Monday Movie: “The Road”

After an unknown cause destroys civilization on Earth, leaving only a handful of humans alive, an ailing father tries desperately to protect his son from the violence and dangers of the road as they journey toward the sea. Along the way they struggle to find food, clothes, and are constantly hiding from the horrific cannibals who have been born from the need for food. All the while, the father (Viggo Mortensen) tries to instruct the boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) about the world that existed prior and how they can be “the good guys,” in such a dark and horrible place.

The Road, based on Cormac McCarthy’s book of the same name, does as much justice to the source material as a movie could. Through the use of color, setting, and the superb acting of the leads, director John Hillcoat expresses the tension between the nihilistic and the hopeful that McCarthy so powerfully weighs in his novel. The Road will have your stomach in knots from the opening scene until the credits roll and after, as the movie’s grim and dark presence resonates.

Viggo’s performance as the man, and Kodi’s performance as the boy, are the highlights of the movie as much as they are the focus of the book. The desperation of the father mixed with the rather surprising optimism of the boy are showcased wonderfully through the two lead actors. Quotations and dialogues are quoted directly from the source material which gives fans of the book, like me, reminders of where the story is and where it’s going.

The Road’s dark and depressing undertones make it not a movie for everyone. The dead and dying world met only by the smallest hope of the boy give little sense of redemption. However, The Road is a challenging movie worthy of attention as it puts life into perspective and forces the viewer to answer tough questions about its meaning just like McCarthy’s book. The Road is a dark one, but not one that leaves the viewer hopeless and stranded, but that does carry the viewer with the father and son through their perilous journey. 

Cormac McCarthy’s book The Road is available in the Logos.

Monday Movie: “Mortal Kombat”

When the evil Shang Tsung threatens to invade Earth with a band of malicious warriors, it is up to an unlikely crew of champions to stand against him in Mortal Kombat. In that cast of champions are former MMA champion Cole Young, Special Forces operatives Jax and Sonya Blade, arms dealer Kano, and two Shaolin monks Liu Kang and Kung Lao. Together with the help of thunder god Lord Raiden, this team will have to put aside their differences to save Earth from Shang Tsung and his dangerous assassin Sub-Zero.

Mortal Kombat is based on the arcade fighting game from the 90’s whose gore and blood led to the creation of the ESRB video game content rating system. While holding true to most of the characters, Mortal Kombat takes some liberties surrounding the story and adds character Cole Young. As with any video game movie, this addition may cause some fans to be nervous; but not to worry, all the favorites from the game (minus Johnny Cage who is unfortunately absent) are present in full force.

Mortal Kombat may be one of the best video game movies ever filmed. Staying true to its roots, all the major characters are present and their costume and casting choices feel true to their video game counterparts. Kano, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion shine brightest here while Raiden, Reptile, and Shang Tsung lack some of the traits that made their video game characters so memorable. Beyond that, each character performs brutal attacks based on their game’s attacks, special moves, and, yes, fatalities. Mortal Kombat delivers on the blood and gore that fans of the series are quick to associate with it. That being said, I found the violence to be rather tame on the whole, and it is certainly less graphic and gory than the games themselves.

Where Mortal Kombat breaks from its roots it does so carefully and thoughtfully. The addition of Cole Young does not take away from any of the other major characters, but allows them to all focus around him. His story is simple, uncomplicated, and just what it needs to be to fit him in the world of Mortal Kombat. There is an addition of a “mark” that grants those who have it power, some changes in character backstory, and other small things that differ from the games, but not in a large enough way to distract fans.

Mortal Kombat is a great movie for fans of the series. They will be impressed with the costumes and a new take on the classic story. And they will certainly enjoy the violence along with classic lines like, “flawless victory,” and Scorpion’s famous, “GET OVER HERE!”

That being said, viewers who are not fans of the game may not appreciate Mortal Kombat. There is much that is supposed to be understood about the world that non-fans may not grasp and there will be significantly less attachment to the characters. Beyond this, the, at times, consistent profanity and violence makes Mortal Kombat not suitable for children. Instead, the movie is designed for fans of the video game series who are used to its mature themes.

