Cinema

The 10 WORST Movies of the 2020s (2020-2024)

Posted on by Jack Drees

Hey everyone, Jack Drees here! If you have followed this blog for a long time, you would know that I enjoy doing recaps of my best and worst films of the year once that specific period comes to a close. 2024 is no different. But when 2020 started, I also put out my best and worst films of the 2010s. I did two separate countdowns and I had a lot of fun doing those. I figured given how we are halfway through the decade, why not do a halftime report? This is not going to be as grand as the countdowns I did recapping the entire 2010s. There is no video content on top of everything else. I figured I would keep the summaries simple and as much to point as possible. For this list, I am going to be talking about the 10 worst films throughout the first half of the 2020s per my opinion. Few reminders, this is a subjective list based on movies I have seen. The movies also have to be theatrical releases. No streaming exclusives, no straight to DVD titles, no straight to TV titles. Well, actually, there is one exception to that rule, and I will explain why when I get to it. Also, this list is going to be in alphabetical order. I figured since there is a chance that I could do a 10 year recap in 2030, I will maintain some mystery and not rank my worst films of the decade from most tolerable to least tolerable or vice versa. With that in mind, let’s get straight to the list. No honorable mentions, just the 10 stinkers right off the bat! These are the 10 WORST movies of first half of the 2020s.

Borderlands (2024)

I have played my fair share of video games, although I have never played any of the “Borderlands” titles. After seeing the “Borderlands” movie, I am not sure if I have any plans to play any of those games given the bad taste this film left in my mouth. This film is essentially “Guardians of the Galaxy” if you allowed someone who lacked the competence of James Gunn to oversee it. This film has green screen backgrounds that are about as real as Bigfoot. It also has special effects that would perhaps be barely tolerable in the early 2000s. To have these effects now is almost a criminal offense! This film has a lot of big stars in it like Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Hart. But the bigger the names are, the harder this movie falls. Trust me when I say, this movie shook the ground with its lack of quality. Did I mention Jack Black’s horribly realized voice performance as Claptrap? Jack Black has at least one tolerable video game movie on his resume, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” and he was easily the highlight of said film as Bowser. So it is only fitting he has a movie on the opposite side of the spectrum that comes off as a fine example of the video game adaptation curse.

Cinderella (2021)

One of my favorite comedies of the 2010s was “Blockers,” directed by Kay Cannon. I was excited to see whatever she would pump out next. I did not think it would be something as bad as “Cinderella.” This film is kind of a parody on the “Cinderella” tale. It is a jukebox musical that takes a satirical approach on the formula, but the problem is the movie is simply not that funny. I do not remember laughing once throughout the entire runtime. As much as I do not want to be on his enemies list, this film has something in common with a lot of other movies I did not enjoy in recent years. Specifically, the presence of James Corden. I do not know who his agent is, but I think his resume suggests that he could probably find a better one between this film, “The Emoji Movie,” and “Cats” just to name a few. I do not know if he is just wasted or simply not that funny. I never really watched his late night show when it was on. If I were up at that hour, chances are I would be watching “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” Just my personal taste. As a musical, I was barely entertained by some of the numbers at best, perhaps straight up annoyed at worst. Conceptually, this film has promise by setting a character like Cinderella in a modern society where women are more independent, but as far as the execution goes, I thought it could have been better. I still like Kay Cannon though and I am curious to see what she does next.

Dolittle (2020)

After many years of being the dominant face in the MCU, Robert Downey Jr. moved onto his first big project following the gargantuan success of “Avengers: Endgame,” and let’s just say the movie did very little to impress me. “Dolittle” is not just a waste of Robert Downey Jr. in addition to a fairly talented supporting cast, it just so happens to be one of the most forgettable family films I have ever seen. Well, for the most part. There are some parts I’d rather forget, but much to my disappointment, that is simply impossible. In recent years, I have come to totally despise the term “kids movie.” It is not an entirely unusable phrase, but sometimes it is kind of like the term “chick flick.” It is more or less used as an excuse to put a movie in a box for its lack of quality. “Dolittle” is a movie that some kids can probably enjoy for its visuals, but I do not think this film will age well for every viewer who watches it at a young age. Maybe they’ll have some nostalgic attachment to it when they are older. But it does not change the fact that the film itself is sloppily written, badly directed, and is not as funny as they are trying to convince people it is.

Freelance (2023)

When it comes to wrestlers-turned-actors, John Cena seems to care more about his range and performances than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. But just like many other performers, his resume is far from perfect. Case in point, “Freelance.” John Cena comes off as the most likable, nice guy in real life, but Cena unfortunately plays a lead in this film who is honestly the polar opposite. Given some of the dialogue early on in the film, his character, Mason Pettits, seems to dislike his spouse and children. Maybe he respects them deep down, but that is not the first impression I got from watching the character in the film’s earliest scenes. On top of that, he sounds miserable. I get that the film presents this character with an opportunity that could potentially turn his frown upside down, but from everything I gathered in the first 10, 20 minutes of the movie, Cena lacked any and all charisma when it comes to this role. Sure, the film gives a reason for the character’s misery, but I still thought Cena came off more as a moron than anything else. A lack of charisma is something I am not used to seeing with John Cena as an actor. Even in movies I did not enjoy like “Fast X,” I still thought Cena was charming. Not here. If there is one performance I liked in the movie, it would probably Juan Pablo Raba’s performance as the dictator, Venegas. I remember emitting one genuine laugh during the film, and he was the one responsible for it. Does it make up for a bad, somewhat ordinary screenplay? No. Does it make up for some of the characters having nonexistent chemistry? Also, no. Does it make up for a lack of identity as to what the film is supposed to be? Definitely not.

Madame Web (2024)

Yyyyyyyup. This is only the umpteenth time in recent memory I had to talk about this abomination against humanity. “Madame Web” is a humongous disgrace on every level. This is just the first culprit in a year of outright inexcusable comic book movies. Thank goodness for “Deadpool & Wolverine,” because otherwise I probably would be in a straight up depression as a fan of this genre. To me, Sony’s Spider-Man Universe was dead on arrival. But for whatever reason the studio just kept pumping out ridiculous crap like this. “Madame Web” is a film about a woman who can see the future. Well, if that is the case, why did she not see this flop coming from a mile away?! Between okay at best action scenes, horrible camerawork, and some of the most annoying characters of all time, “Madame Web” is a horror show. The film even puts its own spin on the “with great power comes great responsibility” line. The delivery of that line comes off like a parent trying to take interest in their children’s hobbies but doing a terrible job at hiding their distaste for them. People can try as hard as they want to convince me that this movie could develop a cult following similar to Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room,” but I will not be part of it. The film is not so bad that it is good. It is so bad that I questioned Sony as to why the heck they were okay with making the film, in addition to bringing back the writers of “Morbius.” Sure, “Morbius” was technically profitable… But it does not change the fact that they wrote a terrible screenplay. Again, I do not have comic book movie fatigue. But I am fatigued by Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. I would be totally happy if they stopped making these films. In fact you know what? I would be totally happy if I could stop talking about these films. I had to review three of these atrocities in 2024, as if doing one them was not already bad enough. I have had it with this film! I have had it with “Kraven the Hunter!” I have had it with the “Venom” movies! Well except the second one, that was actually fun. I have had it with this impractical joke of a cinematic universe! And I would most certainly be happy if I never had to talk about another Sony Spider-Man Universe movie ever again!

Morbius (2022)

So, now that I am done whining about the Sony Spider-Man Universe, let us move onto something el–AW COME ON! …Alright. Let’s trash “Morbius” one more time. I already bashed the screenwriters of this film, so I will at least address a positive by saying that some of the first act was decent. But once that act concludes, the film crashes and burns. It is 104 minutes of images that honestly made me feel nothing. I never once felt excitement, or chills, or wonder. The movie itself comes off as if it were going through the motions. Jared Leto and Matt Smith definitely play up their performances, and the results of that are in fact memeable. But it is not enough to save this nightmare. This movie is centered around science. I am a little suspicious about that. When your film’s characters cannot properly pronounce “Nobel Prize” I think you lost your credibility. The special effects in this film are also amazingly unrealistic by 2022 standards. Maybe they would get by in the early 2000s, but not today. I normally try not to judge a film by a post-credit scene, but this is one where I cannot help myself because it tacks on a promise that sounds so nonsensical it is insane. It promises a team-up I had no interest in checking out. It brings in a character who I honestly have no interest in seeing return because I fear they will be written terribly. It very much feels like Sony saying, “We are out of options.” In case you are not paying attention, “Kraven the Hunter” dodged a bullet. I hated that movie, it would probably be in my top 20 worst of the decade. But I hope that film is the last one we see in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe because the two that did make this list reek of utter incompetence. Perhaps to the point where it is almost being done on purpose.

The Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson (2019) (STILL COUNTS!)

I know some would say “The Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson” is a 2019 film, but in the United States it released in 2020, so I am counting it here. Regardless, this is a terrible movie. The one positive in the movie is perhaps Mena Suvari, who like everyone else, is working with abominable material, but it does not erase the other negatives. When I look at some of the cast members alongside Suvari, they sound like they are overacting. I could not buy into their performances even for a second! This film is directed by Daniel Farrands, and this is not the only film he has done in relation to famous figures who died in a tragic manner. Not long before this film came out, audiences were also subjected to “The Haunting of Sharon Tate.” It is actually amazing how close in quality, or lack thereof, these movies happen to be. “The Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson” is both so bad that you want it to be over instantaneously, and yet, I am under the impression that this 82 minute film perhaps overstuffs itself by the end of it. By the final 10 minutes, I just questioned why I was watching this movie. Maybe I just hate myself. It is possible.

Music (2021)

This was my worst movie of 2021, and it still stands. “Music” is a cinematic disaster. It advertises itself as a movie championing the autistic community. But as someone who has connections to and has been around people in said community for a good portion of my life, this is not a movie that best represents them. You could make the argument that maybe it has something in its story for caretakers of autistic people, but it also displays actions that if you speak to autistic people, they probably would disapprove if somebody else were to engage in them. The film itself is stereotypical, poorly paced, and horribly directed. I feel bad for Maddie Ziegler because for all I know she is talented, but she was not given good material to work with in this film. Honestly, her performance is almost offensive, but I more or less blame the film’s director, Sia, for letting this picture come to be in the first place. Kate Hudson gives an okay performance, but it is not enough. Say what you want about the Golden Globes having any meaning whatsoever. But the fact that this film even got a Best Picture nomination from that voting body is one of the all greatest insults to cinema I have ever seen. Kate Hudson getting nominated for Best Actress? I mean, it is not my first choice, but okay… But Best Picture?! Go home, you’re drunk!

Skinamarink (2023)

Out of all the movies on this list, this is the only one I did not put on one of my worst of the year countdowns. But if I did, I would say “Skinamarink” is probably the worst horror film I have seen all decade. This film is not just bad, but utterly disappointing at the same time. I am not going to pretend my expectations were as high as say they would be when I walk into a Christopher Nolan movie. But I was intrigued by what this film had to offer. It was an experimental vision unlike anything I had seen. Yet that is exactly what this film feels like. An experiment. A failed one at that. Essentially, the entire film is a series of shots staring at various parts of the inside of a home. The film apparently has a plot, but I could not describe it to you if I tried. Also I mentioned this is a horror movie. It is one of the least scary horror films I have ever seen. Not once did I even shiver or get a bad vibe. I just stared at the screen in awe of how unamusing this travesty turned out to be. I watched this film from home. I wonder if the experience is any different watching it in the cinema, but I missed out on that opportunity so I got to suffer from the comfort of my bedroom.

Superintelligence (2020)

Remember how I said at the beginning that I would only put movies that were in theaters on this list, with one exception to the rule? Well, here we are. “Superintelligence” released on the streaming service formerly known as HBO Max in 2020. The film was going to hit theaters at one point in 2019 until Warnermedia decided to make it a streaming release. It kind of bends my rules a little, but 2020 kind of bent everyone’s rules a little bit so this is only fitting. This film is a collaboration between Hollywood couple Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy. As if their previous film together, “Life of the Party” was not bad enough, they followed it up with this pile of artificially unintelligent garbage. The screenplay for this film is just plain terrible. Does it get from point a to point b? Sure. But as I watched this film’s protagonist go from one point to the next, never once do I get the impression that any of her outcomes feel earned. Such a thing could be acceptable if the film made me laugh, but unfortunately that concept is about as real as Valve’s chance of ever releasing a video game with the number “3” in its title. My first laugh while watching the film honestly did not come in until the 44 minute mark. The further the film went on, the angrier I became. By the end, I was at a loss for words. For a film called “Superintelligence,” it certainly feels super dumb. Also, once again, shoutout to James Corden’s agent for ruining everything! Apparently Corden makes an appearance in this shoddy mess as well.

Thanks for reading this recap! Coming up next, I am going to be talking about my best films of the decade so far! Expect that post in the next few days! I am just like Thanos, I believe in perfect balance. If I am going to bash 10 films, I will applaud 10 others. It is only fair. If you want to see posts like these and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, what are your worst films of the decade so far? What films do you recommend for properly punishing your enemies? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Top 10 BEST Movies of 2024

Posted on by Jack Drees

Hey everyone, Jack Drees here! It is time to list my top 10 BEST movies of 2024! We just did the worst list, and I mean it when I say the bad movies this year where on a different level. That is not a sugarcoat. That is the honest truth. But it does not mean there were no good movies this year, as you will see in a moment. But before we get to that, I would like to remind everyone this is a subjective list. By no means is this list supposed to influence you into liking these movies. These are recommendations, these are endorsements, but they are also my own opinions. If you dislike any of the movies on this list, do as I said on the worst list if you like any of the movies I hated, make your own list! Also, I did not see every movie that came out this year. I missed “Moana 2,” “Despicable Me 4,” “The Substance,” “Heretic,” “Terrifier 3,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Wolfs,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” “Emilia Pérez,” among others. Not to mention “The Brutalist” has yet to come out in my area. Also, all the movies on my list are theatrical releases. There are no streaming, DVD, or TV exclusives. With that said, let’s start off by naming some honorable mentions that I have enjoyed throughout the year.

Honorable Mention: Daddio

My first honorable mention is “Daddio.” This film stars Dakota Johnson as a passenger in a taxi and Sean Penn as her driver. The movie has a lot to say about people judging others by what they see. It shows how if we were to get to know people on a deeper level, we would sometimes be surprised by what we learn about them.

Honorable Mention: The Fall Guy

“The Fall Guy” is director David Leitch’s love letter to stuntwork. If you have ever watched a movie and were wowed by the stunts, make an effort to check “The Fall Guy” out. The film not only has something for everyone, but such concepts are realized to their maximum potential. Also, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt have terrific chemistry on screen.

Honorable Mention: Flow

And lastly for honorable mentions is “Flow.” I was floored by this film during my initial watch of it in the theatre. This is an animated flick containing no dialogue and no human voices. The only noises that come close to dialogue in “Flow” are animal sounds. If you are looking for a textbook definition of “visual storytelling,” “Flow” is definitely it.

Now for those of you who follow the blog, you may be aware that I scored “Flow” a 9/10. You might be thinking this would have ended up in the top 10. The reality is, I think some, if not all, of the films on this list will probably have more replay value for me over time. Nevertheless, “Flow” is an undoubtable achievement. Give it a watch if you can.

Now to 10 more movies you should also give a watch when you get the chance… These are my top 10 BEST Movies of 2024.

#10: IF

Starting off the top 10 is “IF,” which is short for “Imaginary Friends.” This is a movie that I had iffy, no pun intended, thoughts about as I went into it. Then my screening finished, and I immediately thought it was one of the most heartfelt and nostalgically wonderful movies I can recall watching. This is a film I can recommend to just about anyone. It is a great watch for both kids and adults. “IF” highlights the importance of maintaining your inner child. Many of us growing up have imaginary friends, and those connections fade over time. This film presents moments when our adult characters probably need those imaginary friends more than ever. Ryan Reynolds plays a major role in the film, and he gives a surprisingly quiet performance. If you watch him in films like “Free Guy” or “Deadpool,” you would get the sense that Reynolds is a bit of a loudmouth. Not here. I love Reynolds as a movie star and this is one of the better performances I have seen from him. “IF” is directed by John Krasinski, and this is his first feature outside of the “Quiet Place” franchise. When it comes to the mood of each of these films, these could not be more different. But it shows Krasinski’s versatility as a filmmaker. I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next. On top of all of this, Michael Giacchino’s score is a banger. It does a great job at matching this film’s cheerful and optimistic spirit. When I review movies and say I would listen to the score on my own time, sometimes I end up doing so, other times I likely forget about it. This is one where I ended up listening to the score on my own time. It is great in the movie. It is stellar on its own. As a film, “IF” is one of my biggest surprises of the year.

