The True Adventures of Wolfboy is a fun little adventure movie, with deeper meanings.
Director: Martin Krejci
Writer: Olivia Dufault (Screenplay)
Starring: Eve Hewson, Chloe Sevigny, John Turturro, Chris Messina, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jaeden Martell, Sophie Giannamore
Plot: Follows a young boy who runs away from home in the search of his estranged mother.
Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The True Adventures of Wolfboy starts as a teenage boy who has grown up with hair all over his body Paul (Martell). Deciding to run away from home after his father Denny (Messina) won’t give him more answers about his mother.
On his escape, Paul joins a carnival with Mr Silk (Turturro) looking to make money of him. Before he finds Aristiana (Giannamore) a teenage girl with her own problems, taking him on an adventure to meet his mother.
Thoughts on The True Adventures of Wolfboy
Thoughts on The True Adventures of Wolfboy
The True Adventures of Wolfboy is a coming-of-age adventure for a teenage boy who has always wondered where he fits in life. After being left with a difference to him, where he constantly gets bullied by the people in his life. The adventure will give the boy a chance to learn more about the world. Letting him learn to embrace who he is to the world. Meeting other people that are seen as outsiders, enjoying themselves in life. Not letting people get them down.
The movie wants to bring the big message about treating people equal. Not letting people take advantage of the difference between people. The performances in the film are strong which will turn to the newcomers Jaeden Martell, Eve Hewson and Sophie Giannamore taking centre stage.
Top Gun Maverick has bought Maverick and Iceman back to the big screen after 36 years. Top Gun Maverick is getting rave reviews from the audience who are delighted to return to find their need for speed one more time.
Having enjoyed Top Gun Maverick as the big cinematic experience. I did find myself asking a couple more questions by the end of the film. The question that are going to get looked out in this article.
This is done as a little bit of fun around movies. With the belief we can always find 3 good and 3 negative things about any movie. Even if we can enjoy them on different levels.
THERE WILL BE MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE MOVIE BELOW.
Up 1 – Maverick
Maverick is the returning character played by Tom Cruise, after the 36 years. You can still see the regret, grief and pain he suffers through after the death of Goose in the first Top Gun. How this moment will make him care about the most important part of any mission. Bringing the pilots back, challenging everyone who doesn’t put this fact first. Maverick is filled the skills to make the best, better, flawless and will understand, prepare the pilots for the consequences if they don’t improve.
Down 1 – Penny
Penny might well be a welcome addition to the movie, giving Maverick a new love interest. Replacing Charlie from the original film. There is a lot of information that they were a former flame. With the need to do some research into the first Top Gun to learn that she is a former Admiral’s daughter Maverick once dated. None of this is filled in with the information given in the film. With certain parts of the film being seen as just a passing line to why she is still here.
Up 2 – Iceman’s Appearance
One of the more difficult returns in Top Gun Maverick was Val Kilmer’s Iceman. After we know the battle Val Kilmer has been through with cancer. he can’t perform the role of a fighter pilot, with even talking becoming difficult for the man. Iceman is kept with text messages with Maverick for the most part of the film. We do get one scene with the pair, one that is filled with emotion, one that will guide Maverick. Like any wingman in the air or in life. It is a fitting tribute to a man that was such an important part of the first Top Gun. Being the only other returning character, getting a touching send off.
Down 2 – Drone Competition
The opening sequence in the movie will follow Maverick dealing with the idea that pilots could get replaced by drones. with Radm. Chester ‘Hammer’ Cain wanting to get the drones in the skies, as pilot are being outsourced. He reassigns Maverick back to Top Gun to get rid of him from this latest research of achieving Mach 10. This is an interesting dynamic to bring to Maverick, which would reflect on how the workforce is getting replaced. Only we don’t even get a mention to this when it comes to this mission. It feels like this could have added an extra moment of conflict to making it happen. Even giving the younger pilots motivation to improve.
Up 3 – The Mission
The Mission, Maverick is assigned to prepare. Train, teach the importance of why they need to push things even further than they have ever done before. When it comes to watching the mission unfold, we get an amazingly intense action sequence. With a time-based mission, quick thinking manoeuvring and heart stopping dog fight. Showing the new skills the pilots have learned. As well as bringing an emotional impact to the sequences for both Maverick and Rooster.
