Sleight of Film

Today’s quick review: Wonder Woman 1984. When Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) stumbles on a wish-granting artifact known as the Dreamstone, she accidentally brings back Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), the pilot she loved during World War I. But when Diana and Steve learn the terrible price of using the stone, they must stop Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal), a struggling oil tycoon, and Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig), Diana’s shy colleague, from abusing its power.

Wonder Woman 1984 is a superhero action movie based on the DC Comics character. Wonder Woman 1984 picks up almost 70 years after the first film and follows Diana as she attempts to defend the mortal world from a dangerous artifact. The sequel opts for a lighter tone, a brighter color palette, and a story that’s less central to Diana’s character. Its characters and action make it a fun popcorn watch, but it’s missing the depth of the original.

Wonder Woman 1984 gets the basics right, beginning with its characters. Diana and Steve have the same easy chemistry as before, and while their arc is not as meaningful as in the first film, seeing Gal Gadot and Chris Pine together is a treat. Pedro Pascal holds up his end of the film as Maxwell Lord, whose lust for power can’t quite erase his underlying humanity. Kristen Wiig’s performance is less memorable but still satisfies the needs of the story.

Wonder Woman 1984 is effectively a standalone story. The only major connections to the first film are the return of Steve Trevor and Diana’s Amazonian background. The rest is cut from whole cloth. The advantage of this approach is that it taps into the type of adventure the superhero genre is known for: a larger-than-life conflict that only the hero can resolve. The disadvantage is that the weighty themes of the first film are nowhere to be seen.

In terms of craft, Wonder Woman 1984 lacks the subtle touch of its predecessor. The setting has the trappings of the 1980s but mostly comes across as artificial. The story takes a long time to get going, while the Dreamstone’s powers are not grounded enough to make for effective drama. Finally, the action scenes are few and far between, with airy combat that relies heavily on greenscreen and doesn’t show the full impact of Diana’s powers.

Wonder Woman 1984 is a fun movie that benefits from a skilled cast, decent character work, and the flexibility of the superhero genre. Fans of Wonder Woman specifically or action movies in general will get something out of it, even if its lengthy run time makes it a bit of an investment. However, anyone looking for the moral themes, tight action, and simple humanity should approach with caution.

For a more fulfilling take on the character, try the original Wonder Woman. For an animated version of Wonder Woman that adapts some of the same parts of her mythos, try Wonder Woman: Bloodlines. For an optimistic DC superhero movie with a better balance of humor and heart, try Shazam!. For a fantasy action adventure with better action and a similarly tenuous relationship with ancient mythology, try Gods of Egypt.

[5.4 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7126948/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for an enjoyable adventure with some notable rough spots.

“This would be a cool way to die.” —Yelena

Today’s quick review: Black Widow. While hiding in Europe, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) learns that the Red Room, the Russian program that made her into an assassin, has targeted her sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) for death. To take down the Red Room once and for all, Natasha and Yelena turn to the Russian sleeper agents who helped raise them: Alexei (David Harbour), a disgraced superhero, and Melina (Rachel Weisz), a neuroscientist.

Black Widow is a superhero action thriller set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Taking place after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Black Widow explores some of the loose ends from Natasha Romanoff’s past, including the lingering shadow of the Red Room and her troubled relationship with her surrogate family. The movie crosses a spy thriller plot with superhero action, but it comes up short compared to Marvel’s best.

Black Widow scores points with its family dynamic and its action. Even though their time as a family was just a cover, it still had a profound impact on Natasha, Yelena, Alexei, and Melina. Revisiting their relationship—especially the contrast between Natasha’s bitter memories and Yelena’s wistful ones—gives the movie an interesting emotional angle which is unike anything else in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As far as action is concerned, Black Widow does well but not outstanding. The action sequences are a mixture of chase scenes and hand-to-hand combat, peppered with a couple of memorable set pieces. Taskmaster, a masked killer trained in the Avengers’ fighting styles, provides the main muscle for the Red Room. The fights are not as sharply choreographed as in movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but they should satisfy action fans.

However, Black Widow suffers from a few notable flaws. The plot logic is always loose and gets looser during the last third of the movie. The film is clumsy with the way it moves its characters around, forcing them into certain situations rather than letting them act naturally. General Dreykov (Ray Winstone) is a missed opportunity, a villain with minimal screen time and a weak presence. Finally, the one or two plot twists are not that dramatic.