Mortal Kombat is rated R for strong, bloody violence and language throughout, and some crude references.

*written by Brennan Kress

Monday Movie: “The Dark Knight”

When Gotham City’s crimelords find themselves cornered by district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), police chief Gordon (Gary Oldman), and the vigilante the Batman (Christian Bale), they turn to Gotham’s newest villain, a maddened man who dresses like a clown and calls himself Joker (Heath Ledger). Now with the Joker threatening to tear Gotham apart, it’s up to Batman to risk everything to save his city.

The Dark Knight earns its place as one of the best superhero movies, and one of the best movies period, ever made. Christopher Nolan proves again that he is one of the greatest directors of this generation. On top of this, performances from all the major characters are stellar from start to finish and the fast pace of the movie keeps viewers engaged through all one hundred and fifty minutes. Of course, Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker is legendary.

So what is there left to say about such a great movie? The Dark Knight, above all else that it does so well, provides a powerfully Christian theme that should not be lost on its Christian viewers.

Warning: spoilers ahead.

The entire movie is built around a phrase that Harvey Dent says early on: “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Gotham is destroyed by the Joker and only three heroes, Dent, Gordon, and Batman, stand against him. 

Joker is a symbol of total chaos and anarchy. He wants nothing but to cause pain and frustration and to bring the heroes down to his level. Certainly, there is something satanic in the fact that Joker is there to point out and accuse Gotham’s leaders of their hidden crimes and their inability to stop him. In the end, Joker even turns Harvey Dent into a villain in the form of Two-Face. After Dent is unintentionally killed in a battle with the Batman, Gordon realizes that Gotham will lose hope. Dent, their hero, has become a villain. In this moment, Batman tells Gordon to blame him for all the crimes Dent committed while he was Two-Face so that Gotham can keep their hero, and so the movie ends with everyone chasing Batman into the night.

This is an incredible picture of the Gospel. When Satan tempted mankind to sin, man fell. This is symbolized in Joker exploiting and defeating Harvey, who literally falls to his death. But when all hope seemed lost, Christ bears the sins of others, even though he himself is innocent, and dies for them, just as Batman bears the blame of Harvey’s sins even though he didn’t commit them. In this way, The Dark Knight is one of the most powerful examples of the Gospel in modern cinema and should be recommended to teenage and older Christians.

The Dark Knight is available in the Logos.

Monday Movie: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”

In the small island town of Chewandswallow, young Flint Lockwood (Bill Hader) dreams of being an inventor. However, all of his projects end in disaster, until one day Flint invents a machine that turns water into food. Now, this small town that was stuck eating only sardines becomes a tourist haven as food literally rains from the sky. However, all of Flint’s new fame may turn on its head as the machine that makes the food slowly goes out of control.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is one of my favorite movies of all time (albeit for nostalgic reasons). Flint Lockwood is a lovable underdog who wrestles with his sudden change from being the town’s fool, and his father’s disappointment, to a hero. All the while he is still the awkward genius even as he tries to flirt with Sam Sparks (Anna Faris), a weather girl who has arrived on the island to bring the news of the raining food to the rest of the world, and who is also a hidden “nerd.” Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is at its best as it dives into these two characters. Flint, though the protagonist, never overpowers Sam or vice versa. And their budding relationship is one of the focal points of the film.

The other major relationship arc is between Flint and his father, Tim Lockwood (James Caan). who struggles to relate to his genius son after the passing of his mother. Still, this down-to-Earth fisherman slowly learns how to show his love and appreciation to his talented son.

Beyond these more touching moments, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs shines in its comedic roles. The characters are fun, over the top, and bring a distinct charm all their own. Some of the standouts are school bully and child sensation “Baby” Brent (Andy Samburg), the villainous town mayor (Bruce Campbell) and the lovable yet fierce police officer Earl (Mr. T). All of these characters make Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs consistently entertaining and, at points, laugh-out-loud funny.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs stands out as a funny and yet heartfelt children’s movie that is perfect for the entire family. Not only does it entertain, but it also inspires and encourages while teaching a valuable lesson in the power of determination, family, and remaining true to oneself.