#9: Abigail

If you have ever wanted to see a ballerina vampire torment some folks on screen, then “Abigail” is definitely for you. “Abigail” is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, the same duo behind “Ready or Not.” While this film is not quite as good as “Ready or Not,” it maintains a very similar vibe. Not only is the film scary and tense, but it is also distinctively funny. I do not know of a proper adjective for the kind of humor presented in both of these films, but I certainly laughed a lot watching them. The film also has a great cast including some bigger names like Giancarlo Esposito, Kathryn Newton, and Dan Stevens just to name a few. However, the scene stealer is Alisha Weir, the young girl who plays this film’s titular vampire. Her character is written and executed with an extreme sense of unpredictability. I can imagine Weir had a lot of fun playing her. You could even say she had just as much fun as I did watching her on screen.

#8: Sing Sing

Coming in at number 8 is “Sing Sing.” Of all the movies I saw this year, this is the one that arguably put the biggest smile on my face. This film showcases the importance of art as an escape. As for this film’s cast of characters, they are a group who embrace that idea, especially considering their situations. The film is occasionally serious. After all, it is set in a prison. But my favorite moments of the movie are when we get to see our cast making a play, escaping into their characters, rehearsing, any instance of them leaving their world so they can enter another one. It reminds me of why I love art. Colman Domingo gives one of my favorite performances of the year and as soon as the movie ended, I felt an incredible sense of joy. Again, this is an occasionally serious film, but if you are looking for a feel good movie, I highly recommend “Sing Sing.”

#7: A Quiet Place: Day One

I enjoy the “Quiet Place” franchise, but not a single film from it made my top 10s at the end of the year after they were released. That changes now, because I think “A Quiet Place: Day One” may be the best film in the franchise yet. This film sees the rise of its patented creatures, the Death Angels, as they wreak havoc in New York City. This is an incredible concept considering how one of the main objectives the characters in the “Quiet Place” franchise have to take on is not uttering a sound. We see this reality take effect in one of the loudest cities on earth. The film introduces some compelling characters who I rooted for the entire time. While this film is scary, I still find the first “Quiet Place” movie to be the most terrifying in the franchise. It may be due to the novelty the film had when it came out. Although I will also say that of all the “Quiet Place” movies, I think “Day One” is perhaps the most exciting one yet considering its huge scale, likable leads, and compelling screenplay.

#6: Dune: Part Two

I ended up watching this next film for the first time on February 29th, a day that comes only once in a blue moon. On that note, movies as satisfying and thrilling as “Dune: Part Two” also come once in a blue moon. I really enjoyed the first “Dune” movie but I think everything that was great about 2021’s “Dune” is improved even by the slightest of margins in this 2024 sequel. The fight choreography had me on the edge of my seat. The cinematography is grander in scope. The color spectrum is more eye-popping. The journey is more engaging and better paced. Many people say the first “Dune” feels like a part one. After all, these two films are one book split in half, but I see the first “Dune” movie as a full story where its protagonist has a solid arc. At the same time, this film does successfully pay off some of the things that were teased in the original film. We get to see more of Zendaya’s character, Chani, and she does a good job with the role. The scene where Paul Atreides rides a sandworm for the first time will go down as one of my favorites of the year. Seeing that come to life in IMAX was jaw-dropping. Also, just like the original movie, Hans Zimmer kills it here with the score. A score like the one here continues to support why he rivals John Williams as my favorite film composer working today.

#5: Saturday Night

This next film spoke to me on a personal level. Not necessarily because I am a loyal fan of the show it is about, though I do find it entertaining. But as someone who works in live production, I have to put “Saturday Night” somewhere on this list. This film beautifully captures the stress that comes with live TV, an industry I just so happen to be a part of. Everything is down to the wire, and in some cases, there is a sense that anything can or will go wrong at the moment you least expect. “Saturday Night” is this year’s most fast paced, heart-racing anxiety trip. It throws a lot of material into an hour and a half of storytelling, and not a single moment of it is boring. The film contains a stacked cast who all play their parts well. This film is a perfect balance of comedy and drama. There are a lot of lines and gags that go hard but at the same time, I understand that these characters are probably under their own degrees of stress. They have a lot of prep work to deal with. They are a bunch of nobodies trying to make names for themselves. They do not know if their show is going to make it to air. This film is directed by Jason Reitman. I happen to like a number of his films including “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” “Juno,” “Tully,” “Young Adult…” But I think “Saturday Night” is easily my favorite of his so far.

#4: The Wild Robot

Honestly, my top 4 are almost interchangeable. You could almost label my top 4 films as a tie and finish the list right there. But at this point, these films are very close to matching in quality. That said, I would be an idiot to miss out on telling you that “The Wild Robot” is an exceptional picture. I am not a parent, but I can easily recommend this film to any parent who has ever lived. In the simplest terms, the film is about the journey of parenting. Only thing is, the task is taken on by a robot and they have to raise a gosling. The robot realizes that the journey in raising this young bird is beyond her programming. Sometimes she will resort to improvisations and sacrifices. Some people say parenting is the hardest job in the world, and this movie brings that saying to life. You are literally raising someone who knows you from the minute they are born, and the process prompts tons of questions that not everyone would know the answer to. Much like “IF,” the film is great for kids and adults, but I think there will be plenty of adults who enjoy it more than kids because there is a lot that speaks to people at a certain time in their lives. The animation style, while sometimes a little cheap-looking, is unique and sometimes wows the eyes. This is a great film for family movie night, but if any parents are reading this, be very careful because you might shed a tear.

#3: Anora

Coming in at #3 is “Anora,” which is by far the craziest trip of a movie I have seen all year. Watching this movie is like drinking 10 cups of coffee. It will keep your eyes wide open. This movie has two imperfect, but extremely likable main characters. You have Vanya, a spoiled child of a wealthy oligarch. And you also have Ani, a sex worker played by Mikey Madison, an actress who I think has a pretty decent shot at winning an Academy Award this year. This movie puts these two people together until something happens where they are told to drift apart. While one would not be wrong to call this film a drama, I would also say “Anora” is one of the funniest movies of the year. It has a vibe of a grounded Tarantino flick like “Reservoir Dogs” or “Pulp Fiction.” If I had to pick a favorite second act of a movie I have seen in 2024, I think “Anora” would be my winner. My auditorium burst into chaotic laughter so many times during this portion of the film. Experiences like the one I had with “Anora” solidify why I love going to the movies.

#2: Look Back

One of the reasons why I put “Saturday Night” on this list is because of how much I was able to attach the movie to my own life. The same can be said for my next pick, “Look Back.” For those looking for something short to watch, you are in luck. This movie is just a tad less than an hour so it is barely a feature by some stretch of the imagination. That said, the hour is filled with absolutely powerful material. The film showcases the importance and unpredictability that can come with friendship. We see our main character, Fujimoto, befriend a shut-in named Kyomoto. The two vary in terms of their personalities but they end up bringing out the best in each other. Both end up making manga together, and Fujimoto helps Kyomoto come out of her shell. This movie truly spoke to me as an artist. We see early on that Fujimoto is a dedicated manga artist for the school newspaper. But when Kyomoto jumps on the scene with her own manga, Fujimoto’s peers start to think her drawings are inferior, therefore prompting her to try as hard as she can to improve her work. I think many artists, myself included, get a little jealous when we see someone we think is better than us at our own craft. Then we get to the second half of the movie, where things just take a turn. It is moving, sad, and utterly powerful. This year has presented some unique animation styles. We saw 2D and 3D blend together in “Inside Out 2.” We saw fantastical vibrancy that almost feels lifelike in “Transformers One.” We saw a variety of animation choices come to life in “The Wild Robot.” “Look Back” is also rather unique. It sometimes transports into the style of manga drawings with consistent colors or even black and white. On top of all of this, “Look Back” has one of my favorite musical scores of the year. Haruka Nakamura delivers some booming orchestral pieces that floor me just thinking about them. Again, this is a short movie. So if you are looking for something to watch in just a short span of time, this could work. But if you cry easily, you might want to keep the tissues on standby.