Down 3 – Hangman
Hangman might well be one of the few of the cadets that stand out from the crowd. His arrogant approach, knowing he is the best in the fleet, with the personal ability. He lacks the teamwork abilities to remain in the team leader. He does clash with Rooster over what he believes is the role he should have. What this character does lack, is the reason why he doesn’t get picked. Once again, this does feel like a scene that could have easily had more to it, rather than only a disappointed look. This can be seen in two lights, the latest string of pilots respect orders over personal beliefs. Which then doesn’t seem to give enough to why we see such an impactful arrogant approach in the early meetings.
What do you think are some of the Ups & Downs from Top Gun Maverick?
Plot: When a young mother is barricaded inside a pantry by her violent ex-boyfriend, she must use ingenuity to protect her two small children from escalating danger while finding an escape.
Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Shut In starts when Jessica (Qualley) is looking to escape her abusive relationship with, her children Lainey (VanDette) and baby Mason. Finding herself locked in her pantry. When her violent ex-boyfriend Rob (Horowitz) arrives to help her out, he only locks her back in there.
As Jessica searches for a way out, she must help Lainey from the other side of the door. She must always take care of the baby, but the dangers are real. With her battle with addiction might be her toughest one yet.
Thoughts on Shut In
Characters & Performances
Jessica is the former addicted turned mother who is looking to start a new life after years of abuse. Packed up ready to go, when disaster strikes, and she finds herself trapped in the pantry. Things only take a turn for the worst when the abusive boyfriend returns with his addict friend. Putting the children in danger. She will need to battle her own addiction which will tempt her to return to her previous life or battle to save her children.
When it comes to Rob and Sammy, they are both involved in continuing to get their addictions not caring who they hurt. Feeding their selfish ways.
Rainey Qualley in the leading role gives the best performances. Showing the balance her character is going through.
Story
The story here will follow a mother locked in a pantry, needing to hope her infant child can keep her baby safe. The threat of her abusive ex and addict friend lurking around the home. She battles her own demons in hope of making it out.
The story here shows everything from the point of view of the mother. As she can only listen to what is happening outside the door. While we do get tension about the dangers outside, we have a personal battle the mother must go through. Showing her constant battle to overcome addiction. One she has been winning, but shows how the temptation could come back around.
Themes
Shut In is a tense thriller that will keep everything inside the one home. Showing that certain rooms could be filled with dangerous locks. It will help keep everything contained within the film.
Signature Entertainment presents Shut In on Digital Platforms 30th May
Final Thoughts – Shut In is a tense thriller that keeps everything contained.
ABC Film Challenge – World Cinema – Z – The Eight Hundred (2020)
The Eight Hundred is under Z because of star Zhi-zhong Huang
Director: Hu Guan
Writer: Hu Guan, Rui Ge, Kun Hu (Screenplay)
Starring: Zhi-zhong Huang, Zhang Junyi, Hao Ou, Xiaoguang Hu, Wu Jiang, Yi Zhang, Quianyuan Wang
Plot In 1937, eight hundred Chinese soldiers fight under siege from a warehouse in the middle of the Shanghai battlefield, completely surrounded by the Japanese army.
Runtime: 2 Hour 29 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Eight Hundred starts in 1937 as the Chinese find themselves under attack from the Japanese in Shanghai. A group of 800 soldiers taking refuge in warehouse as the final fight to protect the other side of the river. They prepare themselves for an onslaught coming their way. As the reporters from around the world, watch the battle from across the river.
We will see how the soldiers never backed down from the numbers. Which left them against all the odds to protect their country. Which ends up feeling like one of the very first up close and personal reported military attacks in history.
Thoughts on The Eight Hundred
The Eight Hundred is one of the many stories of extreme bravery during a conflict. One that will show how an unlikely number will be the ones to help protect a nation against overwhelming odds to go down in history. This will show the Chinese soldiers that come of realistic. With their different levels of willingness to be in this battle, knowing it is for the right thing. Showing the fear that would come across most people in this situation.
Where this film is even more fascinating. Is with how the world media and other Chinese locals are watching from across the river. Showing one of the first major recorded conflicts, reported first hand. How a country would need to use this media presence to help them in a war they are going to lose unless things change.
The performances in the film are strong, with such a large cast. We get plenty of stars who will get their moment to shine in this film. This does feel like it is a massive moment in history. One that will show the importance of taking the stands these men did in war.
Final Thoughts – The Eight Hundred is an epic war drama, showing a Chinese army defying the odds in battle.
Tom Cruise starring in the new Top Gun: Maverick is one of the longest gaps between original and sequels. Where Tom Cruise comes back just as strong as ever, being the hot shot pilot even after 30 years. In what is an enjoyable action movie. This leads to the question. What other Tom Cruise movies do you think we could have a sequel to, that we don’t already have one of? As we know Cruise has always go onto make breathtaking action movies, with his commitment to living on the edge.
