Austin Action Fest & Market

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Action Movie Critique

Action Addicts “Better Man” Review – Worth a Watch or Skip the monkey show?

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I checked out “Better Man,” a Robbie Williams biopic featuring a CG monkey – quite unexpected for me. It’s not my typical action-packed movie, but it was actually pretty good!

Content and Themes: This film isn’t for kids; it deals with heavy stuff like drug abuse, abortion, and the complexities of young love, mixed with a lot of adult language. It really focuses on the influence a father can have and dives deep into Robbie’s personal struggles, including imposter syndrome and the loneliness of fame. A great watch if you want to get your kids into the entertainment industry though.

Technical Aspects: The movie’s editing and cutting were top-notch, playing with time and perspective in a way that keeps you guessing. The match cuts were epic. The dance sequences were standout, and there was this bizarre, symbolic battle scene that felt like something out of “Sucker Punch.”

Performance and Production: The acting, singing, and overall production were on point. It was well-directed and had moments that really hit you in the feels, especially with how they portrayed Robbie’s relationship with his father. This movie really presses hard on why kids need their dad and the damage it can do to the young psyche when he’s not around.

Recommendation: I give “Better Man” 4 out of 5 blades. Definitely worth a watch in theaters, even for someone like me who usually goes for action. It made me see Robbie Williams in a new light.

Audience and Engagement: If you’ve seen it, let us know what you think. Find the video above and comment on it. And don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to help this channel grow. The more we grow, the more movies we can review for y’all.

Violence Conductor out!

Kraven..Sony’s best? Or worse than Madame and Morbius?

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Alright, so I went to watch “Kraven the Hunter,” and I gotta say, this movie tries to bring one of Spider-Man’s most iconic villains to life but ends up falling flat on its face. It’s set in this weird, Spider-Man-less universe, which already feels like a big miss because Kraven’s whole deal is hunting Spider-Man. The movie promises action and drama but gives us a disjointed mess with some uninspired acting.

Plot and Characters:

  • The plot is supposed to be about Kraven’s origin, but without Spider-Man, his motivation and character development just don’t land. They’ve tried to make him some kind of animal rights activist, which is like, dude, this ain’t Kraven; he’s supposed to be a hunter, not a PETA member.
  • Characters like Calypso and Rhino are there, but they’re about as flat as a pancake. The chemistry between Kraven and Calypso? Non-existent. It’s like watching two strangers who’ve been told to pretend they’re in love for the camera.

Action and Visuals:

  • Now, the action, that’s where the movie kinda shines. There are some cool fight scenes where Kraven goes all beast mode, but the CGI? It’s like they forgot they had a budget. The animal sequences look like they’re from a video game from 2005.
  • Visually, they were aiming for something grand, but the execution feels off. The tone is all over the place, and there are moments where the special effects make you cringe rather than immerse you in the story.

Acting and Dialogue:

  • Aaron Taylor-Johnson does what he can, but the script doesn’t help him out. The dialogue feels like it’s explaining everything to an audience they think is too dumb to follow along. And don’t get me started on the voiceovers; it’s like they couldn’t decide what to do, so they just slapped some dubbing over scenes.
  • The villains are more Saturday morning cartoon than menacing, and trying to make Kraven an anti-hero was a swing and a miss, taking away what makes him compelling in the comics.

Criticism:

  • My biggest gripe is how they handled the source material. Without Spider-Man, Kraven’s story just doesn’t hold up. It’s like trying to make a Batman movie without Gotham; it’s just not the same.
  • They threw a lot of money at this, but where did it go? Not into making the CGI believable or the plot coherent, that’s for sure.

Rating:

  • On my 5-blade scale, I’m giving “Kraven the Hunter” just 1.5 blades. The action was the only saving grace, but the rest? From the story to the character depth, it’s a disappointment.

Conclusion:

“Kraven the Hunter” was a chance to dive deep into one of Marvel’s more fascinating villains, but they dropped the ball. It’s watchable if you’re just there for the action, but don’t expect much else. Save your money for a matinee or wait until it’s on a streaming service.