Black Widow is a solid pick for anyone who enjoys Marvel movies or spy-themed action in general. Although it is missing the polish seen in other Marvel offerings, it makes a place for itself with engaging character interactions, capable fight scenes, and a serviceable plot. Give it a shot when you are in the mood for popcorn action set in an isolated corner of the MCU. Skip it if you are looking for a more down-to-earth spy flick.

Check out Captain America: The Winter Soldier for a farther-reaching Marvel movie in the same vein. For a stylish Cold War action thriller with a greater emphasis on plot, try Atomic Blonde. For an action thriller about a Russian secret agent, try Salt or Anna. For a subdued drama about the training of a female assassin, try La Femme Nikita. For a darker and more lascivious thriller about the process, try Red Sparrow.

[6.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3480822/). I give it a 7.0 for solid action and character work, held back by some story issues.

Today’s quick review: Hitman: Agent 47. Decades ago, Dr. Litvenko (Ciaran Hinds) perfected a method for creating genetically engineered assassins. Now Agent 47 (Rupert Friend), an assassin from the program, has been sent to find Litvenko’s daughter Katia (Hannah Ware), who holds the key to locating her father and continuing his work. Standing in his way is John Smith (Zachary Quinto), an operative for a company known as the Syndicate.

Hitman: Agent 47 is an action thriller about a remorseless assassin on the hunt for a scientist’s daughter. The movie is the second adaptation of the Hitman series of video games. Agent 47 takes a more violent stance than its predecessor, featuring more overt gore and a colder, more ruthless version of 47. Strong action, an engaging setup, and a passable plot make Hitman: Agent 47 a worthwhile watch and a fine take on the character.

The greatest strength of Hitman: Agent 47 is the way it frames 47 as an unstoppable killing machine. As well as enhanced strength and reflexes, 47 has a keen mind that puts him several steps ahead of anyone else. He never enters a situation without a plan, and he hardly ever fails to complete an objective. 47 also occupies a borderline villainous role, mercilessly gunning for Katia and Smith, who serves as her lone protector.

As far as story goes, Hitman: Agent 47 has what it needs but not a whole lot more. The plot centers around Katia, a crafty woman who has spent her life searching for the father she never knew. Unraveling who is after her and why takes up most of the movie. The structure of the story precludes anything more than a passing emotional attachment to any of the characters, but the movie makes up for this with plenty of stylish action.

Hitman: Agent 47 is not as solidly constructed as the best action movies, but it delivers its fair share of creative action. Fans of violent action will enjoy seeing 47 plan and improvise his way through an escalating series of challenges. However, viewers hoping for a deeper story with a more satisfying emotional arc will be disappointed. Give it a shot if you don’t mind action that prioritizes style over substance.

For a marginally lighter take on the same character, try the original Hitman. For a more human story about a trained killer, try The Bourne Identity. For stylish action with a stronger backbone, try John Wick. For a somewhat less violent action movie with some of the same dynamics, try The Transporter.

[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2679042/). I give it a 6.5 for imaginative action layered on a shaky foundation.

Today’s quick review: Snake Eyes. As a child, Snake Eyes (Henry Golding) witnessed the murder of his father. Now a young man, Snake Eyes gets a chance at revenge when Kenta (Takahiro Hira), a Yakuza boss, offers to track down his father’s killer. In exchange, Snake Eyes must gain the trust of Tommy Arashikage (Andrew Koji), the heir to an ancient ninja clan, and use it to steal a powerful artifact protected by the clan.

Snake Eyes is an action movie that serves as an origin story for the G.I. Joe character. The movie follows a young fighter who is torn between avenging his father and the path of honor and altruism laid out for him by his best friend. Snake Eyes uses its premise to good effect, delivering solid martial arts action with hints at a larger world of heroes and villains. But weak fundamentals and a lack of memorable moments leave it with missed potential.

Snake Eyes’ best feature is its action. The movie takes place in a world where ninjas keep order from the shadows and international terrorist groups seek exotic means of power. As such, Snake Eyes gets to draw on swords, guns, and martial arts for its action scenes. The choreography is not as sharp as in some other movies, but the quantity and variety will keep most action fans happy.

Unfortunately, the movie suffers from some key weaknesses. The emotional arc of the movie is muddy because Snake Eyes does not grow as much as his arc requires, remaining morally ambivalent for most of the film. The action is enjoyable but shallow. There are no major set pieces, and the movie has a hard time coordinating its group fights. Snake Eyes also makes smaller mistakes with its plot logic and cinematography that further hinder its efforts.

