Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)

Spyro Rating: 4,5 /10 as "Experimental" 

Director: David Slade - Writer: Charlie Brooker

Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Will Poulter, Craig Parkinson, Asim Chaudhry

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

For better or for worse there are times when movie producers dare to try new things. Innovation is always appreciated, however that does not exclude the result from getting judged. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is an "Interactive Film" on Netflix, this means that you are influencing the plot by choosing "A" or "B" in several scenes.

The movie is about choices, the main character understands that his life is about choices, he develops a video game about choices, the video game is influenced by a book about choices. No matter which ones are made, there is no way to escape a bad ending. The film is set in a way that several endings will be experienced in the same instance.

Safe to say this choices mechanism interrupts the movie and is not fun. I watched the movie once and it didn't felt that most choices mattered, some paths are less charted than others and those paths will return you back to the same scenes prompting you to change your initial choice in order to advance the movie. Don't watch this film, instead go for the Black Mirror series as some of those episodes are gold.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018) trailer

Doom (2016)

Doom (2016)

Spyro Rating: 9,4 /10 as "Genre defining" 

Platform: Windows, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia

More details on Bethesda and Wikipedia 

Finally a good first person shooter. I had gave up on this gaming genre until Doom 2016 came to fix what was wrong in the gameplay aspect. No more slow-paced movement, camping, sniping, crouching, hiding, conserving ammo and getting killed by a pixel.

Doom 2016 goes back to the roots with pure action and being fun to play. It is forgiving if you get distracted once and there are ways to come out of most bad situations while the game remains very challenging. The level design is linear where action comes upon advancing on new areas. Once demons are cleared, you may explore and backtrack to get all collectibles.

My experience with Doom 2016 comes from Nintendo Switch version using gyroscopic controls. To me this is as good as playing with PC controls. Go for 100% completion and play all hidden retro maps. The sequel Doom Eternal (2020) has just been released, still waiting for the Switch version.

Doom (2016) launch trailer

Deadwood (2004 Series) & Movie (2019)

Deadwood (2004-2006 Series) & Deadwood: The Movie (2019)

Spyro Rating: 8,5 /10 as "Best Western" 

Creator: David Milch - Movie Director: Daniel Minahan 

Stars: Ian McShane, Timothy Olyphant, Molly Parker, Paula Malcomson

More details on IMDB (Series - Movie) and Wikipedia (Series - Movie)

Deadwood is an excellent series of 36 episodes in total that was cancelled on 2006 due to poor management. The show remained incomplete up until 2019 when a movie was released to do justice as a finale.

Before it became a city that will be annexed by South Dakota, Deadwood during the 1870s was an outlaw settlement located technically within Indian territory. Inspired by real people and actual events, the Black Hills Gold Rush was attracting all kinds of adventurers. The settlers community was trying to emulate US laws while many individuals had conflicting interests regarding ownership over the land and control over the services.

If you watched the series years ago and just found out that a movie finale is released, then you may check this 3 minute Recap video by HBO to be recall Deadwood series events. The 2019 movie also includes several flashbacks to refresh our memory.

Deadwood (2004-2006 Series) trailer

Deadwood: The Movie (2019) trailer

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Cowboys & Aliens (2011)

Spyro Rating: 6,5 /10 as "Good Movie" 

Director: Jon Favreau 

Stars: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Abigail Spencer

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Cowboys & Aliens is a solid genre crossover film, a Western scenery with a Sci-Fi script. All set in Arizona during 1873.

Aliens have arrive in Wild West to annihilate man kind and steal the gold. Cowboys, outlaws and Indians unite to face the extraterrestrial threat. Those people are lead by Daniel Craig who has the big space gun that can save earth.

This is another movie that was over-criticized when released for not using better it's cast. I missed Cowboys & Aliens then but after watching this today, I am happy to recommend it to all who watch movies for their entertainment.

Cowboys & Aliens (2011) trailer

1917 (2019)

1917 (2019)

Spyro Rating: 6,0 /10 as "a war film" 

Director: Sam Mendes 

Stars: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Richard Madden

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

1917 is a war film from the perspective of British lines during the First World War. While characters and the mission are fictional, the events are inspired by an actual tactical withdrawal of the German lines. Since war films rarely have something unique to offer, in times they don't choose a real story it gets hard to recommend them.

The mission that falls under two soldiers is to deliver a message across territory that no army controls. It's a race against time to warn 1.600 soldiers who are about to charge into an enemy trap.

What 1917 offers to the genre are some shots in the trench lines and one continuous shot of British troops charging to battle. Other than the script, a second thing I cannot understand is why the amazing casting was focused in second roles rather than the prime ones.

1917 (2019) trailer

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) 

Spyro Rating: 7,9 /10 as "Great" 

Director: Jake Kasdan 

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) was released twenty-two years after the first movie: Jumanji (1995). A sequel that is modernized in every aspect while it does not loose the charm of the original movie.

