Invisible Man 2020

Much better attempt at modernizing the Universal Monsters over The Mummy. The first half gives the viewer a peak into someone escaping and living with the aftermath of an intense, abusive relationship. This aftermath only gets worse when the titular Invisible Man shows up to terrorize her more.

In keeping with recent movies like the Child’s Play reboot, technology is the vehicle for terror instead of magic or alchemy.

Unfortunately, plot holes aplenty begin cropping up in the last third of the film. Enough to take me out of the narrative and say that doesn’t make sense.

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Spider-Man Far From Home

Spider-Man: Far from Home is a fun road trip movie with raised stakes. Homecoming is still my preferred Spider-Man film (I mean, they got the Vulture right), but this is also pretty good.

Nick Fury does not seem to be his usual, in charge self. But all gets revealed. Partially due to being 5 years behind in intel. Partly.

The school trip aspect gets Peter to places attacked around the world while still keeping his classmates around. Who all just happened to be snapped away by Thanos, so they are still the same age.

For the plot, Elemental monsters appear and attack various spots around the globe. The Avengers do not appear to be around. Iron Man and Black Widow are dead. Thor is offworld. Cap is retired. Nick Fury turns to Spider-Man to help. We get introduced to a new hero, Mysterio. He claims the Elementals are monsters from his reality that destroyed his Earth and will do the same to the 616 Earth.

Spidey and Mysterio team up to fight the Elementals and save the Earth. Hopefully in time for Peter to confess his feelings to MJ.

Spoilers ahead.
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Brightburn

Brightburn is not your happy, pg-13 super hero film. We all know the Superman story. The Kents cannot have children. They are gifted from the heavens with a child who grows to become the savior of Man. Yes the Superman story is not subtle in its origins.

Brightburn gives us the Omen twist on that. A couple trying hard to have a child is gifted with a child from the heavens from a glowing red craft. He most definitely does not become mankind’s savior.

Instead, we see a mostly normal child begin to hit puberty and begin to change. Just like the Kents, the Breyer family kept the craft Brandon arrived in in their barn. It begins to glow and affect Brandon in the night. Brandon begins to exhibit powers and abilities beyond the mortal man.

But without the extreme morals of someone brought up by the Kents. A more realistic portrayal of an awkward kid, somewhat picked on who begins to lose touch with regular people. Then embraces being different and being sociopathic to the extreme.

It is made very clear that Brandon has lost almost all traces of human emotions near the end. He is mostly going through the motions feeling superior to everyone.

Do not expect a happy ending.

Brightburn does not shy away from the gore either.

Starring: Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Emmie Hunter, Matt Jones, Meredith Hagner, Becky Wahlstrom, Gregory Alan Williams, Annie Humphrey

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

John Wick Chapter 3 opens right after the events of John Wick Chapter 2. Chapter 3 further explores the consequences of John’s decisions in the world he left behind and reluctantly rejoined.

We see more of the resources of the High Table in play and that no one is safe from their attention. Everyone plays by their rules or by their leave.

As John works to see one who stands above the High Table, an Adjudicator for the High Table comes to New York to pass Judgement on everyone who has helped John. Bonus, we do get some of John’s origin as well.

John’s quest takes him to Casablanca where we get to see an amazing battle scene with people getting shredded in a coordinated attack by a person and a dog. Repeatedly.

While John is out of town, the Adjudicator’s people work through John’s former support system in New York.

It all comes to a head at the New York Continental and a massive battle against heavily armored troops. We are left open for john Wick 4 – confirmed for a 2021 release.

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, Lance Reddick, Tobias Segal, Anjelica Huston, Saïd Taghmaoui, Jerome Flynn, Randall Duk Kim