ARNOLD AT THE MOVIES
  • Movie Reviews
  • Review Archive
  • Yearly Favorites
  • All-Time
  • Features
  • Contact

Review: The Cloverfield Paradox

3/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

​With a brilliant cast and the surprise Super Bowl release drop, virtually everything else for The Cloverfield Paradox doesn’t work. What a mess of a film. 


​This movie is a real headache. The Cloverfield Paradox overshadows its top-notch cast with a mixer of muddled genres and undeveloped narratives. Paradox is, by far, the weakest of the Cloverfield series. It's a sci-fi flick that’s more bent on extending the Cloververse, than fully constructing a proper narrative. The marketing for this film was incredibly smart, by dropping the surprise trailer during Super Bowl LII and releasing the film immediately on Netflix after the game, this provided a sense of excitement for sci-fi fanatics everywhere. Yet, after the credits rolled on the screen, I was left utterly disappointed with the final outcome.

It’s never a good sign when your film begins production as a typical sci-fi thriller and then suddenly changes the script to make a connection with the Cloverfield franchise. The film simply did not know what it wanted to be and, in the end, it fell flat. Actors Gugu Mbatha-Raw, David Oyelowo, Daniel Brühl and Chris O'Dowd do their best to uphold the picture, but the film leaves them astray. At times, Paradox was mildly entertaining to say the least. But a messy storyline, writing and editing will leave the viewer with a sour taste in their mouth. In 2008, the original Cloverfield introduced the use of shaky-cam and mixed tension with horror.

​Then in 2016, 10 Cloverfield Lane was the acclaimed sequel that came out of nowhere. 10 Cloverfield Lane was a slow burning film that enriched the storyline with drama and fleshed out characters. You were on the edge of you seat from the very first frame. The pulsating score along with excellent performances is also what helped make 10 Cloverfield Lane so riveting. Now, we introduce Paradox the film that failed to deliver on quality and, in the end, left more people scratching their heads, pity. Right now, probably the best thing going for this film is that it wasn’t released in theaters. 

The Cloverfield Paradox is not rated (NR). 
0 Comments

Review: Black Panther

3/14/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

​Believe the hype. Black Panther is more than just another Marvel romp, director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station and Creed) was able to maintain his creative spark throughout the film sending a grandeur of Afrofuturistic escapism. 


​This history-making near-masterpiece can now be helmed as one of the greatest superhero films to ever hit the theaters. I have not been that thrilled after seeing a superhero movie since 2008’s The Dark Knight. Coogler’s film has now grossed over a $1 billion worldwide since its initial February 16th release, making it the highest-grossing film of 2018, as well as the seventh highest-grossing film ever in the United States and 20th highest-grossing film of all time. Currently, may I add. Its theater run is far from over and I wouldn’t be surprised if, by the end, it cracks $2 billion worldwide. We will see! Coogler also made history with his $242 million four-day opening weekend. This was the biggest debut ever for an African-American director.

What made Black Panther so great was its ability to elevate the superhero genre to exciting new heights. The film’s screenplay, direction, performances, costume design and soundtrack were all perfectly executed to the highest form of art. Full of pure pulp entertainment, Black Panther praises African culture and also raises awareness for Black lives in America. A social commentary full of rich rewards and thought-provoking themes. Elevated by its predominantly Black cast, Coogler’s film is a revolution for future films to look more like this. The story follows T'Challa AKA Black Panther (a brilliant Chadwick Boseman) who, after the events of Captain America: Civil War, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as King. However, when an old enemy reappears on the radar, T'Challa's mettle as King and Black Panther is tested when he is drawn into a conflict that puts his sovereignty to the challenge and raises the level of urgency with global consequences.

Boseman continues to shine in the title role of a lifetime, as he grows and shapes his character. Boseman’s versatility in his films (42, Get on Up and Marshall) is quite astonishing. Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger is one of the greatest antagonist to be put on the screen, regarding the superhero genre. Killmonger has been, by far, the best villain I’ve seen for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But I also hate calling him a villain because his character was so much more than that label. Jordan’s character was conflicted, at times I was rooting for him and in others I wasn’t. He made you believe in his message and he made some extremely valid points on what he was trying to accomplish. With every kill that Killmonger makes, he scars his body with notches to represent those deaths. This shows Erik’s tormented morality and humanity on an emotional scale.

​Alongside T’Challa and Killmonger are key supporting actors that helped guide the rest of the film. Those actors consist of Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Sterling K. Brown, Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis. Nyong'o and Gurira both represent strong female supporting leads with their fierce acting chops and bravura character development. Coming off fresh the boat from his breakout role in last year’s critically acclaimed film, Get Out, Kaluuya’s hot streak continues to reign. With strong writing, acting and directing, Black Panther succeeds in virtually everything on screen. Coogler’s film paints a picture of what it means to be Black in both America and Africa. It’s significance and cultural footprint will last for generations to come. Black Panther is a movie that matters because, right now, he is the best chance for people of every color to see a Black hero represented on screen. 

Black Panther is rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned). For prolonged sequences of action violence, and a brief rude gesture. 
0 Comments

Best Films of 2017

3/9/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

2017 blew away my expectations for the movie industry. Art, diversity, strong females leads and thought-provoking themes all prevailed. 2017 broke new ground in how we elevate the narrative and give powerful stories for people too rarely seen in the spotlight. It's a revolution for filmmaking and I cannot wait to see more films like these become a regular in the theaters. Here's my Top 20! 



Read More
0 Comments

Best Films of 2013

3/2/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

With the 90th Academy Awards right around the corner, let's take a look back at my favorite movies from the year 2013. This was the year I launched my film review site,
​Arnold At The Movies. 



Read More
0 Comments
    Picture

    Ryan Arnold 

    Welcome to
    ​Arnold At The Movies

    Ripe Banana Approved Critic

    I love film and I love to write so I thought, why not combine the two? I currently review every new movie I see in theaters, on VOD, and or Streaming.

    Please enjoy, share and leave a comment if you like.


    For Your Consideration:
    akajeannette

    CherryPicks
    CRP Writes
    Cup Of Soul Show
     Filmotomy
    Film Posers
    In Their Own League
    Insert Montage
     InSession Film 
    Latinx Lens
    Mashley at the Movies
    Mike, Mike, and Oscar
    The Movie Oracle
    Next Best Picture
    Reos Positive POV
    Ripe Banana
    Shaurya Chawla
    ShuffleOnline
    The SoBros Network
    Strange Harbors
    Turbulent Cinema 
    Untitled Cinema Gals Project

    Movie Reviews

    All

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    January 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Movie Reviews
  • Review Archive
  • Yearly Favorites
  • All-Time
  • Features
  • Contact