lokicola

I walked out of the theatre thinking, "Yeah, I had a good time in that movie". But as the day went on I kind had that "Ok, that kebab probably wasn't a good idea."

The film is stunning in its production design and creativity, and Margot Robbie is perfectly cast as the Stereotypical Barbie. For the most part, the songs are catchy and performances are solid for the type of characters being portraying.

When we strip away the outside world and all the messaging, Barbie and Ken have a few poignant moments - Barbie realising she's not as perfect as she's been made to believe, or when Ken receives his first modicum of acknowledgement of being a sentient being he's ever had in his life. They also share a couple learning and growth moments which I thought would pay off at the end of the film.

I don't know why, but I was hoping for something that would actually enlighten its audience, to acknowledge that things are a mess and make intentional and meaningful steps to get us closer to understanding and equality. The Barbie brand, history, controversies are so engrained in our culture that this movie had a potential to change our perspective of the world, and what the future could be. That's a lot of pressure for one film, I know.

However... this film is absolutely not immune to the not-so-subtle messaging that has permeated all forms of media and entertainment recently. In fact, it embraces is. So much so that you have a scene where a man walks up behind Barbie and slaps her on the backside, in broad daylight, in a crowded space, in front of her boyfriend.... And this kind of portrayal of men in 2023 appears to be how the film views the world.

Maybe it was this kind of overt comical depiction of men and the world generally that allowed me to get through the movie and kind of enjoy it, but upon reflection, I realise now it's just kind of... yuck.

Barbie had the rare opportunity to be a film experience that not only highlighted issues in the real world, but offer and foster some ideas for change. Instead, we receive divisive and mean-spirited attack on half the human population as well as anyone who thinking having a family is an acceptable path in life. And also flat feet and cellulite.

If you kind of switch off your brain for an hour and a bit, and don't take this film too seriously, then maybe you'll have a lasting positive memory after seeing this movie.

But if you need to do that to enjoy something, then you need to ask yourself: why?

Given that I saw the trailer for the first time half an hour before I went to the cinema (and squeezed in a YouTube series recap), if it wasn't for a co-worker mentioning this film was about the sacrifices made by friends for each other, I really would not have been interested in this film at all.

Without resorting to hyperbole - this movie is freaking amazing. It's the kind of 2.5hr plus movie that doesn't feel that long at all, engaging the audience with incredible action sequences, subtle yet impactful character moments, and all-round excellent performances by all.

As noted above, I hadn't kept track of the most recent MI films so wasn't attuned to the comradery and friendship that developed between Ethan, Luther, Benji and Isla. Dead Reckoning allows the cast to shine in their roles and their chemistry is wonderful to watch.

Grace, the newest member of the team, is well-written and perfectly cast as a skilled international spy, but is completely out of her depth when her life - and the fate of the world - is on the line. Her growth is natural and cathartic and the audience is rooting for her to succeed.

Tom Cruise truly is one of the few action hero superstars of our time. In the last couple of years, he has helmed two of the most entertaining blockbusters audiences have seen in a very, very long time. Both films take legacy characters and build upon them, upping the stakes and allowing our hero to make choices consistent with their character and arc. And with both critical acclaim and smashing the box office, maybe the film industry could take some notes from Mr. Cruise.

It goes without saying the stunt work, location filming, and grand scale of this film is breathtaking. There are some pacing issues and awkward leans into comedy, but overall, Dead Reckoning is the exhilarating tension-filled ride we've all been aching for and a welcome departure from the rushed CGI worlds we've endured in recent times.

Although it's a two-parter, the film has its own ending, and sets up perfectly for the next one.

And I can't wait.

I watched the previous films to prepare for this, but turns out Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is set in 1994 so although I relived some unapologetically outrageous 2000s filmmaking, it provides no relevant backstory to this movie.

ROTB spends a lot of time in Brooklyn baby! With its human characters and tends to drag on about the struggles of main character Noah, introducing his ill younger brother and shady neighbourhood buddy. Enter the museum intern who happens upon an artefact which gives us a map to find this key thing.

We get to see some stunning robot action sequences as well, which is probably the closest feeling you'll get to the original 1986 animated movie. The Transformers, Maximals and bad guys all look amazing. The voice work is both personable and commanding, and well-executed by all involved. Pete Davidson shines as Mirage. Peter Cullen is Optimus. We see Optimus in a way we're not used to, and it's oddly refreshing although I missed his overt leadership and kick-assery.

While there's a whole lot of conveniences that push the story along, there appears to be at least some effort in making the characters realistic enough to not render them absolute morons or overly powered/awesome.

It's a lot of fun and definitely has the original 1986 movie vibe.

Unicron is terrifying. Make sure you're in a cinema with the best sound possible.