#1: Deadpool & Wolverine

If you read my rankings for the worst movies of 2024, you would notice one consistency on that list. Much to my disappointment, it happened to be comic book movies. These films have defined me as a moviegoer and most of them have been fun to watch over the years. Though this year was a complete letdown. That is excluding one crystal clear diamond in the rough. My #1 movie of the year is “Deadpool & Wolverine.” You can make an argument that I am rather predisposed to this movie, but it does not change the fact that out of all the experiences I have had watching films this year, this was by far the most entertaining. This is a film that honestly shattered my expectations. I am still iffy over Disney buying Fox and the ramifications of said purchase, but if we keep getting movies as exciting as this, I am willing to acknowledge any positive that comes my way, and this is a big one. Admittedly, while I have watched Hugh Jackman play Wolverine in films before, this latest outing of his does not offer the same nostalgia value that “Spider-Man: No Way Home” did in 2021 with their supporting webheads. However, that may also suggest how great this film is as a standalone feature. It is definitely a movie where certain viewers will probably pick up select details others might miss, but it also has a lot that general audiences can savor. Stunningly choreographed action that is gracefully edited. Excellent meta humor that rivals the previous two “Deadpool” installments. And an overall pace that flies by.

Yet at the same time, this film is not short on fan service. Going back to “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” as much as I loved the film, part of me saw its surprise cameos coming. “Deadpool & Wolverine” on the other hand caught me so crazily off guard multiple times. Just when I thought this film unleashed its most out of left field character, it sets off another bomb that somehow drops my jaw even further than it did previously. These surprise characters also do more than just wave at the camera, they actually serve the story.

“Deadpool & Wolverine” won me over as a Marvel fan. It won me over as someone who enjoys watching Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. It won me over as someone who grew up with Shawn Levy as a director. One of my first movie theater experiences is his family film, “Night at the Museum.” I am so happy to see Levy’s career continue to the point where he gets to helm one of the most graphic comic book movies ever. For the record, if I were to rank the “Deadpool” movies, I still think the original is the best one. This one would be a strong second, however. The “Deadpool” trilogy as a whole has proven to be a success. I also think this sparks some good news for the MCU after a rough patch in the Multiverse Saga. I liked every film since “Endgame,” but my opinion would be challenged by casual and hardcore fans alike. Some would say the universe itself has become convoluted with so many characters and ideas to the point where some of the projects feel like homework. That said, if watching “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” on Disney+ feels like homework, then “Deadpool & Wolverine” feels like coming to class, the teacher brings in the TV, and we just watch something fun for the entire period. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is a movie that does not take itself too seriously and offers a relaxing vibe despite its gratuitous violence and excessive use of the f-word.

Out of all the films I have seen in 2024, this is the only one I ended up watching three times. And this is definitely a film I recommend watching more than once because I ended up noticing certain details and jokes that I missed before. “Deadpool & Wolverine” does not lose its edge by the third viewing. Each watch is as thrilling as the last. That said, my first viewing of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” the only time I watched it in cinemas, was by far my favorite filmgoing experience this year. My friend and I had a great time. There was no shortage of laughing and cheering from the crowd. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is a film that I want to watch again with a friend or two who never saw the film, just to find out how they would react to it.

Is the film perfect? No. Like a lot of Marvel movies, I think the villain could be better, but given all the other positives the movie has, that is a small price to pay. “Deadpool & Wolverine” is the most entertaining cinematic experience I have had in a long time. It was the movie event of the year. It is also the BEST movie of 2024.

Thanks for reading this countdown! I appreciate all your support throughout another exciting year for film. No perfect movies this year, but a lot of really good ones. I will take the hits as they come along. With these countdowns out of the way, I would like to take this time to announce a new project I am working on. So far, I have no movie reviews on deck. January is a rather slow month for film, and I took the last weekend to travel a bit. Though in addition to these countdowns, I am also planning on doing my top 10 BEST and WORST movies of the 2020s so far. That includes all the movies I saw from 2020 to 2024. These are going to be published in the same order as the yearly countdowns, so expect my worst list coming soon!  If you want to see projects like this one and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, what are your best movies of 2024? What movies hit you where you live? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Top 10 WORST Movies of 2024

Posted on by Jack Drees

Hey everyone, Jack Drees here! It is time for the annual tradition! Something that everyone can agree on. Something that will unite us all. Something that will cause absolutely no fights whatsoever either in a comments section or on the streets. It is time for the end of the year countdowns. As I have done in the past couple years, we are starting with the worst movies list. It just feels better to get the bad stuff overwith. For those looking to see certain movies on this list, please note that I have a busy schedule between work, travel, life, and so on. I do not have time to get to every movie that has come out in 2024. There are some movies I have heard some not so good things about this year like “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” “Afraid,” and “Imaginary.” I ended up skipping these films. Either because I did not have time, or they looked terrible. Possibly both. Also, the usual reminder, this list is not scientific law, it is artistic subjectivity. If you disagree with this list, that is fine. Make your own that way you can say that the movie I hated is your favorite and celebrate it. Another thing that must be said, these movies also have to have played in theaters. Sounds snobbish, I know. But this list is about cinema, not television. With that in mind, let’s get to naming three dishonorable mentions before we go any further.

Dishonorable Mention: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

The first dishonorable mention is “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.” “Godzilla Minus One,” which was made in Japan, ruled my top 10 BEST movies of 2023 list when I made that. Therefore, it is disappointing to know that this Hollywood-produced movie featuring the iconic kaiju in addition to Kong turned out to be a big, loud, bloated mess that made me dumber by the time it was over. It treats the audience like we have never seen a movie. It is sprinkled with some of the most in your face dialogue of all time. There are cool things in the movie though. We get to see King Kong use a young monkey as a weapon. Although it does not make up for the rest of the junk I had to trek through.

Dishonorable Mention: Sasquatch Sunset

I reviewed most of the movies on this list, but “Sasquatch Sunset” is not one of them. That said, if I were to review it, I would say that the experience the movie delivered was certainly unique, but also kind of boring. I ended up laughing quite a bit. Though I am not sure whether I laughed for the right or wrong reasons. Also, I did not really care for the characters. I sat through this movie in the sense that I was watching events happen as opposed to experiencing them. The film is definitely different, but one watch is enough for me.

Dishonorable Mention: Challengers

Here is an unpopular opinion… I really did not like “Challengers.” Do not get me wrong. The movie has good performances, especially from Zendaya. But there are a lot of things about the movie I did not enjoy. The story left me uninterested, the score left me with a headache, and to my surprise, I did not think the movie was that sexy. I know that was an aspect they were shooting for. Maybe it is a personal taste thing? A lot of people seem to love this movie, I was just not one of them.

With those dishonorable mentions out of the way, it is time go from the bad to the ugly. These are my top 10 WORST movies of 2024!

#10: Venom: The Last Dance

This list has a couple of consistencies on it. Bad Sony movies and bad comic book movies. Both of those consistencies start with the top of this list! Bottom? Top or bottom? I do not know which is more accurate. Whatever, it starts with perhaps the most tolerable of the top 10 movies on this list… “Venom: The Last Dance!” I was disappointed, but not terribly shocked that I found “Venom: The Last Dance” to be a bad film. I was not a fan of the first “Venom” movie, but I surprisingly dug the second one. This third movie is not the worst of the trilogy, but I found parts of it to be slow, tiring, and forgettable. The one thing that saves the movie is the chemistry between Tom Hardy’s characters. Eddie and Venom to be specific. That is one consistency between these films. Even though the franchise as a whole is not great, they did get the casting and chemistry right. Mrs. Chen is also in this movie. You could honestly remove her character and have the movie be no different. This movie serves both as a finale to the “Venom” character, at least this iteration of the character, and as a kickstarter to what could be an ongoing saga in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. The execution of both aspects were not that satisfying.

#9: Bob Marley: One Love

Coming in at #9 is “Bob Marley: One Love.” This is a film that has glimmers of decency, but it is surrounded by a multitude of dull scenes with characters I do not care about and a story that nearly put me to sleep at times. This film seems to be heavy on drama, but I wish I were more intrigued by it. Looking back at Kingsley Ben-Adir’s performance, it is not the worst acting I have seen all year. But at times Ben-Adir comes off as if he were giving a Bob Marley impression rather than an authentic performance. I dislike this movie for a number of reasons, and I hate myself for disliking it for this one, but I have to be honest. I wish I understood the dialogue. I do not know if it was the accent or the audio levels not being up to snuff, but I there are times could not make out what was being said, even if there was no music in the background. My least favorite part of the movie though is the ending. I will not spoil it, but it was a huge letdown. It felt as if the movie were building up to something and suddenly said, “Forget it!”

