March | 2022 | A Screenwriters Perspective: Current and Past Movies.

The buzz about the new Netflix movie “The Adam Project” was pretty strong and this is yet another movie about time travel. I thought overall the movie was good, with impressive special effects – proving once again that Netflix spares no expense when making a film.

However, I agree with the average ratings of 7.0 on IMDB and only 70% on Rotten Tomatoes. The reason for this is, that the story here seems too much like other time travel movies in the past. No new idea was uncovered here, so the opinions are just average. In the year 2050, Ryan Reynolds fly’s his spaceship into a worm hole and winds up in the present day, meeting himself as a 12 year old boy. This idea has been repeated more times than anyone can count.

The standout of this movie is first time actor Walker Scobell, who is such a natural actor that his performance is better than all of the other adult actors including Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. I saw no sign that Scobell was acting throughout this entire film.

Due to the special effects and the occasional good parts of this story, I give this movie a rating of 75% and a marginal recommendation.

Probably the most important aspect to realize while watching another Batman movie like this one, is when or why or who decided that so many of these movies have almost every scene in total darkness, along with way too many depressing rainy scenes. A movie like this one, is not for anyone who is suffering from depression, for fear of falling over the edge. Far too many movies like this one, are also way too long, this one about 3 dark depressing hours. There was no reason, for this story to be told for 3 hours. Two hours and ten minutes was more than enough.

One thing different here is that the characters of the Penguin, Riddler and at the end even the Joker were dressed and appeared like normal people. No over the top makeup or costumes. However, considering that the main character Batman is wearing a completely ridiculous suit with funny ears, making the villains look normal seemed at times, out of place.

As far as the acting with the new Batman played by Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, Colin Farrell as the Penguin and Paul Dano as the Riddler – I thought it was mostly good throughout. The story however, was nothing special, we have all seen stories like this before, especially in super hero movies.

After so many serious Batman movies, lets have a new idea, reminding us of the funny 1960s Batman series. The idea is absurd, the costume is ridiculous, so how about some sense of humor rather than trying to make something serious from the idiotic.

Overall, I am surprised at the very high ratings 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.7 on IMDB – with my rating in the 75% range, and a marginal recommendation.