Cage – Live Die Repeat and Repeat
Cage is the reluctantly hero in this story, where he must relive each day in the ongoing war against an alien invader. That always seems to know how to defeat humans in each battle. Cage has that advantage and leads the fight back. The movie is the most likely to happen of any on this list. Which is why this is one that we can look at as the one we could enjoy in the future.
Nick Morton – The Mummy
The Mummy (2017) might well go down as one of the most disappointing movies of Tom Cruise’s career. It also killed the Dark Universe idea the Warner Bros has spent decades planning for. Outside of the sloppy storytelling technique. We did get some amazing action sequences and with the twist of who Nick is in the final act. We were left waiting for the next moment. This would need to chop the budget down, but it could still have been saved with the right tone and character inclusion. Even if the Invisible Man has gone onto get his own movie, it could still be bought together in the end.
Jack – Oblivion
Oblivion is one of the most beautiful sci-fi movies, with a brilliant concept. That turns everything on its head by the end of the movie. It follows what turns out to be clones of Jack covering certain amounts of space on Earth for resources. Before they start questioning why they are here, learning of humans still on the planet fighting back against the aliens that have taken over the Earth. The movie might well end with a happy ending of Jack back with his lover Julia starting a new life on Earth. We don’t know how much further this world could go and what is waiting in different zones or when the aliens return for more.
Les Grossman – Tropic Thunder
Les Grossman might well be the most outrageous performance of Tom Cruise’s career. Only in the supporting role as the loud producer wanting to know what is happening to his movie. We could easily see this supporting character return. With another one of his movie productions going horribly wrong with a new cast of actors, playing actors. As long as Tom is let loose to do everything he wants with this outrageous character, we know we are going to have an excellent time.
Vincent – Collateral
Vincent is one of the few villainous roles that Tom Cruise has taken over his career. One where his character doesn’t make it out of the movie alive. This being said, what we would get would be a prequel. We know how skilled Vincent it during the film, he is open about how he has done this before. With this being a chance to see Vincent on one of his other overnight missions. This will give us a chance to see how the night goes past without anything going wrong.
Chief John Anderton – Minority Report
Minority Report follows a city that operates under the idea of Pre-crime. Where Chief John Anderton is one of the pre-crime officers who must go on the run. After he is seen as one of the murderers in the future. Uncovering a bigger conspiracy behind the system. This would see the division re-opened. The government doing whatever they want to try and stop crimes. John returning to need to prove why it doesn’t work. Even if the new creation would see this as an improvement on the previous system. We could have plenty of potential to where things could go next.
Jerry Maguire – Jerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire follows a sports agent that needs to rebuild his career. Where he fights for his one loyal client and one member of staff that leaves with him. Falling in love along the way. As Jerry learns more about what it means to be a loyal agent. Rather than one that is just flashy with fake promises. We could see him trying to turn the heads of new clients in the modern era. Taking a younger agent under his wing along the way, with his reputation being what carries how far his career has gone since the events.
Lt Daniel Kaffee – A Few Good Men
A Few Good Men follows a Navy lawyer Lt Daniel Kaffee that must investigate the death of a behind a marine. Where two marines are standing trial for that case. Kaffee was expected to take plea agreements as to why he has the highest success rate, with this being his first courtroom appearance. He is never seen as the professional, but by the end of the film, he shows what he is all about. We could easily watch another movie involving Daniel Kaffee in a courtroom. Defending a military crime. As long as Aaron Sorkin returns with the script, we should be getting a quality film.
Cole Trickle – Days of Thunder
Cole Trickle is the young hot-shot stock-car driver that finds himself racing at the top level, where he will need to take on the veterans of the sport to prove his worth. What is it we say about Tom Cruise and needing speed, well this could play out in reverse with a sequel, with Cole being the veteran, needing to deal with younger drivers with different attitudes towards the elder in the sport, mixing with some that give him respect, while others just want him off the road. I also know this sounds a lot like ‘Cars’, we can be honest here, Tom Cruise isn’t going to say no to a movie where he gets to do anything at extreme speeds.
What Tom Cruise movies would you like to see a sequel to?
Writer: Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie (Screenplay) Peter Craig, Justin Marks (Story)
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Val Kilmer, Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Jon Hamm, Ed Harris
Plot: After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators. Pete Mitchell is where he belongs. Pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him.
