INTRO:

I’m Hank, longtime podcaster, filmmaker, and YouTuber, and this is my review of the biopic Michael. This is a spoiler-filled review of the movie so you’ve been warned.

NOT SCARED MOVIE: https://notscaredmovie.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TPENetworkNews

FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/61574246856178/

X.COM: https://x.com/tpenetwork

BUDGET:

• 200 million dollars.
• 217 million dollars after the first weekend.
• will need to make 500 million to break even.

SETTINGS:

We start in the 60’s and end in the 80’s. The representation of the times were the most accurate recreations I’ve seen to date. I was alive in the 70’s and grew up in the 80’s so I’m telling you what I know, not what I’ve heard.

CHARACTERS:

• Jaafar Jackson - Michael
• Juliano Valdi - Young Michael
• Colman Domingo - Joseph Jackson
• Nia Long - Katherine Jackson
• Kendrick Sampson - Quincy Jones (Flash & Supernatural TV series)
• Larenz Tate - Berry Gordy (he played Quincy Jones in the Ray movie)

HITS:

• The movie is a literal soundtrack of all banger hits!
• The acting is phenomenal.
• The directing is the best I’ve seen in the past twenty years.
• The set dressing and aesthetics are impeccable.

MISSES:

• The CG animals are a miss.
• I wanted more of the Motown vs Epic stuff (Jermaine stayed at Motown after marrying Berry Gordy’s daughter Hazel).
• No Rebbie, Randy, or Janet Jackson.

CHECK OUT MY NEW SHOW CALLED: Low-Budget Movie Reviews

LINK: https://feeds.captivate.fm/low-budget-movie-reviews/

MOVIE SCORE: 9/10

DIRECTION: A+ Antoine Fuqua

WRITING: A John Logan

CINEMATOGRAPHY: A+

POST PRODUCTION (score/sfx/edit/color grade) A+

REWATCHABILITY: A

1 Awful content = Fails on every single level.

2-4 Poor = Terrible on almost every front.

5 Mediocre = Some of the content is worthwhile but mostly broken.

6 Average = Okay writing, acting, storytelling and execution.

7 Good = Solid writing, acting, storytelling and execution.

8 Great = Great writing, acting, storytelling and execution.

9 Almost Perfect = Very minor nitpicks but otherwise excellent.

10 Perfect = A masterpiece! No writing, acting or storytelling flaws. Would hold up against all time classics (e.g. M.A.S.H., Lost, Game of Thrones etc).

INTRO:

I’m Hank, longtime podcaster, filmmaker, and YouTuber, and this is my review of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie This is a spoiler-filled review of the movie so you’ve been warned.

Synopsis:

Mario ventures into space, exploring cosmic worlds and tackling galactic challenges far from the familiar Mushroom Kingdom.

BUDGET:

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has an estimated budget of $110 million dollars.

• It’ll easily surge past a billion dollars.

SETTINGS:

The world of Mario Galaxy is vibrant, busy and alive.

CHARACTERS:

• Glen Powell Fox McCloud(voice)
• Anya Taylor-Joy Princess Peach(voice)
• Chris Pratt Mario(voice)
• Jack Black Bowser(voice)
• Brie Larson Rosalina(voice)
• Benny Safdie Bowser Jr.(voice)
• Keegan-Michael Key Toad(voice)
• Charlie Day Luigi(voice)
• Donald Glover Yoshi(voice)

HITS:

• Throwbacks to the super scope 6.
• Luigi uses Super Mario Bros. 3's Frog Suit power-up to defeat a Big Bertha fish.
• The Gateway Galaxy information desk is manned by R.O.B. and he does the slow moving bit.
• Image of Slippy Toad from Star Fox 64.
• Baby Mario even plays the Mario theme on his teeth.
• Yoshi eats and expels Francis the dog from the first movie.
• Yoshi was a fun addition.
• Short runtime (99 minutes).

MISSES:

• I disliked the storyline for Bowser. The bad guy trying to be good is overdone in Hollywood. No more conflicted bad guys.
• The story overall is convoluted.
• Fox McCloud is a cool addition but unnecessary as the cast felt bloated.
• Welcome to the super princess world. Princess Daisy is up next! Yes, have princesses in the movie, but don’t make a Mario movie about them.
• The nihilistic Lumalee is back to ensure you're going to have awkward conversations about death with your 5 year old.
• The voices didn’t all land as well as in the first movie.
• This sequel lacked the heart of the first movie.

CHECK OUT MY NEW SHOW CALLED: Low-Budget Movie Reviews

LINK: https://feeds.captivate.fm/low-budget-movie-reviews/

MOVIE SCORE: 6/10

DIRECTION: B (four directors)

WRITING: D Matthew Fogel (convoluted story).

ANIMATION: A

POST PRODUCTION (score/sfx/edit/color grade) A

REWATCHABILITY: C

INTRO:

I’m Hank, longtime podcaster, filmmaker, and YouTuber, and this is my review of The Running Man. This is a spoiler-filled review of the movie so you’ve been warned.

CORRECTION:

• Predator Badlands dropped off the face of the earth and looks like it will lose money

BUDGET:

The Running Man has an estimated budget of $110 million dollars.

• Currently bombing

SETTINGS:

The world of The Running Man is a combination of grungy and futuristic. It blends perfectly with the concept of the movie which is both dystopian and a technologically advanced surveillance state. I really liked the dark grungy look of the rundown areas juxtaposed to the high-end studio we’re introduced to. I can’t say enough good things about the choices made.

CHARACTERS:

• Glen Powell as Ben Richards
• Josh Brolin as Dan Killian
• William H. Macy as Molie Jernigan
• Lee Pace as Evan McCone (the lead hunter)
• Colman Domingo as the game show host Bobby T. Thompson
• Michael Cera as Elton Parrakis plays a character with an axe to grind
• Scott Pilgrim!
• Emilia Jones as Amelia Williams
• Her role is the worst part of the movie!
• We get a lecture on wealth and how wrong it is.
• Daniel Ezra as Bradley Throckmorton
• He’s an anonymous YouTuber type character exposing truth.
• Jayme Lawson stars as Sheila Richards
• She does fine acting
• However I don’t believe their relationship

HITS:

• Fun Twink cereal lifetime supply pay off
• Bold choices in direction and cinematography
• Cinematography when Ben matches the wanted poster
• BobbyT. is great!
• Josh Brolin is fantastic!
• Great reveal when it comes to the Lee Pace character
• The overall look and feel of the sets
• The YouTube style videos and conspiracy style content
• Resisting the establishment

MISSES:

• Conflicted character actions
• Ben spares a vicious hunter after killing others
• Too much misdirection
• I don’t buy the relationship between Ben and Sheila.
• There’s simply no chemistry
• The sick baby trope is uninspired
• Stop lecturing your audience!
• You can include themes without telling people what to think
• The movie is too long

MOVIE SCORE: 6/10

DIRECTION: C (Edgar Wright)

WRITING: C (Steven King adaptation) (Michael Bacall & Edgar Wright)

CINEMATOGRAPHY: B (Chung Chung-hoon)

POST PRODUCTION (score/sfx/color grade): B

REWATHABILITY: C