Terryweaverjr

Story ~ ⭐ 6/10 The story ... the story ... well I'm still trying to find the story, and this is a real problem. Walking out of the theater, I felt like I'd just crawled out of a dryer. Disoriented and confused was my general feeling, not from trying to figure the movie out, but really understanding what Alex Garland (the writer) was attempting. I believe he's an adept storyteller, from his past work, but this one wasn't his finest.

The main downfall was trying to do too much. And this likely falls equally on the director. When a movie tries to do too much, it fails at the fundamentals, the cornerstone being a well-told story. That's where this across-the-pond, punk-influenced, zombie of a story failed.

Acting ~ ⭐ 8.5/10 The acting is the movie's greatest strength. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Alfie Williams were fantastic. Aaron had the most dynamic performance. They are only clouded by the story, and that's why great acting cannot save a story. The story is the foundation.

Cinematography ~ ⭐ 6.0/10 The cinematography struggled for the same reason as the story: it tried to do too much. There were beautiful shots, amazing shots, images I'm sure are framed somewhere because of their beauty, and for good reason. And then there were shots that a kid could have captured. The director overemphasized style and novelty, and created a gumbo soup with things that just don't work, leaving a bad taste in the ol' eye palette.

Recommendation: I watched this because the trailer was so intriguing, but left the theater disappointed. I think the zombie heads and the established fans are inflating its ratings, but those will settle much lower when it reaches the masses. The worst part of this film was the ending, another British-inspired gumbo that was ... well, terrible in my opinion.

Pass on the theater and watch it at home, only if you're a zombie head.

Story ~ ⭐ 5.5/10

The writer forgot to close some story lines, and when you do that, you leave the audience wanting. The movie is a negative character arc for both Robinson and Rudd, and that's depressing, especially without meaning or something else to grab onto. Yes, it was funny, at times, but it was drowned out by a sea of not enough audience payoff. Clever ending, not really.

Acting ~ ⭐ 7.0/10

Robinson is doing Robinson and Rudd is doing Rudd. Expanding on Rudd, it seems he has some acting tic he can't shake that's turned him into a cliché; it's something in his face, like an invisible string keeps him from doing something different. At times, Robinson's slapstick, especially the scene with the Vietnam hat-wearing overactor, degenerated into a yelling match that should have been left with the editor. My 7 for acting is generous, thanks to Kate Mara, who delivered the most talent and nuance by far.

Cinematography ~ ⭐ 7.5/10

Nothing special here, but not bad either. Sorry, I can't offer more.

Recommendation: This is uncomfortable, awkward humor. If you like that, rent it, but pass on the theater run.

Story ~ ⭐ 7.5/10 Okay, the story was pretty cool, a little self-serving at the outset, slick, slow to get going, and well ... pretty good. They had all the necessary elements for an epic action thriller. Plenty of twists/surprises/etc., but this is one of the rare occasions where the acting/cinematography/stunts and the myriad of really cool stuff like nuclear aircraft carriers, submarines, fighter jets, Marine One, and all the other things that went into the film made the story better. Usually, the story is the ceiling, but not this time.

Acting ~ ⭐ 8.5/10 Tom Cruise is top-notch. He didn't become the biggest actor in the world because he can run fast and look good on camera. He's really good at his craft. The genre limited his performance, but he maximized his arena. His supporting actors did great, but it was the bit actors I noticed lacked a little. Small roles, but they could have figured that out too. His supporting actors with big roles did fine, especially the leading female.

Cinematography ~ ⭐ 9/10 This film is a massive spectacle that is beautifully captured. The images were immersive, and the cinematography was one of the film's best qualities. The action scenes were killer, and the underwater scenes were mind-boggling. But it was the in-flight sequences that were unbelievably good.

Commentary: Tom Cruise is a bad dude who deserves much respect. His scale and abilities are hard to comprehend. This movie is a must-watch in theaters. Not only is Cruise the biggest movie star alive, but he's also done a ton for the film industry, and you can tell he loves it. I have friends who've worked with him, and they absolutely rave about him, especially his on-set leadership. I'm astonished by his capabilities, longevity, and the scale of his thinking. This guy is a national treasure.

P. S. Make sure to clip your nails before you see this movie, otherwise you'll chew them off.