ECCO Review

ECCO is overly convoluted and overly long and yet I couldn't take my eyes off it. This movie is about a former covert assassin who goes hunting after the people responsible for the sins of his past. Lathrop Walker gives a great performance. His character doesn't always talk that much but you become emotionally invested in his quest. Helena Grace Donald and Mahria Zook do fine in their supporting roles, but the movie makes them look so similar it's hard to tell them apart. Michael Winters gives a good performance in his small supporting role. Ben Medina did a great job directing. This movie is extremely visually captivating and the action scenes are very unique. The script is the biggest issue here. While it kept me invested throughout with some genuine surprises, it is so overly convoluted in the first half that I struggled to keep up with the timeline. The fantastic cinematography and score kept me invested even when the plot was losing me. At 123 minutes the runtime is way too long, especially in the first half. Many scenes go by with little to nothing having happened. Overall, ECCO is a complete mess but nevertheless an interesting one that held my attention throughout.
5.5/10

The Art of Racing in the Rain Review

The Art of Racing in the Rain is an emotionally manipulative story with strong acting. This movie is about a Dog named Enzo who has a near-human soul and learns about life through his owner, the race car driver Denny Swift. Milo Ventimiglia gives a great performance. He nails the emotional scenes and really makes you care for his character. Amanda Seyfried gives a good performance. She has great chemistry with Ventimiglia and nails her key scenes but I wish she had a bit more to do. Kevin Costner did an excellent job voicing the thoughts of Enzo. This movie works as well as it does because his voice fits what the dog is doing perfectly. Simon Curtis did a great job directing. The racing scenes are really well done and the movie draws you in almost immediately. The script is extremely emotionally manipulative, but effective. The characters are great and the story is compelling. However, if you cry easily be warned you will have a hard time watching some parts of this movie. At 123 minutes the pacing is very good rarely dragging and it always kept me invested. Overall, The Art of Racing in the Rain, despite being emotionally manipulative, is a compelling story with great performances.
7.5/10

Dora and the Lost City of Gold Review

Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a shockingly fun adventure film with a strong lead performance. This movie is about Dora who, as a teenager, goes to experience city life. However, once she and her friends get kidnapped and taken to the jungle it'll take all of them to get back home. Isabela Moner gives a great performance. She truly was perfect casting, nailing every single element of her character, especially the comedic moments. Benicio Del Torro steals the movie voicing Swiper. I was dying laughing every time he was on screen. Jeffrey Wahlberg, Nicholas Coombe, and Madeleine Madden all give good performances as Dora’s friends. Eugenio Derbez is a lot of fun, hamming it up in his supporting role. Michael Pena and Eva Longoria are fine as Dora’s parents but they're underutilized. James Bobin did a good job directing. It comes across a little like a TV movie at times, but it works fine for the movie. The script is a pretty standard kids adventure story with some childish humor. However, there is also a very meta sense of humor that made me laugh quite often when they went for it. At 100 minutes the pacing is good though for adults, you'll wish there was just a little more humor for you. Overall, Dora and the Lost City of Gold is a surprisingly fun throwback to old school kids' adventure films.
6/10

Hobbs & Shaw Review

Hobbs & Shaw is top tier Fast & Furious for the first 2/3 but loses itself in the third act. This movie is about Hobbs & Shaw who must help save Shaw’s sister from a supervillain who is after a world-ending virus she possesses. Dwayne Johnson gives a great performance. He nails the action scenes and his comedic timing his spot on. Jason Statham gives a fantastic performance. His dynamic with Johnson is hysterical and easily the highlight of the film. Vanessa Kirby was a very pleasant surprise here. She keeps up with Johnson and Statham with ease and they make a really fun and likable trio. Idris Elba’s villain is not very well written or developed, but you can tell he is having a blast hamming it up in the role that it becomes enjoyable. There are some surprise appearances from actors in supporting roles that I won't spoil but they practically steal the movie. The script is good for what it is. The story here is pretty flimsy and makes little sense. However, the action set pieces are well shot and a ton of fun and the comedy is hysterical with numerous laugh out loud moments. The movie does lose itself some in the third act when it tries to force the core series family theme in. At 136 minutes the first 2/3 flies by with excellent pacing. The start of the third act really drags but picks up in time for the very last action scene. Overall, Hobbs & Shaw is no masterpiece but for fans of over the top action comedy, there is a lot to enjoy here.
7.5/10
P.S. Stay all the way until the end of the credits.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Review

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is one of Tarantino's best and one of the best films of the year. This movie is about a fading television actor and his stuntman who seek success in 1969 Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio gives an incredible performance. He nails the comedic and emotional scenes perfectly. One scene in particular really shows his incredible acting. Brad Pitt delivers a career-best performance. His character is so layered and complex yet just oozes coolness. One scene in the third act he delivers one of the best slapstick performances in years. Margot Robbie is great in her supporting role but she does not have a ton to do. Margaret Qualley also did a good job in her supporting role. The entire massive supporting cast does well in their small roles. Quentin Tarantino did a fantastic job directing. This movie just oozes style and is a love letter to old school Hollywood. The cinematography looks like older films which gives it a unique feel. The script is brilliant with fantastic characters and excellent comedic moments. At 161 minutes the movie is extremely well paced. The first act flies by, the movie does slow down a bit in the second act. However, it makes up for it with a third act that is the best thing Tarintino has ever done. Overall, I adored almost every second of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and it's easily one of the best movies of the year.
9.5/10

The Lion King (2019) Review

The Lion King (2019) is nowhere near as good as the animated classic but is still an entertaining movie in its own way. This movie is about Simba who idolizes his father but his uncle Scar has sinister intentions. Donald Glover gives a good performance. Sometimes it's hard to not just hear the actor but he has good comedic timing and does decent with emotional scenes. Beyonce gives a bad performance. She does okay in a couple of scenes, but her singing is way too out of place and distracting. James Earl Jones is still great as Mufasa but he feels like he's sleepwalking through some scenes. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Scar is very different than his animated role but he does a good job with the different take on the character. John Oliver gives a funny performance as Zazu but he is underutilized. Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner steal this movie. Their Timon and Pumba are hysterical. Every single joke with them hits. Keegan Michael Key is also really funny in his supporting role. Jon Favreau did a great job directing. The technical skills on display are nothing short of incredible. The entire movie is visual effects and sometimes it's downright photorealistic. As for the script, there are some new funny comedic moments but for the most part, it's the animated movie's script but worse. As for the musical numbers, the movie screws up a couple of iconic moments but nails the majority of the music sequences. At 118 minutes the pacing is all over the place; sometimes this movie goes way too slow and sometimes it's way too fast. Overall, I enjoyed The Lion King (2019) but I will never choose to watch this over the animated film presented with the option.
6.5/10