daisukereds

A straightforward story of demon Hunters and K-Pop singers protecting the world from a villain that wants to devour all souls. But with plenty of great elements that come together to make something more.. perfectly nailing what they set out to make.

By virtue of the immaculate visuals alone.. the colors, the designs, the editing, animations, the choreographies and even the impressive digital camera work. This would be a recommendation from me. But the fresh ideas, the messages and how it contextualizes them.. like how our "demons" whisper in our ears and remain a constant reminder of previous failures trying to keep us down. The fleshed-out charming characters, the friendship, the energy, the emotional bits, the catchy songs and even the showing the real singers in the credits.

You have expectations.. but they rarely are met or even exceeded. This was quite an enjoyable and fun watch, one that was beyond pleasant. I'm quite impressed with Sony Pictures Imageworks and would love to see more like this.

Makes me wonder if someone was inspired by Disney's (2022) "Turning Red" a bit.

(it was either that quote or "I'm scum, I'm garbage. This experience has tested me and has revealed no character whatsoever", both great)

A young couple takes a tropical vacation, only for one of the two to end up stranded in a deserted island with the charming Harrison Ford. It's the girl.. and is there a question of her chances of falling in love?

Even if it presents a predictable outcome, this movie was simply fun, excellently casted (surprised by David Schwimmer) and perfectly executed. It is made by the moments of levity, tension, adventure and survival.. accompanied by smartly written characters and memorable interactions.

Easy recommendation.

A "mythical killer" finally gets a chance at revenge, by putting his enemy's daughter in danger.

Unfortunately, this is a very straightforward and simplistic story with only a handful of solid fight sequences to hold it together. And while competently made, it feels like it never delivers more than the bare minimum.. resulting in a somewhat dull product. There's little tension or suspense, and no good lines or memorable moments.

I find particularly disappointing how it fails to sell the villain as a freakish, unstoppable force. That there's no emotional weight or payoff, and how it is just not engaging or fun to watch.

I quite enjoy Scott Adkins and usually enjoy his work, but this one falls flat and explodes dead on the floor.