Overall, Snake Eyes gets enough right to be entertaining, but it misses the chance to tell a more engaging story. The skeleton of the plot, plentiful action, and one or two moments where the acting or world-building steps up all make it a fine pick for anyone in the mood for ninja-themed action. But anyone hoping for a movie that pushes the boundaries, or even does the character of Snake Eyes justice, may want to steer clear.

For a more complete rendition of the G.I. Joe world set in a different continuity, try G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. For a much more violent action movie about a modern ninja, try Ninja Assassin. For a superhero movie with a similar setup, try Elektra or The Wolverine. For a violent action movie that blends martial arts with modern weaponry, try either version of Mortal Kombat.

[5.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8404256/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for decent action held back by a mediocre story.

Today’s quick review: G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Duke (Channing Tatum), Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson), and the other soldiers of G.I. Joe are betrayed by their country when Cobra, an international terrorist organization, frames them for the theft of a nuclear device. After most of the Joes are slaughtered in an ambush, the few survivors set out to stop Cobra’s latest plan by unmasking the President (Jonathan Pryce) as an impostor.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation is an action movie that acts as a loose sequel to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. With Cobra’s leadership in prison, their master of disguise Zartan (Jonathan Pryce) and ninja operative Storm Shadow (Byung-Hun Lee) initiate a contingency plan to wipe out the Joes and take control of the world. Like its predecessor, G.I. Joe: Retaliation delivers light, imaginative action, but it has a harder time keeping its world cohesive.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation succeeds at the basics of the genre. The premise of the movie serves it well. The Joes are stripped of their support structure and heavy weaponry, forcing them to use their wits and smaller weapons caches to take on Cobra at its most powerful. The action skews a little more conventional than the previous movie, with more traditional gunfights, but a few ninja fights and a handful of gadgets keep things varied.

However, G.I. Joe: Retaliation does not fit together as smoothly as the first movie. Dwayne Johnson, while a good pick in theory, does not fit in with the rest of the team and ends up taking focus away from them. The other Joes are bland and forgettable, as are two of the four villains. The plot is similarly disjointed, consisting of several mostly independent subplots that build up to a mediocre finale.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation works well as a popcorn action movie. Flashy action, a colorful setting, and a dash of star power gives it everything it needs to please action fans. But the movie does not take much care with its story, and it does not use its characters to their full potential. The result is a movie that avoids the worst excesses of The Rise of Cobra, but in doing so sacrifices a lot of what made the original movie unique.

For military-flavored action with a similar story setup, try The A-Team. For an action comedy with some of the same cast, try RED 2. For a more even-keeled action thriller, try any of the Mission: Impossible series.

[5.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1583421/). I give it a 6.5 for decent action with a mixed plot and some tonal inconsistencies.

“When all else fails, we don’t.” —General Hawk

Today’s quick review: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. When the Baroness (Sienna Miller) ambushes their convoy and steals its cargo of experimental warheads, Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlan Wayans) join G.I. Joe, an elite team of soldiers led by General Hawk (Dennis Quaid), to get the weapons back. Their mission uncovers a sprawling plot headed by arms dealer James McCullen (Christopher Eccleston) to hold the world hostage.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra is an action adventure movie that adapts the G.I. Joe franchise for the big screen. Two American soldiers enter a world of advanced technology, skilled operatives, and ninjas to recover a weapon that could destroy any city on Earth. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra features a lively ensemble cast, flashy action, and a plot that covers a lot of ground. Even so, the movie’s many gambles will not pay off for some viewers.

The Rise of Cobra’s greatest strength is its eclectic, endearing world. Taking modern-day military action as a base, G.I. Joe throws in every idea it can think of that will lead to a fun action sequence, from hyperkinetic armor to optic camouflage to underwater missile bases. The attitude of heroism and adventure papers over a lot of the inconsistencies, leading to a popcorn action movie with a much larger toolkit than most others.

However, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra has some sharp drawbacks. The plot suffers from trying to cram too many characters and too many twists into a short amount of time. The decision to tie together the origins of Duke, the Baroness, and several other characters leads to strained plot logic. The movie also plays fast and loose with the rules of its world, relying more on flashy technological gimmicks than bread-and-butter action scenes.

How much you get out of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra will depend on how willing you are to roll with its punches. For the right viewer, the movie is a fun dose of popcorn action that offers plenty of spectacle and never takes itself too seriously. But hardcore fans of the series will find that the movie takes too many liberties with its source material, and more critical viewers may be put off by its eclectic world and loose plot logic.