Runtime: 2 Hours 11 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Top Gun: Maverick starts as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Cruise) gets caught breaking orders once again. His punishment being returning to Top Gun to train a new group of Top Gun pilots for a dangerous almost impossible mission.
Lt, Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw (Teller), Phoenix (Barbaro), Bob (Pullman), Hangman (Powell) just to mention a few. Learning to reach next level of being a fighter pilot, something Maverick will push them to fight for.
Thoughts on Top Gun Maverick
Characters
To keep things a little simply, I am only going to be referring to the characters by the code names. Maverick still is filled with the rush to fly planes are the highest speed. Remaining a Captain, a rank he has far outlived the title of. His latest stunt will see him return to flight school Top Gun. Training the next generation to be as good as him, because they are brilliant. They are not Maverick though. He must face the son of Goose, a young man that he has tried to protect. Building up the walls between the two. He will push them and his superiors with his style. His loyal friend Iceman will back him no matter what.
Rooster is the son of Goose, the wingman that died with Maverick in the original. He has gone onto become one of the best in the world. Now he must learn to put aside his problems with Maverick. If he is ever going to be as good as his father in the skies.
Cyclone is the admiral pushing for the mission to be completed, he clashes with Maverick on everything. Showing his ranking is more about getting the job done, rather than keeping the team alive.
When it comes to the rest of the cadets, Phoenix is the one constantly improving with Bob, showing an excellent team. Hangman is the cockiest member of the cadets, one that is more skilled than the teamwork needed for any missions.
Performances
The performances in the film are great. Tom Cruise brings the reflective side to his character, not just the flashy fight pilot. He shows the consequences his character has been through. From the first movie and that is why he stands out. When it comes to the supporting characters. Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro and Glen Powell do standout from the crowd. Taking their characters to the next level through the film.
Story
The story here will follow Maverick, picking up his Navy career, 30 years after Top Gun. Showing him still loving the need for speed, only to find himself put on teaching duties for a dangerous mission. This story is all about Maverick, showing how he will continue to chase his need for speed. Showing how he is still living with guilt from his past and showing how important it is to him, to bring everyone back alive.
We do get the conflict between Maverick and Rooster, which you can understand. Along with the authority figures in this world not liking Maverick’s style. It is kept simply enough though, showing how the right people. Will get the best out of the most important people.
On the downside of the story, we do seem to lack the conflict set up in the opening act. Of the human pilots not being needed anymore, with no mention of the drone side of things. Which could have added another layer of conflict in the film.
Themes
Top Gun Maverick is an action thriller that will see the younger pilots put through the ringer by Maverick. We get to see different manoeuvres being completed within the training and mission. Showing how the team continues to improve, as well as the things they are doing wrong.
Taking the action back to the training school helps show how hard the pilots must work to make this happen, as well as the mission offer different problems, ones they have been training for.
Final Thoughts – Top Gun Maverick is an action packed wild fighter pilot delight.
Director: Scotty Cornfield, Donna Mae Foronda, Tony Jonick, Alisha McCutcheon, Dana Moe
Writer: Scotty Cornfield, Donna Mae Foronda, Tony Jonick, Dana Moe (Screenplay)
Starring: Nicole Azalee Danielle, Bettina Devin, Linnae Dosumu-Johnson, Carlos Flores Jr, Tony Gapastione, Alessandro Garcia, Chris Marsol, Adrienne Thomas, Robet Henningsen, Andrea Lea Martzipan
Plot: Five intertwined stories set in San Francisco. The triumphs and tragedies of people dealing with life’s difficulties and discoveries set against this beautiful city in the first quarter of the 21st Century.
Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Thoughts onSan Francisco Stories
Left Heart
Left Heart follows Connie (Thomas) a social media employee. That spends her time on her dating app, searching for love. We follow Connie as she is looking to get through problems with. Work as well as taking early steps into the dating world once again.
Sign of the Times
Sign of the Times follows Plato (Marsol) a great poet who has fallen on hard times. Finding himself on the streets selling signs to get through each day. Plato will find himself with a wealthy admirer. Who wants to know more about his signs, as how he ends up on the streets. He will explain his story, one that she wants to learn more and more about.
Flowers in her Hair
Flowers in her Hair follows Mel (Martzipan) who gets a proposal she isn’t prepared for from Del (Hailey). Which will see her put in a difficult decision in need of rescuing. Mel looks to honour a promise she once made in high school. One she isn’t prepared for, offer to help Del solve his own problem she is facing.
