Author Archives: jjcwn

Movie Review: Dr. Strange In the Multiverse of Madness

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The movie “Dr. Strange In the Multiverse of Madness” is another one of those heavy special effects movies that are produced in reverse. Advanced computer generated special effects first – story idea – eventual screenplay – retrofitted to the special effects later. This movie starts out with Dr Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch fighting a huge starfish-like-lizard creature that only has one eye. The special effects are spectacular, amazing, with the hope that, we do not have to provide any reason or story behind the appearance of this one-eyed-starfish-like lizard creature, we just show amazing special effects. This is the problem with this entire movie. No explanation, just onto the next explosion or transporting into the next multiverse – a term also never fully defined.

This time around Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen becomes an enemy of Dr Strange, and most of this movie is about the two of them fighting and trying to kill each other throughout this entire 2 hours. One again, what they were really fighting about? Not necessary to elaborate this either, because its all about the explosions and special effects. The huge success of this movie financially will guarantee that this special effects over quality and story will be part of our movie going future for many years to come. Rachel McAdams has a relatively small part in this movie, as Dr. Strange x-girlfriend.

I agree with the moderate reviews for this film on Rotten Tomatoes – only for the special effects which are at times as good as I have ever seen. For the story here, almost non existent, I give that only 10%, with an overall moderate recommendation only for die hard Marvel movie fans.

Independent Film Review: Void

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This movie review website started in October 2014 and over the years has been more about the writing and less about an online business venture – the reality of trying to make a new online business. Since this all began there are about 925 posts, mostly about current movies that have been released, the rest are about past movies and some posts about current events, tributes and some movie award listings. This has been a long mostly enjoyable trek, all part of a long term dream of being a screenwriter. I have written 5 screenplays myself so far – three of which I am very proud of.

Some years ago, I was ranked in the top 60 on a website called Feedspot, for the best movie review sites on the internet.  Due to my selection and rank on Feedspot, I have been asked a total of 3 times in the last few years, to review movies produced and directed by small independent filmmakers. Now finally with the 3rd request, I am proud and flattered to review a new movie called “Void” from Director/Producer/Actor/DP/Editor/Co-Writer Vaibhav Gattani – produced by his production company – Icecape films. 

The movie Void is unlike any film have ever seen before, with a topic that I cannot remember addressed in any film I have ever seen.

Infertility is a problem that millions of couples around the world face every day, including the many complex difficult decisions and expensive alternatives that follow this very challenging life problem.

For the story of Void, the woman becomes so desperate to have a baby, that she will do anything, including even hiring a psychoanalyst, hypnosis, and eventually even supernatural alternatives. One thing I did notice is that these insane alternatives were approached it seemed – even before the more mainstream ones were addressed first. However, this is only a less-than two-hour movie.  There is only so much time to tell a great story.

What follows are some scenes of strange events, including the use of a voodoo doll, the couple understandably arguing about what to do about their infertility and in the end a very unexpected and dramatic ending, that was extremely well done.

I thought the acting was very well done here, as well as the overall production. I give a strong recommendation to Void and hope – for the benefit of the great director that it is a great breakthrough into the extremely difficult field of filmmaking.

Void can now be seen on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/void

https://vimeo.com/vaibhavgattani/voidtrailer

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Instagram – Vaibhav Gattani

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Facebook – Icescape Films page

Movie Review: Memory

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The movie career/trend with Liam Neeson continues. Momentum from the strength of the extremely good movie Taken, released in 2008, Neeson has made around 50 movies since then, and none of them come even close to the quality of Taken. One way of looking at this is that so many movies since Taken that are average or below average makes everyone appreciate how good Taken was 14 years ago. Another way of looking at this is, why is Neeson making so many average and bad movies? He has probably made more movies by far, than any other actor in Hollywood. Is it better to wait and then make a high quality production or risk damaging your career by making so many movies that are lower quality?

After seeing “Memory” – about a hit man with Alzheimer’s involved with a complicated series of hit man contracts – I was wondering how anyone who read this script would understand it, much less greenlight it. So why was this movie made? In this blog I have cited many times my theories of Hollywood deals, paybacks, favors and deals with friends. Quite simply this muddled and bad script should never have been made into a movie, because it is far from good enough. Unfortunately it seems that Neeson is involved in some kind of movie assembly line, where he just continues to act in bad productions (with 4 more in the pipeline) with total disregard to quality. Quantity over quality is never a good idea, within any industry.

The Rotten Tomatoes ratings for Memory is a very low 30% and unfortunately I agree with this very low number and cannot recommend this mostly bad film.