For a sequel loosely set in the same continuity, try G.I. Joe: Retaliation. For a similar blend of military action, maniacal villains, and science fiction, try Captain America: The First Avenger or Captain America: The Winter Soldier. For a somewhat more grounded movie about a rogue team of soldiers, try The A-Team or The Losers.

[5.8 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1046173/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for enjoyable action that requires some heavy buy-in.

“As long as we obey the laws of physics, we’ll be fine.” —Tej

Today’s quick review: F9: The Fast Saga. In response to a distress call from Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell), Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) come out of retirement to recover Project Aries, a device that can hack into any computer on the planet. Dom and Letty reunite with their crew—Tej (Ludacris), Roman (Tyrese Gibson), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel)—to track down the thief: Dom’s estranged brother Jakob (John Cena).

F9: The Fast Saga is an action thriller and the ninth mainline entry in the Fast & Furious series. F9 follows in the footsteps of its predecessors: a high-speed adventure that emphasizes fast cars, major plot twists, and improbable stunts. The story reveals a new chapter of Dom’s past, showing the death of his father (J.D. Pardo) and the falling out with his brother Jakob that set them both on different paths.

First and foremost, F9: The Fast Saga delivers action. Even though it retains the series’ heavy focus on cars and racing, it finds creative ways to keep the action fresh, with new stunts, new gadgets, and new frontiers for Dom and his crew. Just seeing what the movie comes up with will be a treat for action fans, and the series continues to top itself with the scale and the imagination of its action.

The other great strength of the film is its comedy. Tej and Roman take center stage here, falling into the easy rhythm established over the course of five previous films. F9 uses its humor to balance out its destructive action scenes and melodramatic plot twists, keeping the tone light and smoothing over any issues with the audience’s suspension of disbelief.

F9 has the same drawbacks as the other films in the series, only magnified. The series’ plot hangs together loosely at the best of times, and F9 goes even farther with continuity revisions and hidden secrets. The story achieves its two main objectives—justifying the action and deepening Dom’s ties with his family—but audiences who are even the slightest bit critical will find plenty of plot holes, improbable moments, and illogical writing.

Fans of the Fast & Furious franchise will get just what they want out of F9: The Fast Saga. The movie closely follows the formula laid down in the last few entries in the series, and the movie swings for the fences with its cast, its plot twists, and its spectacle. That said, anyone who is tired of the formula, never enjoyed it to begin with, or prefers stories with more narrative weight and internal consistency will find that it misses the mark.

[5.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5433138/). I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for unadulterated popcorn action.

Today’s quick review: Old. With their marriage failing, Prisca (Vicky Krieps) and Guy Cappa (Gael Garcia Bernal) take their children Maddox (Alexa Swinton) and Trent (Nolan River) for a getaway vacation on a tropical island. The resort manager (Gustaf Hammarsten) directs them to a private beach with some other guests. But when they get there, they are shocked when the children begin to age rapidly before their eyes.

Old is a thriller written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Tourists on a tropical vacation find themselves trapped on a beach where time flows at an accelerated rate. Unable to make it back through the cliffs surrounding the beach, the Cappas and a handful of other guests frantically look for answers while enduring a series of strange occurrences. The movie has an intriguing mystery, but its overall execution can be rough.

Old’s premise has eerie ramifications. The simplest of these is age. Over the course of hours, Maddox and Trent age years, skipping past entire phases of their mental and emotional development. The stress of the situation also takes its toll on the other survivors, who begin to take rash actions in their search for a way off the beach. All of this contributes to a fine sense of tension and a mystery with the right number of clues.

However, the way the story plays out is clunky. The dialogue contains a lot of flat exposition and baseless conjecture, which is only partially justified by the odd personalities of some of the characters. The story has a habit of bouncing from one crisis to the next without giving them a chance to breathe. And while the movie has some nice commentary on family and aging, it is drowned out by the moment-to-moment tumult of the plot.

Old is a fascinating thought experiment that ultimately falls short as a thriller. Fans of M. Night Shyamalan will appreciate its premise and some of the themes it touches on, but more critical viewers will get caught on the foibles of its execution. Skip Old if you are expecting a polished and hard-hitting thriller. If you have a taste for thought-provoking and unsettling science fiction, give it a try.

For another mystery thriller from M. Night Shyamalan, check out The Sixth Sense, Signs, or The Village. For a less successful attempt at a similar atmosphere of abstract dread, try The Happening. For another science fiction movie that explores the differential passage of time, try Time Trap or Inception.

[6.0 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10954652/). I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for a promising mystery with bumpy execution.

