.

The film does take its time to get going, with a first hour that feels a tad slow. However, this deliberate pacing serves to set up the second half, which is where “Fly Me to the Moon” truly shines. The buildup pays off with a gripping and impactful conclusion that is both satisfying and thought-provoking.

In summary, “Fly Me to the Moon” is a film that rewards patience. It’s not without its flaws, but with great acting and a powerful ending, it manages to leave a lasting impression. If you can appreciate a slow burn and have a fondness for well-acted dramas (and cats), this movie is worth the watch.

I was back and forth on the rating, however using my scaling chart I’d go with a 7/10 just locking in the 7 as I could see myself watching this again down the road. Great watch and excited to hear your thoughts once the movie officially releases come July 12th.

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