#8: The Garfield Movie

At #8 is the next Sony movie on this list! You could even say it is based on comics too! Not superheroes, not Marvel, but still… Whatever the case may be, “The Garfield Movie” is the biggest waste of time I spent this year watching an animation. I knew this movie was going to be bad just from the marketing. Chris Pratt playing “Garfield?” Goodness gracious! That’s a choice! The guy already ruined “Super Mario” so why not add this hairball of a performance to his resume? Pratt’s execution of the title character did not just make me hate Mondays. It made me hate all the days. In fact, all the months. The years. The decades. All time, really if you think about it. Chris Pratt just plays Chris Pratt in this movie. The performance is as bland as can be. The movie barely had any laughs in it. And the ending, while not super annoying, does take a long time to tie things up. If it were not for some okay-looking animation and Ving Rhames’ stellar voice performance as Otto the bull, this movie would be even lower on the list.

#7: Argylle

I enjoy a good spy action thriller. This is not one of them. I am talking about “Argylle,” one of the biggest disappointments of the year. This film is directed by Matthew Vaughn, who also helmed the “Kingsman” movies. Like those films, this occasionally has decent action scenes. Yet the movie becomes perhaps the most diabolically unhinged headache-inducer I have seen all year. This is a movie that by the midpoint thinks it is so clever, so twisty, that my jaw hit the floor. Although in reality, my jaw dropped not because I was impressed, but rather annoyed. There is a good movie somewhere in “Argylle.” It starts off with a clever concept about someone’s book coming to life, but then it just spews a bunch of nonsense in your face and throws some cat porn into the mix. By the climax of the movie, when our main hero is ice skating on oil, I just shrugged like a maniac. My suspension of disbelief could only go so high. “Argylle” may have notable names behind it, but that is only a small part as to what makes the film such a big letdown.

#6: Night Swim

I will admit, after watching this next movie, I watched the short it was based on, and thought it was not that bad. That said, it does not change the fact that the feature-length version of “Night Swim” is one of the worst movies of 2024. This film is about a family who buys a house with a haunted swimming pool in their backyard. Sounds scary, right? No. What made this film not so scary to me is a direct correlation to something else this movie lacks, which is my personal investment in the characters. The film does an okay job fleshing out the father character, who used to be a pro baseball player. I liked seeing that play out. Although I did not really care about anyone else. Going back to what I said about “Argylle” and suspension of disbelief, that was also broken in this film too. I get this is a horror flick involving a haunted pool, but there is a point where I thought things may have gotten a little too off the rails. This is Bryce McGuire’s first feature film as a director. For all I know it could end up being his worst one should he continue down this career path. Maybe he has something better up his sleeve in a sophomore effort.

#5: Tarot

Guess what guys? Sony’s back! Although this time we will be talking about a Screen Gems release, not a Columbia Pictures release. Up next is a film that as soon as I finished watching it, my brain chose to vomit out anything I knew in relation to it. “Tarot” is one of the most forgettable, dull experiences I had watching a so-called horror movie in the past 12 months. I remember watching “Ouija” years after it came out, and if there were a film that I could easily compare it to, I think “Tarot” might be it. It is a bunch of young people playing stupid games and winning stupid prizes. Only difference, I do not think this film is going to have the cultural impact that “Ouija” did. Heck! “Ouija” got a sequel, and I hear it is actually pretty good! I did not see it. But who knows? Maybe it is worth watching in comparison to this pile of malarkey. The film is not that scary, and is full of characters who are bland at best. Maybe “Tarot” could be a good time with some alcohol, but I do not drink. Therefore, as far as I am concerned, this movie is just plain horrible. Just like “Night Swim,” this is a directorial debut. Only difference is, the movie is helmed by a duo – Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg. Maybe their next outing, whether it be together or separate, will be better.

#4: Kraven the Hunter

It’s the gift that keeps on giving! ANOTHER Columbia Pictures release! And just like “Venom: The Last Dance,” it is based on Marvel’s “Spider-Man” comics! May “Kraven the Hunter” rot in a torture chamber for all I care! What was this thing?! “Kraven the Hunter” might as well be the nail in the coffin for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. If this is not, then what are we doing here? What have we done to deserve this? This film is not just a massive waste of time for loyal viewers of its respective genre like myself, but I have to imagine it is equally as wasteful for the people working on it. You have Aaron Taylor-Johnson trying his absolute best to play a convincing anti-hero. He is certainly convincing but his material is not backing him up quite well. Then you have Oscar winners like Russell Crowe and Ariana DeBose, the latter of whom was also in “Argylle” this year so that is kind of sad. Crowe plays maybe the most one-dimensional so-called father figure in film history and DeBose plays some disposable character who plays with tarot cards. Consider yourself lucky “Tarot,” you are not the worst movie on this list involving those doohickeys! This movie has the most poorly structured screenplay I think I have ever had the displeasure of witnessing in a comic book movie. Add in some bad CGI and forgettable villain characters, you have the recipe for an utter disaster! The sad thing is, “Kraven the Hunter” is not even the worst comic book movie on this list!

#3: Joker: Folie à Deux

Marvel is already getting beaten to death on this list, so why not DC?! “Joker: Folie à Deux” is likely what happens when a studio gets so caught up in seeing dollar signs that they forget how to make something artistically sound. Throughout the 2010s, the comic book movie sub-genre has produced hit after hit after hit, including the original “Joker,” which then became the highest-grossing R rated title of all time. So making a sequel had to be an easy decision. From a business perspective, I could get the reason behind making a sequel. Although for art’s sake, I was nervous when they announced a sequel, and I think I was right for that reaction. The worst thing about “Joker: Folie à Deux” is that it genuinely feels like a slap in the face to every single person who could have possibly had any interest in it. I do not mind movies being bold or different. I was actually kind of excited when I found out there were going to be musical numbers in this movie. But I was disappointed when I found out that just about every musical sequence would make me roll my eyes and beg for mercy. Although several things that I thought were good about the original “Joker,” feels like it takes a step backward in this sequel. Story – boring. Characters – unlikable. The acting – not the worst I have seen, but still feels bad compared to what he have seen before. The ending – asinine. The pacing – slow. Deep exploration into the main character – nearly nonexistent. This is a two hour schlock that honestly feels like it a goes on for a month. There are positives of the film including the production design and Lawrence Sher’s cinematography. This film, like the original, is directed by Todd Phillips, who also co-wrote the film once again with Scott Silver. While I will give them credit for making a great original, I cannot help but detest their efforts on this sequel. These people honestly created a movie that comes off as an insult to its own audience.

And now, a live look at what happens to your money when you pay to see this movie…

Some men just want to watch the world burn.

#2: Borderlands

Coming in at #2 is an enormous embarrassment of a movie that somehow made me want at least one of the heroes to die. That is not the feeling I should be having while watching a story play out, but it happened. Ladies and gentlemen, the video game movie curse is not quite broken yet! Because we are still getting stinkers like “Borderlands!” I have never played “Borderlands,” and after watching this movie, I am of two mindsets. One, this movie is so bad that it ruined my chances of ever playing the games. Or two, this movie is so bad that it makes me wonder how much better the video games are in comparison. I have seen images of the games and if were to issue one compliment about the movie, the overall look tends to feel similar to the games. But that is about it. There are times where this movie genuinely looks like a video game, and I do not mean this as a positive. The backgrounds and special effects in this movie look obscenely fake. This film is an hour and a half of Cate Blanchett wearing one of the least convincing wigs I have ever seen all the while spewing uninspired dialogue. The film has a ton of big names, but that just makes the movie even worse! Aside from Cate Blanchett, you also have Ariana Greenblatt, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, and most annoyingly of all, Jack Black delivering one of the most headache-inducing voiceover performances of all time. If you think Cate Blanchett’s dialogue is horrible, just wait until you hear whatever the heck comes out of Jack Black’s mouth. It is not his fault. He clearly sounds like he is trying. But his character, Claptrap, is essentially the “Borderlands” equivalent to Jar Jar Binks from “Star Wars.” Gosh, how bad was Jack Black in this movie?! Speaking of video game movies, if the upcoming “Minecraft” movie is as bad as I am expecting, I think Black needs to find a new agent. This movie is a watered down version of a rather gory video game franchise that has stars, but it ends up wasting all of them. These people are talented, but here, they tend to come off as miscast. Some people say playing video games rots the brain. But if you would like the perfect movie to destroy your noggin, look no further than the poor excuse of mind-numbing buffoonery that is “Borderlands.”

