jordanand94

In a franchise comprised of 5 films now (7 if you include the AVPs), this film is a unique outlier to what normally would have run its course as a fifth film in a franchise. If you are a fan of the franchise, you will definitely appreciate how the Predator's armor is a bit different than what we are used to from previous entries, given that this is set 300 years before the original film and so it is a little less technology advanced, but still very effective. The two main characters are easy to root for, something I found difficult to do with "Predators". With the shorter runtime and the quick pace of the story, the movie never drags on one bit. The ending of the film I was somewhat dissatisfied with, I didn't feel it had much payoff and was very predictable, but other than that I didn't really have problems with the film. There is an atmosphere of suspense that is reminiscent of the original film, and the film delivers on what makes the antagonist so formidable, the violence simply doesn't hold back. The film is also unique in that it shows the Predator's interaction with non-human life forms on Earth, and some of it was rather disturbing, just as a heads up to any animal lovers out there. I think if anyone compares this to the original or even "Predator 2" (if you highly enjoy the latter), you might be disappointed, but if you enjoy it as it's own thing you will be satisfied. Fun film!

Saw the premiere of this film through Sundance online and wow, this film was magnificent. I had never heard of Valerie Taylor before but was intrigued by the synopsis I read online; long story short, Taylor's relationship with sharks started with spear fishing and she was very notable in her native Australia for it, but she and her husband put an end to their spear fishing days after they realized it was wrong. After Taylor's epiphany moment from killing one shark in particular, she and her husband instead became ambassadors to sharks and advocates for their conservation. They helped revolutionize and change society's interpretations of sharks as a whole and helped society sway away from the social construct that they are soulless, killing machines. Despite this though, as the documentary points out, we still have a long way to go to giving sharks the protection they truly deserve. Through gorgeous cinematography and great storytelling, the film achieves what it aims to.

I was very excited to see this film and it certainly did not disappoint. A film of this kind is as relevant as they come and is up there in the ranks of other films with similar themes this year, such as Blindspotting and Black KkKlansman.

Manny, played by Hamilton's Anthony Ramos, records and looks on helplessly as his friend (who is African American) is shot and killed by the police. The killing has a ripple effect on the community and a plethora of citizens make their voices heard on the matter. Manny is just a family man who is trying his best to get by and provide for his family, but he ultimately puts his future in jeopardy to raise awareness of his friend's death.

John David Washington portrays Dennis Williams, a black police officer who has himself received questionable treatment from other police officers while off duty. He understands people being upset about the police killing, but he also feels that those people don't understand what it is like to be a cop, what it's like "out on the streets." The decision to have a black police officer as one of the lead characters was a great idea, as we get more than just one perspective.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. portrays Zyrick, a young and promising baseball player who decides to get involved in the fight by raising his voice along with so many others. Zyrick's father's desire is for him to reach baseball stardom, to leave the cruel streets behind him and achieve his wildest dreams, to not wind up shot on the streets like the man mentioned. This film is really about three characters and how their lives transpire after the shooting, and Zyrick was probably my favorite.

The ending to this film was the icing on the cake, brilliantly conveyed. There were several scenes in the film that emitted so much power, and the performances were fantastic. This film isn't one-sided and that's what I love about it; you get the story told from a police officer and from people on the other side. If you want to see a human story and a relevant theme told from different perspectives, go see this.