Justice League (2017)

Minor Spoilers Ahead

It's not really a spoiler since you know it's (he's) coming.

Justice League directed by both Zack Synder and Joss Whedon is about a group of superheroes that come together to fight an alien henchman for Darkseid.

Highest paid actor, Ben Affleck, feels like he's just going through the motions of doing this film. He doesn't really have any good stunts and keeps his body suit on for all of the action scenes which makes me wonder if he actually trained for the film like he did Batman v. Superman.

Henry Cavill had a pretty bad rendering done on his mustache to remove it from the film and thus hinders his ability to act. It's not his fault he was contractually obligated to keep the stache.

Gal Gadot doesn't have the same sort of direction she did with Patty Jenkins, and it is more noticeable to trained eyes. The average movie-going audience won't notice though. She's a highlight of the film.

Ezra Miller should have gotten a stand-alone movie to flesh out his character. There was so much potential there in a rushed film to "catch up" to marvel. Marvel put in the groundwork for their lesser-favorite characters. Heck Thor got a mediocre movie out before avenger. He's easily the best actor in the film.

Jason Momoa, eye candy and pretty much nothing more.

Ray Fisher tried, he really did. Oh, he plays Cyborg since no one knows who this actor is. You might be saying "wasn't he that guy in..." and the answer is no.

By the way, the trivia you probably don't know is, Game of Thrones has more than one actor that's in this film. Jason Momoa is the obvious choice, but the bad guy, Steppenwolf, is voice acted by Ciaran Hinds. You're probably thinking, "Who is that?" well he played Mance Rayder, The King Beyond the Wall.

Was the film entertaining, yes, did it have flaws that critics will notice, yes. Was there trivial scenes about a family in an abandoned city that was there for whatever reason, yes. Oh and no cliffhanger. It's not a spoiler. There's just nowhere to go next. I mean they could do Darkseid but at this point, it really seems like didn't we do this already?

Result: B (It's good, but you'd be better off waiting till it's on streaming services)

Comments

Crime 101 (2026)

Crime 101 (2026) is a crime thriller that checks the basic boxes of what should work, but the writing never tightens enough to make it compelling. It hits familiar beats, runs longer than it should, and never quite earns its tension. It feels like a good movie outline stretched into a full runtime. Bart Layton , known for American Animals and The Imposter , directs, and his uneven filmography shows here. The structure is serviceable, but the pacing drags and the scenes lack urgency. The direction is competent without being memorable, and the film never finds a sharp identity. Chris Hemsworth , known for Thor and Extraction , plays the reclusive criminal at the center of the story. He tries to lean into a quieter, more internal performance, but he does not fully sell the damaged foster child mentality the script is aiming for. The performance feels like an attempt rather than a transformation. Mark Ruffalo , recognized for Spotlight and The Avengers , feels like he is on autopilo...

Cold Storage (2026)

Cold Storage (2026) is a sci fi horror thriller that surprised me in a good way. The writing is solid enough that it actually calmed some of my worries about Disclosure Day coming later this year since the same writer is involved. The story holds together and stays engaging, even when the visuals do not. The CG is laughably bad at times, but the acting/chemistry keeps the movie watchable. Jonny Campbell directs, with the screenplay by David Koepp , known for Jurassic Park and Spider-Man . His writing here is tighter than expected, which is why it gives me more confidence about Disclosure Day. The direction is straightforward and lets the script do most of the work, even if the effects budget clearly limits what can be shown on screen. He needs a redemption after Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Joe Keery , known for Stranger Things and Free Guy , is the main reason I showed up. He proves he can handle a leading role after Stranger Things and carries the film with a relax...

The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026)

The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026) closes out Renny Harlin’s trilogy with the strongest entry of the three. The story is more focused and more engaging this time, though it still leans too heavily on flashbacks that slow momentum. The final stretch puts the lead on a metaphorical cliff and sets up a darker possibility, but the film goes with the safe Hollywood ending that most viewers will see coming. It works, but it feels like a missed opportunity. This whole trilogy probably would have worked better as a streaming series instead of three separate films. Renny Harlin , known for Cliffhanger and Die Hard 2 , wraps up the trilogy with his most controlled effort of the set. The tension is more consistent and the structure is cleaner, even if the reliance on repeated backstory holds it back. It is an improvement in execution, just not a reinvention. Madelaine Petsch , recognized from Riverdale and Jane , completes her run as the final girl and continues to carry the series on her back....

Movies, Film, and Chili

Search This Blog