Deepwater
Deepwater follows lawyer Marwan Castillo (Garcia) as he helps defendants who don’t have much in life. His latest case needing to defend his cousin Andy (Flores Jr). Marwan sees his case load starting to pile. With him being forced to take cases he could have won easily. It is estranged cousin that is making his life even more difficult, with his desperate cries for help.
Moonwalker
Moonwalker follows an unlikely couple Mikey (Henningsen) and Nina (Dosumu-Johnson) as they have their first date. Getting into deeper conversations, once that would show them in a different light to each other.
Thoughts
San Francisco Stories brings us five stories that will cross over as we get to learn more about the characters we meet. Each story will bring a different subject matter. Left Heart coming off like a romantic comedy. Which does feel like it has the most to offer with the time it is given.
Deepwater does have a more serious approach, one that we could have seen a lot more from. It will tackle the serious subject of needing to be there for family or a friend as they battle their own problems. Sign of the Times will bring us a story about wealth and message. Showing how two people can come together for the reason of helping people get the message through.
Moonwalker seems to be the story that passes through the most other stories. It will seem to have the least going on about it. Flowers in Her Hair will focus on the bigger idea of promises you can make in life. Told in an unusual fairy-tale like formation.
The idea that we have a big city with many different stories in life shows we can never see how many different stories we can find in life. Never the struggles people have or the things they want in life.
Final Thoughts – San Francisco Stories is a nice series of stories around a big city, proving not every story is what it looks like on the outside.
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Takumi Saitoh, Yasuko Tomita, Mark Chinnery, Tomoro Taguchi, Koichi Sato
Plot: Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi facility in Japan risk their lives and stay at the nuclear power plant. To prevent total destruction after the region is devastated by an earthquake a tsunami in 2011.
Runtime: 2 Hours 2 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Fukushima starts when the earthquakes off the coast of Japan. Causing the tsunami to strike the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility. Knowing the new state of emergency this has caused Masao Yoshida (Watanabe) takes control. Controlling the link between the men on site and the rest of the world. His friend and co-worker Toshio Izaki (Sato) needing to find a solution to the rising radiation levels on site. While Prime Minister (Sano) wants answers.
As the tensions between the three sides continue to raise. The evacuation process in operation. Toshio is left with he impossible decision of needing to see his men give up their lives. In a suicide squad mission to try to save as many people as possible.
Thoughts on Fukushima
Fukushima is one of the modern day disasters the world witness the horrors of. Seeing, waiting and hoping for the best. Knowing not everything is going to end well. Much like the drama of Chernobyl. We get to experience from the ground what the conditions were like. Even if we have improved planning for such a disaster.
The mixed in Japanese culture of sacrifice for the greatest good shines through. Showing us just how much these men and women would have put on the line. To save as many as they could. The film never manages to drop the intensity of the situation. Keeping the three key areas the centre stage of what is happening. Showing us just how prepared for the disaster the employees were.
The performances in the film are brilliant. Ken Watanabe leading the way of the biggest global names. In what is an incredible story of the heroic actions performed.
Final Thoughts – Fukushima is a brilliant look at the heroics performed to save millions.
Plot: A reformed hunter living in isolation on a wildlife sanctuary becomes involved in a deadly game of cat and mouse when he and the local Sheriff set out to track a vicious killer who may have kidnapped his daughter years ago.
Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Silencing starts as a reformed hunter Rayburn (Coster-Waldau) looks to protect a wildlife reserve in memory of his lost daughter. He spends each day of his life searching for. When he discovers a mysterious hunter tracking down a woman on the reserve, he looks to rescue them.
The cat-n-mouse game take a different turn when the mystery about the hunter is put in his path. As the local sheriff Gustafson (Wallis) is looking for answers about another murder in the local woodland.
Thoughts on The Silencing
The Silencing is an action thriller that will see two sides needing to come together to put aside their differences. A reformed hunter searching for answers about his daughter and a sheriff looking to protect her abuse victim brother. As a killer is hunting their victims in the wood for their own twisted pleasure.
This is a thriller that will keep us guessing, as well as having plenty of twists and turns along the way. It might not reinvent the wheel for how everything unfolds. It will try its best to use the themes of grief and abuse to drive character motivations with the determination for answers.
The performances in the film are strong with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Annabelle Wallis in the leading two roles needing to bring the most to the table. We do fall into the sad pattern of jurisdictions when it comes to who wants to handle the case. Instead of just working together to get the bottom of the murders. Which is fast becoming one of the most annoying parts of any movie.