The book Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, from which the movie found its inspiration, is available in the Logos.

Monday Movie: “Wonder Woman 1984”

!Minor Spoilers Ahead!

When con-man turned businessman Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) stumbles upon a powerful artifact that grants powerful wishes, his desire for riches takes a terrible turn. Now armed with this power to grant wishes (and take what he wants in return), Maxwell Lord seeks world domination, leaving Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) as the only one who can stand against his evil goals.

Wonder Woman 1984 is a sequel to the acclaimed 2017 movie Wonder Woman. Now almost seventy years since the events of the first movie, Wonder Woman struggles to cope with the loss of her love, Steve Trevor. But now through the power of the wish, Wonder Woman receives Trevor back, although in a different body (still played by Chris Pine). However, the wish always takes something and so Wonder Woman begins to lose her powers. And so she has to make a choice between her love and her power to save the world.

Wonder Woman 1984 offers a compelling story that is different from most of the superhero movies that have been released recently. Instead of focusing on some monster villain like Thanos or Darkseid, this movie focuses on a lonely man and single father whose ambition overwhelms his judgement. That being said, this sequel lacks some of the hard hitting action that makes superhero movies so entertaining. 

The movie also provides an interesting backstory to the super-villain Cheetah (played by Kristen Wiig). Wiig does a great job playing the quirky Barbara Minerva, but then she allows herself to show the character’s darker side by the end.

However, the slower plot, the odd and somewhat forced inclusion of Steve Trevor, and the lack of a threatening villain puts this sequel lower than the original. But for fans of superheroes and Wonder Woman in particular, it is still a movie worth checking out.

*written by Brennan Kress

Monday Movie: “Zack Snyder’s Justice League”

*Minor spoiler warning*

After the death of Superman, three mysterious, ancient relics known as Mother Boxes begin to awaken, summoning an evil villain from another world. This monster, Steppenwolf, comes to Earth with one purpose: to unite the mother boxes which will destroy the world and all life on it. Now it is up to Batman and Wonderwoman to find heroes on Earth strong enough to defeat Steppenwolf. 

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is the director’s cut of the 2017 theatrical release of the movie. Though the movie focuses around the same superheroes, and has the same villain, the Snyder cut offers a completely different experience than the 2017 cut. For starters, this cut is the original vision of the movie, and keeps the tone dark and violent, and so earning its R rating. The 2017 movie (finished and edited by Joss Whedon) made the Justice League more like the Avengers, constantly cracking jokes, having random pop culture references, and keeping the overall tone light. But the Snyder cut does away with much of this. The tone remains dark, focusing all humor around one comic relief character in the form of the Flash. This keeps the movie intense and enjoyable from start to finish. The stakes are made more clear and this version of Steppenwolf (who got a new model and voice) is greatly improved from the 2017 version. 

The Snyder cut focuses more heavily on developing the characters, and each superhero does undergo change. This is especially true for Cyborg, who provides much of the emotional progress in the story. Batman is also a focus, after having watched his friend Superman die (at the end of the 2016 movie Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice), he feels guilt and believes forming this league is the only way to redeem himself. This leads Batman away from his normal hyper-reasoning personality to a person who takes risks on faith. This may sound untrue to Batman’s character, but the move is done slowly and by the end Batman is still just as believable as when the movie started.

Almost every aspect of Snyder’s Justice League is an improvement on the prior version. However, there are a few things that may turn viewers away. To start the movie is darker, and though it is not as violent as other rated-R superhero movies (like Logan or Deadpool) it has its share of violence and language. But, the main thing that may keep some from watching it is its length. While the 2017 movie clocked in at a nice manageable 2 hours, the Snyder cut goes just over 4. There is no understating that this movie is long; so long it might require multiple viewings in order to finish. The length comes from the fact that Snyder includes almost every cut he filmed. There is more character development, more side plots, longer battle sequences, and just more Justice League. The movie is separated into six parts, each one around half an hour or so, with an epilogue.