Today’s quick review: The Guardian Brothers. As human faith in the spirit world fades, Yu Lei (Edward Norton) sets out to free the Nian, an imprisoned evil spirit, for the humans and the spirits to unite against. His brother Shen Tu (Dan Fogler) travels to the human world to try to stop him, but he soon gets sidetracked helping Rain (Bella Thorne) and her mother Luli (Nicole Kidman) save their family’s soup shop from closing down.

The Guardian Brothers is a Chinese animated family fantasy comedy. The story follows two brother spirits as they reconnect with the human world, which has largely moved on. The movie juggles between two subplots: Yu Lei’s misguided efforts to release an ancient evil in the hope of revitalizing faith in the spirit world, and Rain and Luli’s attempts to run the soup shop left to them by Luli’s mother.

The Guardian Brothers quickly runs into issues with its delivery. On the comedic side, the movie takes a scattershot approach. Many of its gags have characters acting goofy for no particular reason, and the movie crams in as many jokes, stray lines of dialogue, and musical cues as possible without worrying about how to make them fit. The result is a flurry of half-hearted jokes that are poorly conceived, poorly timed, and have no follow-through.

On the story side, the problems are subtler. The plot suffers from the same abruptness as the humor, introducing ideas as a matter of convenience and rarely putting in the work to set up its conflict. The premise of the story works just fine, and it could have been a touching tale about reconciling change and tradition. But the story structure is too disjointed to make this work, with few meaningful connections between the two subplots.

Even with all of these issues, The Guardian Brothers earns points for trying to tell its own story. The movie spends time laying out the rules of the spirit world and how the humans’ loss of faith has left the spirits without purpose. The fight to save Luli’s restaurant is not the most compelling story, but it could have resonated if given the right treatment. The Guardian Brothers does not achieve its goals, but it does have clear goals in mind.

How much you get out of The Guardian Brothers will come down to taste, but it has enough drawbacks that the average viewer will want to skip it. Plot issues, misguided comedy, and a clunky dub all keep it from capitalizing on its best ideas, while generally weak craftsmanship keeps it from having the same baseline appeal as its competitors. There is something here for a viewer with the right sense of humor, but most would be better off elsewhere.

For a more heartfelt animated adventure that explores Chinese folklore in a modern setting, try Over the Moon. For a more action-oriented story about a group of otherworldly protectors, try Rise of the Guardians.

[5.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4788934/). I give it a 4.5 for some new ideas held back by pervasive flaws in their execution.

Today’s quick review: Surf’s Up. Cody Maverick (Shia LaBeouf), a surfing penguin from Antarctica, gets the chance to make his dreams come true when he is invited to compete in the Big Z Memorial Surf-Off on a tropical island in the Pacific. But when Cody arrives, he learns that he is way out of his league. Now Geek (Jeff Bridges), a reclusive surf legend, and Lani (Zooey Deschanel), a compassionate lifeguard, must teach him how to really surf.

Surf’s Up is an animated family sports comedy about a young penguin who wants to become a great surfer. Styled as a mock documentary, the movie follows Cody as he learns about the true spirit of surfing. Surf’s Up has a simple setup that it puts to good use. The documentary format serves as a steady source of comedy, while the mash-up of penguins and surf culture works surprisingly well. However, the movie is held back by a limited plot.

Surf’s Up has a real talent for selling itself as a documentary. Not all of the movie adheres strictly to the format, but the well-placed narration, character interviews, and camera crew humor give Surf’s Up a comedic rhythm all its own. The movie is filled with short, funny character interactions that are perfectly timed. The voice cast also does an excellent job of making the dialogue seem off-the-cuff and natural.

The one major weakness of the movie is its plot. The story ape the structure of an underdog sports drama, but it skips as much of the formula as it can. In a certain sense, this is in keeping with the themes of the movie. Part of Cody’s training is learning to enjoy the sport and not be so competitive. But in practice, this attitude leads to an abridged plot that does not reach the triumphant heights of similar films.

Surf’s Up is a charming movie that is easy to overlook. Top-notch voice acting, subtly brilliant comedy, and a generally laid-back story make it a fun watch. However, the movie never quite commits to its story, robbing it of some of the structure and impact it needs. Give it a shot when you are in the mood for something light and creative. Skip it if you are looking for high stakes or something more memorable.

For a documentary look at the surf life, try The Endless Summer. For a more plot-driven animated comedy about an animal who longs to compete, try Turbo. For a comedy that pushes the mock documentary format even father, try This Is Spinal Tap or Zelig. For another animated comedy about penguins, try Happy Feet.

[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423294/). I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for polished comedy wrapped around a mediocre story.