#1: Madame Web

We have reached the culmination of the countdown, and not just because this is the #1 film. Guess who’s back again?! Sony! That’s right! It’s another Columbia Pictures release! And that’s not all! This is another movie based on Spider-Man characters! La-de-freaking-dah! My #1 worst movie of the year is “Madame Web.” My brain still hurts from this mess! The same can be said for my eyes! Not to mention my ears! And let’s not forget about my soul! This movie was a first for me. When the film ended, I literally stormed out of the auditorium like a child. No hyperbole. As soon as the credits popped up, I shoved myself out of my seat, turned right, waltzed my way through the row, and rushed down the stairs like a maniac just hoping to escape the saga of stress that was this movie. This is what happens when imagination dies. We get heaping piles of garbage like the ones Sony seems to be putting out in its non Spider-Man series of “Spider-Man” movies. And this is not just the worst of the three movies in this universe Sony put out this year. If you ask me, it is the worst one they put out period. Yes, I think it is worse than “Morbius!” You may remember that film topped my worst movies of 2022 list. “Madame Web” makes “Morbius” look competent. The funny thing is, both films have the same writers! If at first you don’t succeed, Sony will hire you again anyway, because why not.

I said this as I reviewed “Kraven the Hunter,” and I will say it again. I do not have comic book movie fatigue. But I nevertheless find this whole Sony Spider-Man Universe to be the most tiring trend in Hollywood. This is essentially Sony trying to make “fetch” happen time after time after time and never getting the message! I know some people say the Detective Comics Extended Universe plays second fiddle to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and by that I mean the Disney-owned Marvel timeline… But at least the DCEU has some great movies! “Madame Web” is just another waste of time in Sony’s web of bores and chores.

This film stars Dakota Johnson, who for all I know is a nice person, I liked her in a few projects. I still have not seen the “Fifty Shades” trilogy, which depending on the source, I hear is about as unwatchable as “Madame Web.” That said, I saw her performance and I do not think the word “sleepwalking” has ever been a more accurate term to use than it is here. Going back to “Borderlands,” you could say Cate Blanchett sounded like she was tired as the lead of that film. But at least that sort of ties into how the script describes her specific character. Dakota Johnson sounds like she was bored out of her mind. Every other scene she had a vibe that simply screamed, “just give me the paycheck.”

Of course, Johnson’s material did not serve her well. Once again, this is from the same writers behind “Morbius,” Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. Granted, there were other writers too. I do not know if this is a case of not understanding the material, having too many cooks in the kitchen, or perhaps a combination of those two things. Perhaps something else entirely. Nevertheless, a bad movie is a bad movie. And believe me when I say this movie is a travesty. Take some of the worst dialogue of all time, unlikable characters, stiff direction, bad A-D-R, bleak color grading, and top it off with a rather deceptive marketing campaign, and you have the recipe for an utter disaster! Some could say this movie has a so bad it’s good vibe to it, but I do not see it. This is a movie made by people who seem to barely have any interest in what it is about.

Honestly, this movie reminded me of 2015’s “Fantastic 4,” where you have recognizable actors on screen known for other decent projects, but they are wasted in this mind-numbing comic book-based abomination. Granted some faces are more famous than others, but on top of the recently mentioned Dakota Johnson. You have Sydney Sweeney, a two time Emmy nominee! She even does the whole cliche where you take someone so shy and reserved and out of nowhere she becomes the belle of ball. It is so unbelievably corny.

And if you did not give your money to the fine people behind “Madame Web,” that is okay. Because Pepsi certainly did! Pepsi is everywhere in this movie! As a soda drinker myself, I kind of go back and forth between Pepsi and Coke. Although if you ask me, it is possible that “Madame Web” solidified me as a Coke drinker for a very long time because it is one thing for Pepsi to dominate every frame. And in this movie’s case, the drink dominates a noticeable amount of them. It is another thing for them to arguably play as much of a role in this film as our protagonist by the time the film reaches its conclusion.

And speaking of conclusions, that is both the best and worst part of the movie. Because remember how I said this movie has deceptive marketing? By the way, that is another thing this film and “Morbius” have in common. Pure poetry! If you remember the trailers for “Madame Web,” they show our heroes in costume, but we do not end up seeing that until the final couple of minutes! To top off the laziness, we see a vision of our characters in the future, probably in some story we will hopefully never see, and said vision borrows a shot from “Spider-Man 2,” a significantly better film in every way imaginable.

I said at the beginning of this list that you are going to see bad Sony movies and bad comic book movies. “Madame Web” as far as I am concerned, is the worst of both disciplines. It takes a giant crap on several well-known characters. It further tarnishes the rotting corpse that is the Sony Spider-Man Universe. The film itself is shot and presented in a rather lackluster fashion. It has an occasionally nonsensical screenplay that contains insufferable characters emitting terrible lines or in your face exposition. And it is sad to know that this movie was part of Columbia Pictures’ 100 year celebration! Judging by some of the other movies on this list, I do not think Columbia’s 100th year was their best. Some people say Disney and Warner Bros. had some noticeable missteps during their centennial celebrations in 2023, and it looks like Columbia is following them in such a path in 2024.

If someone buys you “Madame Web” on DVD, just run the copy over with a car. I would not wish this movie on my worst enemy. “Venom: The Last Dance” is bad, but Tom Hardy still holds his own as the two lead characters. “Kraven the Hunter” is a disgrace, but it has okay action scenes. “Madame Web” has nothing redeemable about it. There was one part in the middle of the movie that served the story in a halfway decent manner, and for all I know, maybe this movie could lead to someone remembering how to perform C-P-R one day. But that is about it! “Madame Web” is executed in such a way that made me wonder if the people behind it refused to give a single ounce of care about it. As for my experience watching this film, chances are I cared even less. So much so that “Madame Web” is easily the worst movie I have seen in 2024!

Thanks for reading this countdown! I have to tell you the absolute truth. The bad movies really stood out this year. The past couple years I gave a 1/10 to only a single movie. Well, that is unless you count movies I saw from those years after they ended, in addition to those I did not have time to review. 2024 is the first year in a while that I had to give a 1/10 for two movies. Granted, this is also a leap year, so with an extra day comes extra stupidity. And both of those 1/10 verdicts still stand by the way. Hopefully I can soon get out this hole of pessimism. Thankfully, there is probably a way to do that! Later this week I am also going to be diving into the best movies of 2024! Stay tuned for that countdown when it arrives! If you want to see this and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, what are your worst movies of 2024? What film irked you the most this year? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

A Complete Unknown (2024): Timothée Chalamet Shows His Range One of His Most Complicated Roles Yet

Posted on by Jack Drees

“A Complete Unknown” is directed by James Mangold (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Logan) and stars Timothée Chalamet (Dune, Interstellar), Edward Norton (The Incredible Hulk, Fight Club), Elle Fanning (The Neon Demon, Maleficent), Monica Barbaro (FUBAR, Top Gun: Maverick), Boyd Holbrook (Narcos, The Sandman), Dan Fogler (The Goldbergs, The Walking Dead), Norbert Leo Butz (Bloodline, The Exorcist: Believer), and Scoot McNairy (Halt and Catch Fire, Nightbitch). This film is set in much of the 1960s and centers around a young Bob Dylan as he establishes several relationships and creates a series of songs.

Bob Dylan is to music what the “Star Trek” franchise has been over the years to television and movies. He has been relevant since the 1960s, produced a lot of material that has been well regarded, and has somehow managed to maintain even the slightest hint of relevancy up until now. Much like the “Star Trek” franchise, I cannot say that I have the deepest appreciation for Bob Dylan. It is not that I hate Bob Dylan, or “Star Trek” for that matter, it is just that I never find myself circling around to Dylan’s music despite having many options for the taking.

