Moviegoers approaching the film as an indie character drama that happens to take place long after a zombie rage virus crippled the continent may be more forgiving (or even very pleased).
Ultimately, with the saturation of zombie movies and TV shows that have come and gone since the originals, The Bone Temple provides plenty of surprises but could be disappointing to viewers who are looking for excitement over contemplation in their zombie viewing.
The movie explores unique ideas in both how humanity evolves in light of societal collapse as well as how the zombies themselves evolved over the years. It’s contemplative and interesting but not nearly as exciting/ as 28 Days and Weeks.
28 Years Later and now The Bone Temple tell very intimate stories about a few very weird people in the aftermath of the rage apocalypse - where zombies are rare but still dangerous.
Jack O’Connell’s storyline isn’t any more compelling than a pretty typical Walking Dead-like villain (a twisted opportunist with a quirky gimmick).
Yes, the climactic scene with Ralph Fiennes is memorable and incredibly fun (Fiennes’ scenes, in general, carry the movie) but viewers who enjoyed the 28 series for its scares and tense zombie set pieces may be less enthused.
#28yearslaterthebonetemple is easily the weirdest entry in the series - which, for some viewers, will be a welcome continuation of the subversive direction last year’s 28 Years Later took the franchise.
In some ways, it's better than previous ones - the action is amazing and there is some very fun character stuff. All those bits are actually better than what they recycle from the Way of Water - but that good stuff is pulled down by already seeing much of it in the Part 2.
The Ash clan's Varang starts out strong and then gets sidelined in an equally strange pivot for Quaritch. I'd absolutely recommend fans see it (and see it in the best theater near them) but where Way of Water really surprised and reinvested me, Fire and Ash did the opposite.
Saw #AvatarFireAndAsh last night - and am pretty underwhelmed this round. The visuals are, as always, absolutely incredible - and I'm still invested in the Sully family story. But a LOT of Fire and Ash feels like a rehash of The Way of Water (including a weirdly identical Act 3).
Tonight’s Screening: #PredatorBadlands
Tonight’s screening: #tron Ares.
Tonight’s Screening: #thelongwalk
Tonight’s screening: #weaponsmovie
(Last Night’s) Screening #iknowwhatyoudidlastsummer
Before going to grad school and joining Screen Rant. I worked for a friend who started his own funeral home. I was doing his marketing but soon was asked to handle the removal of deceased people from their homes (in a hearse). Things got much worse after I left. youtu.be/EInwI9lSskg?...
Also: the complaints about Superman being “woke” or having a pro-immigrant agenda are very weird. This was never subtext, it was overt that Superman was the story of an immigrant who came to America illegally, helped his country as well as neighbors, and even fought the KKK. bit.ly/3IzSLO7
It’s impossible to avoid comparisons with the Snyderverse - especially for those of us who loved the boldness of that vision. Gunn’s take is much more traditional but, in the end, I found it won me over and provides a great (re)entry point for new and returning fans.
It’s a relatively straightforward story without much development for any of the main characters; still, what it lacks in emotional punch, it makes up for by establishing this version of the hero as a likable and relatable guy viewers will want to cheer on.
Superman might be the most (certainly one of the most) comic book-ish movies ever created - down to the way character drama leads in to super-powered conflicts.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing but viewers who have poured over every marketing frame won’t find too many surprises in the 3-4 main action sequences.
Still, it’s choppier and carries less weight than Man of Steel’s explosive (albeit controversial) set pieces - and a lot of Superman’s most exciting and memorable moments were shown in the trailer.
The action is good - in the same way Guardians action was good. It’s lively and colorful with some clever choreography.
Similarly, Hoult is the best Luthor since Michael Rosenbaum and it’ll be fun to watch him evolve the supervillain in future chapters.
Ultimately, they all won me over - and I’m excited to see their arcs within the larger DCU. Corenswet still has work to do in order to top my list of favorite Superman actors but he brings a sincerity and warmth to the hero that wasn’t as apparent in more recent adaptations.
In-context of a 2-hour film, a lot of the tonal shifts are less jarring and the final movie uses the side-characters sparingly (the ratio of them to Superman in the trailer vs the full movie is much lower).
My trepidation stemmed from the over-saturation of Krypto and the Justice Gang in the movie’s marketing as well as a more light-hearted (and somewhat uneven looking) tone.
There are a lot of aspects of the Snyderverse that I still prefer but there’s no question Superman is packed with fun, laughs, and a relatable message about making the world a better place - even if we’re not perfect.
#Superman’s trailers did not grab me - and I was very concerned that WB might have over corrected after criticism of Snyder’s “darker” take on the DC Universe. Thankfully, Gunn stuck the landing: delivering the most entertaining Superman movie in 40+ years.
