Kraven the Hunter

The latest entry in the Spider-Man adjacent movies, Kraven delivers on super-hero based action, broad predictable characters and a by-the-numbers plot.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson delivers a solid performance, with an impressive amount of physicality. Russell Crowe is better than in Thor: Love and Thunder. The other cast members provide adequate performances.

Alas, the same cannot be said for Ariane DeBose (Calypso), whose delivery is so wooden that it caused open laughter in the theatre. The same is true for the woman playing her grandmother, though she at least had the excuse of having a massive exposition dump in 3 minutes of screen time.

Credit to Sony for persevering with this cinematic universe despite its lacklustre performance.

It's far from a disaster. While the dialogue occasionally veers into awkward territory, and not the greatest CGI, the film delivers well-executed action sequences that keep the momentum going. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is particularly impressive, showcasing both physical prowess and screen presence, further cementing his status as a compelling action star.

The second half does feel a bit rushed, but at just 120 minutes, the filmmakers seems to just want to quickly wrap things up. That said, this story might have worked even better as a mini-series, giving more time to flesh out characters like Dimitri and Calypso. A longer look at Sergei's transformation into Kraven during his isolation in Far Eastern Russia could've added more depth and made his journey feel even more impactful.

It's a very decent movie for a Saturday night with your brain in park. Just don't take it so seriously. Definitely worth a watch just because of Aaron Taylor-Johnson's wild action sequences. No pun intended.

I think Kraven achieved everything it wanted to achieve, and I'm surprised to say I don't hate it. It's a simple "turn your brain off and enjoy" kind of action movie. I came in expecting something corny and repetitive from "marvel's fantasy mafia movie"; and while there were a lot of awkward character writing and inconsistent pacing - as well as janky CGI - I was pleasantly surprised to see several attempts at deeper themes and a decent art direction. Its simplicity keeps the whole thing cohesive and easy to follow. There was no point in the movie where I was completely taken out by the story direction, or felt like there were loose ends and plot holes. It's solid, simple, and a bit boring. All in all, I give it a 7 for being a little better than mid.

This was a great popcorn movie, I really enjoyed it! It had some good humor, and I liked that Kraven went after bad guys. I didn't know anything about the character or story beforehand, so it was all new to me. I was surprised that Kraven wasn't the only enhanced human (Rhino, Foreigner), but it just made it a bit more interesting.

I am bothered by how many people denigrated Ariana Debose, who was fine with what she was given. Fred Hechinger (who was also on Gladiator II) was decent as the brother.

Was it perfect? Heck no. But it was much better than I expected! It is a fun movie to see, better than many out there. Oh, and shockingly no extra scene during or after the credits!

Sony's Spider-Man Universe doesn't go with a bang, but a whimper. "Kraven the Hunter" is clichéd at all turns. ATJ tries to make the most of it, yet the script holds it back. Action is a bit fun at times, but it's muddled with much pompous exposition.

The movie is kinda fun when Johnson is in action causing bloody chaos but everything else is a drag. Great cast held back by clunky dull dialogue. The script is simply bad and a waste of Aaron Taylor Johnson, who I actually enjoyed in the role. Another instance of a villain turned hero. A story that lacks any intrigue. Rhino and Chameleon are wasted as I expected.

"'Kraven the Hunter" was probably a solid 2004's action movie at one point, but the usual Sony antics are all here. Painful ADR, choppy editing, and tons of lifeless CGI animals!

Dare to say, this is one of the most soulless modern comicbook movies. It is exactly the film you'd expect at this point. The film doesn't understand a single character it tries to adapt to screen and the whole movie often feels created by AI.

It is better than "Madame Web" and "Venom: The Last Dance" which isn't saying much, but if this is the end of the Sony Spider-Man-less universe, at least I'm glad it's over.