You may remember there was an Amy Winehouse biopic in the middle of 2024 called “Back to Black,” which I gave a positive review. I do not think it was particularly striking or memorable, but I ended up leaning positive on it. It has its moments of fun and does a good job at capturing the darker side of Winehouse’s life. I also said that even though the movie presents the artist’s songs well, I would not claim to be an Amy Winehouse fan. I was not one before the movie. I am still not one after the movie. The same is true with Bob Dylan. I still appreciate his music, but I am pretty much in the same position as I was going into a “A Complete Unknown.” I am a Bob Dylan appreciator. Not a Bob Dylan fanatic. In regards to my appreciation, it is perhaps greater for him now than it was before, but still. I also think “A Complete Unknown” does a great job showing Dylan’s impact on the music industry by the time the movie’s over.

Is the film entirely accurate? No, it is not. If you know your Bob Dylan lore, you would know that he had a girlfriend in the 1960s by the name of Suze Rotolo. That is not the case in this film as Dylan himself requested her name would be changed. Therefore, we see Elle Fanning play a character by the name of Sylvie Rotolo (left). Regardless of accuracy, Fanning does a good job with the role. She has spot on chemistry with Chalamet’s Dylan. Speaking of chemistry, Chalamet also has quite a spark with another love interest in this film, Joan Baez, played by Monica Barbaro.

Overall, it is easy to say that the acting in “A Complete Unknown” is a standout element. This extends to more than just love interests. Edward Norton does a great job playing Pete Seeger. Dan Fogler plays one of my favorite characters in the film, Dylan’s manager, Albert Grossman. I thought of the entire cast, he was the one that delivered the most laughs. He had plenty of good material in the script to keep him busy. Boyd Holbrook oozes with charisma as Johnny Cash.

But of course, the real star of the show is Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan. Chalamet has been killing it for the past year or so. In 2023, he starred in “Wonka” as the title character. While I did not love the film, he does a phenomenal job with the role. I criticized “Wonka” for having unmemorable music sequences, but it does not mean Chalamet did not do his best with them. He has proven himself to be a solid singer, and therefore it is no surprise that Chalamet ends up lending his own voice to Dylan’s songs. Not only that, but Chalamet also plays the guitar in this film. I love Chalamet’s overall commitment to the role and he looks like he is having fun with it. If I had one thing to say though, there are some scenes where Chalamet has a bit of an accent to his character that feels kind of played up. It is a little over the top. Not quite over the top enough to sound like something out of “Saturday Night Live,” but at times it was a little distracting.

As an artist, I always appreciate when a movie has something to say about art itself. “A Complete Unknown” does this very well. Not only does the film highlight a portion of Bob Dylan’s career, which by the way, given how much Dylan has done over the years, I think it is wise of the filmmakers to just corner the story into just a small chunk of his life. It is worth noting within this small chunk of Dylan’s life we get to know a bit about his influence on the music industry and his rise to becoming an icon. With these elements in mind, this presents Dylan with a problem. While he is known for his music, deep down, he would like to be more than the identity in which society has given him. He wants to try new things and experiment. This film builds to a point where we see such a monumental shift come to fruition. Bob Dylan has built a reputation as a storytelling folk artist with a calming vibe. But we find out later on that he wants to implement electric instruments into his repertoire. The extended scene where we see this play out is easily my favorite part of the film. Not only is this sequence entertaining and presents significantly more stakes than we have seen throughout the story’s prior points, but we see Chalamet successfully channel his character’s happiness and indifference in regard to what others think of him.

This movie is more than just the rise of a popular musician, but it is also the story of an artist who just wants to make art. This is a consistency in every scene. Dylan sometimes tends to put his art before the people in his life, whether he knows them personally or they just so happen to be fans. It is his greatest passion in life. The movie shows the balance of making art to impress people intertwined with the complication of making art for yourself. It showcases the hurdle of shattering audience expectations. When you watch a movie, a shocking twist is sometimes warranted and can often be done well. But when is the shift too significant? That is a question this movie tries to answer and I think the overall response has resulted in an entertaining and exciting climax to a solid flick.

In the end, “A Complete Unknown” is not my favorite film of the year, but it has a series of strong moments and performances. Additionally, it has great production design, good direction by James Mangold, and a cozy vibe. I walked out of this awards contender feeling similar to how I did walking out of an Oscar-winning film I watched in 2023, specifically “The Holdovers.” “A Complete Unknown” is a movie that emits a sense of coziness. The movie practically puts you in a warm blanket. Again, this movie did not transition me into becoming a Bob Dylan fan. I am not going to go on YouTube just to listen to his music on a regular basis. But the musical sequences where we see Dylan’s folk songs come to life are most definitely comforting. If this movie is playing near you, give it a shot. I am going to give “A Complete Unknown” a 7/10.

“A Complete Unknown” is now playing in theaters everywhere. tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! And that is the last of the movies I saw in theaters in 2024! Coming soon, I will be talking about my top 10 best and worst movies of the year. Like the past couple years, I will be starting with the worst. Stay tuned! If you want to see these countdowns and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “A Complete Unknown?” What did you think about it? Or, what are your thoughts on Bob Dylan as an artist? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Babygirl (2024): “That’s Magic.” – Nicole Kidman

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Babygirl” is written and directed by Halina Reijn (Bodies Bodies Bodies, Instinct) and stars Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos, The Northman), Harris Dickinson (Beach Rats, Trust), Sophie Wilde (Everything Now, Boy Swallows Universe), and Antonio Banderas (Shrek 2, The Mask of Zorro). This film is about a CEO who puts her career and family on the line when she has an affair with a much younger intern.

I saw “Babygirl” at an AMC Theatres location. If you have been to an AMC in the past few years, you may know that Nicole Kidman has served as a bit of a mascot for the brand. I am not completely in love with this, as her spots make up part of the reason why the previews at AMC are so neverendingly long. Honestly, I would be happy if they get rid of the AMC spots containing Kidman altogether. Some see these spots as an anthem, but I find them to be an annoyance. Amazingly, during my screening of “Babygirl,” they did not play one of the Nicole Kidman spots on top of the other 26 or so minutes of theatre promotion and trailers and such. I was a bit perplexed. As much as I hate those ads, I think seeing one of them play before this film in particular would have set the mood.

That said, it does not change the fact that I was rather excited for “Babygirl.” The trailers I have seen for the film are well produced, and allowed me to have high expectations for what was to come. I had a sense of what the movie was about before going in. I think if anything, the trailers did a great job at letting the audience know what the vibe was going to be. The marketing looked fun, compelling, and perhaps most importantly, sexy. After all, desire plays a major part in this film’s narrative, particularly when it comes to the state of our protagonist, Romy.

“Babygirl” is going to end up being one of the more memorable movie experiences I have had this year. It is not my favorite movie of the year, but it is an experiential event. And it all starts at the beginning of the film when we see Romy’s major problem. The film impressively highlights Romy’s lack of desires with her husband (Banderas) and her struggle to fulfill herself in her sex life. We see this part of the story flesh itself out over time and it unleashes some great acting from both Kidman and Banderas. The two perfectly portray a couple who happen to be on a bit of a decline.

“Babygirl” delivers the vibes I was hoping I would get out of “Challengers.” A lot of people love “Challengers,” but I was not one of them. “Babygirl” is easily the steamiest film I have seen this year. This is a film that I would recommend watching, but I would think twice before putting it on when your parents, or especially your grandparents are in the same room. I think this could make for a hot movie to set the mood on date night. This is especially noticeable with the fiery chemistry between Nicole Kidman’s Romy and Harris Dickinson’s Samuel. Their boss/intern connection eventually develops into something not as necessarily safe for work. Several scenes between these two do much more than satisfy. They also beautifully fit within the context of the story. They help us get to know each of the characters. They remind the audience of Romy’s internal struggle. Both actors are completely believable as said scenes play out. Harris Dickinson was not on my radar previously. Although he had a role in 2022’s “See How They Run,” which I gave a positive review. Dickinson is not just good in this movie, I cannot see anyone else playing his specific character. I left this film wanting to see more of his work. If there is another Harris Dickinson movie coming out, consider me interested.

Now judging by what has been said so far, you might think that I will remember this movie for its eroticism. While that is definitely this movie’s top selling point, the film is layered when it comes to fleshing out its protagonist. I must reiterate, Nicole Kidman is a knockout in this film. She gives a powerful performance that I hope gets plenty of buzz in the coming months. But I love how this film manages to make its main character a CEO. We see Romy in a position of power at work. At home, she is busy raising a family and pleasing her husband to the point where she forgets to take care of herself. Additionally, this film is set around the holidays, which is traditionally a hectic time of year. Romy is busy being this wise, helpful presence in other people’s lives that when all of a sudden Samuel enters her own life, she cannot help but submit to him. I mentioned this film is steamy, but sex is just a selling point. As a character piece, “Babygirl” sings.