At times the pacing, though done well, feels like characters spend time doing unessential things. However, if someone is a fan of the Justice League, it is well worth the long run-time with enough action, easter eggs, and other incredible moments. Sadly, there are aspects that will be lost since there does not seem to be plans for more Justice League movies. The epilogue (which is essentially a collection of four post-credit scenes) reminds fans of what could have been: showing Deathstroke, who would have been the main villain for a Batman movie with Ben Affleck, a reveal of the Martian Manhunter, who would have been in the next Justice League, and a call back to Jared Leto’s Joker. Each of these scenes promises something that, unfortunately, will never be delivered.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is the definitive edition of the movie, which warrants its long and often tedious run time. But true fans of his work, and of the superheroes involved, will enjoy every minute of this great film.

*written by Brennan Kress

Monday Movie: “Sherlock Holmes”

When evil criminal Lord Henry Blackwood is finally caught and executed, all of England rests peacefully. That is, until he comes back from the dead to terrorize England all over again. This time, it is up to detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his partner Dr. John Watson (Jude Law) to uncover the mystery surrounding Blackwood’s supposed resurrection and to apprehend the wanted criminal.

Sherlock Holmes is a masterful mystery, full of wit, humor, and charm, and no small amount of action and character. Robert Downey Jr. shines as the classic character, portraying the genius as impressively cunning and witty, and yet socially awkward and a rather bad friend at times to Dr. Watson. He balances his extreme intelligence and deductive skills with a rather oblivious social character who many times, though he can see how a fight will go before it happens, can’t see how his words and actions will affect his relationships.

This is where Watson is such a good partner. An intellectual lesser to Holmes, Watson possesses the relational ability Holmes lacks. While he loves the adventure that traveling with Holmes brings, Watson really just wants to settle down and marry his fiance Mary. However, this marriage will take Watson away from Holmes, something Holmes doesn’t want, which leads to a rather awkward love triangle that persists throughout the movie. Thankfully, this tension causes both characters to grow.

Sherlock Holmes works as a perfect mystery, as Holmes deduces sometimes absurd conclusions from limited data throughout his pursuit of Blackwood. At the same time, Sherlock Holmes offers enough actions and twists to keep audiences engaged throughout. However, younger audiences may not be able to follow the entirety of the intricate plot and might not enjoy Sherlock Holmes as much as other action movies. For older audiences, Sherlock Holmes is likely Downey Jr.’s best performance outside of Iron Man, and one of the best mystery movies of the 2000’s.

Sherlock Holmes is available in the Logos.

Monday Movie: “Penguins of Madagascar”

When the villainous octopus Dave threatens to kidnap every penguin on Earth, it’s up to the hilarious squad of Skipper, Kowalski, Private, and Rico to uncover his plot and stop his evil schemes. But this time, the ever-innovative group of penguin spies will be joined by an elite task force of animal spies known as The North Wind. Led by the wolf Classified (Benedict Cumberbatch), the penguins and the North Wind must put aside their differences in order to save all penguins.

Penguins of Madagascar acts as a spin-off from the original Madagascar trilogy. Taking place directly after the third installment in the franchise, this movie showcases the penguins’ departure from their own group in search of their own adventure. And they soon find it, as they are attacked by the evil Dave, and must escape his slimy tentacles.

As a spin-off, Penguins of Madagascar does delve deeper into the dynamic of the penguins who act as a place of comic relief in the other movies. Now with their own time to shine, the characters are fleshed out even more. This includes a short backstory where the audience can see how the penguins left the South Pole to come to New York.

However, Penguins of Madagascar diverts from the model of the other three movies in a serious way. Where the first movie focused on the animals as animals, this movie personifies them all the more. By having a team of animal spies, and having the villain being an octopus who can somehow make himself look like a person, the movie becomes even more unbelievable than the previous ones. In this way, Penguins of Madagascar is less like its predecessors and more like Despicable Me or Megamind.