Times are changing and as the evil board game figured that, it evolved to an evil video game. Four teenagers get trapped inside it while inheriting the skills, weaknesses and as well the appearance and gender(!) of the video game characters they selected. Each of them has three lives, only way to escape is to beat the game.

This is the kind of a movie that you know exactly what you are going to see, receive no surprises, and you will still find the ending satisfying. I look forward to watch the next movie Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) that features the same cast with this film.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) trailer

The Objective (2008)

The Objective (2008)

Spyro Rating: 5,5 /10 as "incomplete" 

Director: Daniel Myrick

Stars: Jonas Ball, Matthew R. Anderson, Jon Huertas, Chems-Eddine Zinoune

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

The Objective (2008) is a Sci-Fi thriller that is using as background the United States invasion of Afghanistan. The main theme seems to be a war film at start but halfway it changes to a movie about paranormal activity.

The plot begins with a CIA agent arriving at the war zone with a mission. He has to cooperate with US soldiers who do not trust him as they do not trust his agency. In addition, they all need to receive assistance from allied Afghan natives who are neither happy to receive them.

The movie is kinda okay but lacks something. First impression was that the director didn't listen much to his military advisor, that assuming he hired one. Also, the ending didn't provide enough answers and many things were left up to the audience imagination.

The Objective (2008) trailer

Parasite (2019)

Parasite (2019)

Spyro Rating: 5,0 /10 as "dull" 

Director: Bong Joon Ho 

Stars: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik 

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 
Audio Language: Korean

Prior to 92nd Academy Awards most people didn't know about Parasite (2019) that won four Oscars in major categories. That gave me expectations regarding this movie but it turned out I was just fooled to watch it. This is not a bad movie but neither it should be counted as a good one.

The plot is about a poor family conning a rich family in order to get every member of the poor family hired as staff. To achieve this, they need to conspire against other existing employees.  Just to be more persuasive, the poor family members pretend that they are not related and they do not know each other.

It is hard to explain the reasoning, if any, this movie was praised by most critics and received four "academical" awards. Maybe it helped being a South Korean movie that includes racist jokes on North Korea's leader, media and culture. In addition, the high quality of made-in-USA products was stated twice. If there was something more about this movie, then I didn't get it.

Parasite (2019) trailer

Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)

Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)

Spyro Rating: 6,6 /10 as "Enjoyable" 

Directors: Steve Martino, Mike Thurmeier 

Stars: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Jennifer Lopez

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Ice Age animated movies are ideal when you just need something easy. The first three animations were released on 2002, 2006 and 2009. Three years later than the third movie, we got Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) a.k.a. Ice Age 4.

Starring a Sloth, a Mammoth and a Saber as main characters we experience the everyday adventures in the animal kingdom during a time earth was changing. Within the Ice Age world there are many supporting animal characters, all beloved, and occasionally we get some funny clips with a squirrel.

To watch just Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) there aren't any major events to know from the first three movies. However, since all movies are equally nice, there is no reason not to start them from the beginning. After the fourth movie, the franchise continues on Ice Age: Collision Course (2016).  

Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012) UK trailer

Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)

Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)

Spyro Rating: 5,9 /10 as "fans only" 

Director: Takanori Tsujimoto 

Stars: Kevin Dorman, Matthew Mercer, Erin Cahill, John DeMita
More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Resident Evil is the zombie franchise that does it right. Split in two major continuities: a) films starring Milla Jovovich and b) the canon video game continuity. Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017) is an adult animated movie that adds to the video game storytelling.

The bad guy has develop A-Virus which is turning people into a zombie variety that can tell the difference between friend and foe. He plans to sell his product in the black market and the good guys we know from video games must stop him.

The action takes place from a mansion, to a lab, then a cabin in the woods,  into the streets of NY City, entering a building with narrow hallways full of zombies and ending up the roof for the final boss fight. It is the exact scenery we expect to see in a Resident Evil animated movie. No trains but helicopters are included.

Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017) trailer

Dredd (2012)

Dredd (2012)

Spyro Rating: 8,0 /10 as "stunning" 

Director: Pete Travis

Stars: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Wood Harris

More details on IMDB and Wikipedia 

Dredd (2012) is a solid action sci-fi movie that until today I was among many who were missing it. Now it feels like I should explain to myself why it took me so long. The base concept of a future fascist cop is crap material to build on. Adding the terrible marketing over posters, trailers, etc it results a movie never standing a chance. However this film deserves one.

Set in a future characterized by overpopulation, poverty, slums, violence, drugs and corruption. Law enforcement is able to respond a 6% of the serious crimes reports. The high trained police unit are the Judges. They have the authority to condemn a criminal live-in-field and pass the execution sentence instantly.

 Judge Dredd originates from UK comics that I don't know the lore but watching this movie I didn't feel I was missing any information. This was the second film adaptation after the 1995 parody by Sylvester Stallone. The two movies are not connected and regarding Dredd (2012) it is unlikely that we will get a sequel with the same cast.

Dredd (2012) trailer #1

Dredd (2012) trailer #2