The end of 2017 provides excitement in an otherwise bland year for movies
By Jimmy Fortuna-PeaK
The fifth entry into the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) provides fun action and witty humor, but fails to provide a memorable story. Justice League follows Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, The Flash, Aquaman, and Superman as they team up to keep the evil Steppenwolf from destroying the world. In one word, this movie is a mess; however, there is a lot of fun to be had. Seeing all these iconic characters together on screen for the first time is an extremely satisfying feeling and the cast chemistry is, for the most part, solid. The film’s original length was three hours, but was cut down to two hours for the theaters. Because of this, the film feels like it’s constantly rushed, and lacks the proper development needed to give characters motivation. By the end of the film, there are many unresolved plot holes and loose ends. Justice League failed to live up to the hype, but its ending provides excitement for what the future of the DCEU has to hold.
Rating: 3/5
The next chapter in the Star Wars saga provides an epic and unpredictable theater experience unlike any other. The Last Jedi continues the story of Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), Luke (Mark Hamill) and Leia (Carrie Fisher) directly after the events of The Force Awakens. Rian Johnson directs this entry into the franchise and provides one of the most unique Star Wars movies yet. The return of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), while anticlimactic, is an absolute joy to watch. The cinematography is fantastic in every scene and has some of the best battle sequences to date in the franchise. The biggest flaw of the film is, unfortunately, its script. The opening crawl is one of the weakest of the franchise, and the dialogue felt wooden at times. There are a few scenes that take unique twist, but they don’t always pay off. Overall, The Last Jedi is another fantastic entry into the Star Wars franchise that keeps the audience on its toes until the credits roll.
Rating: 4.5/5
Disney Pixar’s newest film is a beautiful and stunning experience that will hook you from beginning to end. Coco is the story of young musician, Miguel, challenged with his family’s ban on music in their household, entering the afterlife in search of his great-great grandfather. First and foremost, this film is absolutely gorgeous The story is unique and fascinating with the perfect balance of comedic and heartfelt moments. The pacing is perfect with no slow moments. Unlike some children films, Coco uses intelligent humor and its plot to allow itself to be enjoyed by both children and adults. The only downside to the film is the 22 minute Frozen short film before the movie begins. Coco is one of the best films to come out in 2017, and is arguably one of the best films Pixar has ever made.
Rating: 5/5
The comedic true story about the making of the worst film ever made, The Room, is a true testament to dreamers everywhere. The Disaster Artist follows Tommy Wiseau, Greg Sestero, and the events that follow after moving to Los Angeles to follow their dreams. The film contains an all star cast, with the Franco Brothers, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, Nathan Fielder and more. The screenplay is fantastic, and provides not only a comedy, but also a great deal of depth for the characters. The biggest flaw of the film is that those who have not seen The Room will have a lot of the humor go over their head, and not fully understand the impact of what The Room did for cinema history. The Disaster Artist did everything it wanted to accomplish and provides one of the most entertaining films of 2017.
Rating: 4.5/5