Because of this, Penguins of Madagascar, though funny and entertaining throughout, fails, I think, to deliver the same originality and humor of the original Madagascar movie. This is also true of the sequels of that movie. It seems this is an attempt at revitalizing a series that should have stuck with the first movie.

Penguins of Madagascar is rated PG.

Monday Movie: “School of Rock”

When rockstar wannabe Dewey Finn (Jack Black) gets kicked out of his band, he needs to find a way to make money to pay rent. When the opportunity arises, Dewey impersonates his friend to become a substitute teacher at a private elementary school. There, he discovers the musical talent of the students in his class, and instead of teaching them their normal work, he converts the classroom into a band.

School of Rock offers a hilarious story of a man down on his luck who tries to make his own through the American ideal of rock and roll. The movie does a great job of combining two sub-genres, the classic trope of the struggling musician trying to find his way, and the teacher who tries to ignite passion and determination in his or her students. And School of Rock plays both parts well, exploring Jack Black’s character and the characters of the students equally while also having a “stick it to the man” undertone.

School of Rock lives up to the title by supplying many references to classic rock from the 70’s and 80’s. Instead of handing out homework, Dewey hands out CDs of classic rock bands. He teaches the students how to play guitar, keyboard, and bass not like their classical teachers have, but as rockstars. And with each student, Dewey gives a unique role to participate so that each can shine. In this way, School of Rock shows the value of not treating every student the same, but recognizing the gifts and abilities of each and empowering them to pursue those in their own way.

And School of Rock has no shortage of humor. The kids in the class are almost as witty and funny as the star, Jack Black, who carries the movie as certainly the most dynamic character. Being in a rock band himself, Jack Black barely has to act as his love for music shines clearly.

In this way, School of Rock is a light-hearted homage to the transformative power of classic rock. Ignoring the more mature aspects that rock and roll influenced, School of Rock does showcase the power of music to influence, empower, and motivate people to pursue their dreams and passions. It is a movie that parents and kids alike will enjoy, since one major underlying message is that through hard work and determination anything is achievable. And that theme can be summarized in a statement Dewey (and AC/DC) make: “It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.”

*written by Brennan Kress

Monday Movie: “Rango”

When a pet lizard is lost in an accident, the poor creature must journey through the desert of Nevada until he comes upon a small animal town of Dirt. There he has a choice: which identity will he take on in this new place? Naming himself Rango, the lizard (Johnny Depp) inadvertently becomes the sheriff of the small town. Soon the town experiences a crisis: the bank has run out of water, and now with only days to survive, Rango must unravel the mystery and find a new source of water to save the town.

Rango is a strange children’s movie that takes an interesting look at the Western genre. One part Mad Max and the other part Over The Hedge, Rango rides a line between action and comedy. The character of Rango himself (unnamed before he gives himself the moniker) is a bold and confident though wildly cowardly and naive protagonist. And yet the would-be-actor lizard becomes a very lovable character as he steps into the persona he makes for himself.

In terms of other characters, Rango flirts with a resident lizard named Beans (Isla Fisher) and makes friends with several of the town’s people. In terms of opponents, Rango delivers, having a villain in the form of the massive and intimidating “Rattlesnake Jake” (Bill Nighy), a huge snake with a gatling gun for a tail.

In terms of plot, Rango is relatively easy to follow with a twist and turn here and there to keep the action moving. The animation style is rather unusual. Instead of using bright colors and having a vibrant world, the animals are mostly colored as their real-life selves would be in mixtures of browns, blacks, and greys. On top of this the setting of a desert creates a rather bland world that is brought to life through Rango’s appearance.

Because of the animation style, some children might not find the movie as enjoyable. The animation and overall tone is rather dark, and the subplot of living up to your name might be lost on some children. Seeing it as a child, I remember not liking it too much, but as an adult I found it more enjoyable. 

Rango might look rather shallow at first glance, but provides a rather deep story, centered around a lizard who tries his best to blend in when he should stand out. Because of this, children may not be interested in the rather scary looking animals and their hunt for water, but teenagers and older may appreciate the subtler themes more.

Rango is rated PG for for rude humor, language, action and smoking.