Though in more ways than one, “Babygirl” is easy on the eyes. The film has a clean look to it. The color palette looks like something out of an insurance commercial, but I mean that as a compliment. The film is certainly picturesque with some vibrant locations and sets. The camerawork is also very good. The shot choices consistently deliver on immersion. Select shots go on for extended periods of time, allowing me to take in and digest the actions of said shots. There is also one shot in the film that starts in the air and slowly navigates down to several of the characters as they walk through a yard. It is a breathtaking series of images.

Again this movie is set around the holidays, and it does maintain a joyful look to it, even if a good portion of it is spent inside a corporate office. In a sense, kind of like the holidays, the movie has a vibe that meets somewhere in the middle of noticeable stress and occasional happiness. Every moment in this film maintains a brisk pace and there are scenes I practically leapt into the screen. There is one scene at a rave that is arguably worth the price of admission. Although fair warning, if you have trouble with flashing lights, I recommend maybe sitting this movie out. For all I know, “Babygirl” could become a Christmas tradition for some people. Maybe not with the family. But I think if you are either by yourself or with your partner, this could make for a great watch around the holidays. While the films have their notable differences, I think “Babygirl” could even serve as part of a double feature with “Eyes Wide Shut.” After all, both films are associated with sexuality, feature Nicole Kidman, and are set around Christmas! It’s perfect! Also, as the Movie Reviewing Moron, I do not endorse watching “Eyes Wide Shut” with the family either. That’s a no-no.

Courtesy of A24 – © A24

In the end, “Babygirl” is 2024’s sexiest movie. Nicole Kidman gives a standout performance as Romy. The rest of the cast is also quite solid. Harris Dickinson also notably plays his role to perfection. The film is a great balance between vibes and characterization. I do recommend this film under the right circumstances. Again, do not watch if your parents or grandparents are in the room. Same goes if you have kids. But if you are in the right place at the right time, “Babygirl” is a must see. I am going to give “Babygirl” an 8/10.

“Babygirl” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for “A Complete Unknown,” the brand new movie starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan. If you want to see this review and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Babygirl?” What did you think about it? Or, what movie do you watch every year around the holidays? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Nosferatu (2024): Cinematic Production Value Meets Campy Choices in This Horror Flick

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Nosferatu” is directed by Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse, The Witch) and stars Bill Skarsgård (Barbarian, It), Nicholas Hoult (Juror #2, The Menu), Lily-Rose Depp (The Idol, Voyagers), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Godzilla), Emma Corrin (Deadpool & Wolverine, The Crown), and Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse, Spider-Man). This film centers around a married couple, and the events they go through in connection to a vampire.

© Focus Features

When I reviewed “Kraven the Hunter” last week, I said that at this point, I go to see Sony’s Spider-Man Universe Movies out of obligation. I love the genre “Kraven” falls into, but I cannot pretend that movie or any films closely related to it are the best representations of said genre. In addition to both of these movies featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, that is something “Kraven the Hunter” and “Nosferatu” have in common.

If I were to name a director who I do not particularly admire, even though many people say they are really hot right now, Robert Eggers is the one that comes to mind. I am not saying he is a bad person, nor am I saying he is incapable of making something great. But I think my tastes have not aligned with what he has delivered so far. It is not because I find all of his films to be too out of left field. In fact, “The Lighthouse” is a movie I find to be delightfully weird. I have not watched the film from start to finish since the theater, but I often go on YouTube just to watch the clip of the two main characters dancing to “Doodle Let Me Go.” It is one of the most oddly memorable pieces of cinema I have witnessed in my life. But I did not like “The Witch,” and if you read my review for “The Northman,” you would know I gave the film a barely passable score, but looking back, I have no real plans to watch the movie again and since watching it, I found the film itself to be quite forgettable. I remember it more for its quirks than anything else. If I were to review it again, my score might not be as generous. Admittedly, I was rather conflicted when I put my initial score down.

But as they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. With that in mind, I ventured through “Nosferatu” at a surprisingly packed screening. I was shocked to find out how many people were going to see this movie at 1 p.m. on a Friday at an AMC located inside of a dying suburban mall. Granted, it was also two days after Christmas and there are a good amount of people who had time off from school and work, but still, I am happy the movie is doing well business-wise. That said, I do wish the movie itself impressed me more.

I am not going to pretend “Nosferatu” is a terrible film that should be avoided at all costs. But in terms of script and directorial choices, there are some things that did not stick the landing for me. My experience with this film kind of reminds me of “Malignant.” That film’s contains a serious vibe, but also feels unpleasantly campy. While definitely less campy, “Nosferatu” also falls into the same boat. I say this as someone in a state of shock. Because I watched the trailers for this film and even though this was not my most anticipated release of the year, there are parts that legit looked like nightmare fuel. However, there are some choices that are made in the film that I found to be questionable at best, most notably regarding Lily-Rose Depp’s character, Ellen Hutter. The more I thought about this movie after seeing it, and this character is perhaps the biggest testament to this, this felt like a live-action cartoon. There is so much over the top acting, line delivery, and random motions to the point where the film feels like it belongs somewhere on Fox’s Animation Domination lineup.

I almost think “Nosferatu” would make for a good video game. Maybe that would be the case if they added a little more to the story or world, but I say this because this film has some over the top characters like the recently mentioned Ellen Hutter and Bill Skarsgård’s Count Orlok, AKA Nosferatu. I say this because one of the film’s main characters, Thomas Hutter, played by Nicholas Hoult, is easily the most down to earth individual in the story. This is noticeable by a significant margin when you consider the other characters in the cast. I think as a center of the film, if you can call him that, Thomas works because he feels the most like an everyday man. So in a sense, it makes the rest of the movie feel extraordinary, even if it occasionally results in something that feels tonally inconsistent. Hoult’s character has dialogue in the movie, but he reminds me of a typical video game protagonist because if you play certain titles like “The Legend of Zelda” or “Portal,” you would notice that the protagonists in those games never talk. Similarly, Thomas Hutter is definitely the quietest character on this film’s roster.

While this film is not the best for me in terms of its substance, I will compliment it in terms of its style. If I were to watch “Nosferatu” with the volume off, I would be okay with it. Because the film has astounding production design that took me back in time to 19th century Germany. All the architecture and streets looked stunning. The color palette for this film is on the darker side, and it works completely. There are moments of the movie where there is more vivid color on display, and those moments feel all the more appealing when they happen. It comes off as a breath of fresh air.

Similarly, the cinematography is also very good. This film is shot by Jarin Blaschke, who also shot all the previous Robert Eggers-directed films. The two have proven to have a loyal partnership and seem to understand each other. As much as I do not love Eggers’ work, the cinematography is by no means offensive. It is actually a standout element in each of these projects. The film, like Eggers’ others, has some immersive closeups and shots where we center on the characters’ faces. There are some cool looking dolly techniques. There is one shot that caught my attention where a hand’s shadow is flying in the air. Even if I forget about some things in “Nosferatu,” and that is honestly looking like it is going to be the case. That shot is probably going to be something I will remember. Robert Eggers, like many directors, has his consistencies. If there is one that I could call a favorite, it is his continued collaboration with cinematographer Jarin Blaschke. I hope these two continue to work together as much as possible, even if their next film ends up not being great.

In the end, “Nosferatu” is yet another point as to why Robert Eggers is not my favorite filmmaker. I know he has his fans, but I am not one of them. While “Nosferatu” is far from the worst horror title I have ever seen, I did find it to be rather dull. Additionally, it is also the worst thing that a horror title can be. Not scary. I do not recall a single moment where I felt terrified during this entire film. The scare attempts range anywhere between lazy to overdone. There is no goldilocks zone in between these extremes. Is the film pretty to the naked eye? Sure. But I do wish the narrative compelled me just a little bit more. I am going to give “Nosferatu” a 5/10.

“Nosferatu” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! My next reviews are going to be for “Babygirl” and “A Complete Unknown.” Once those are done, it is time to talk about my best and worst movies of 2024! If you want to see more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Nosferatu?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite horror movie released in 2024? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Flow (2024): 2024’s Quietest and Most Unique Animated Film

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Flow” is directed by Gints Zilbalodis (Away, Oasis) and is an animated film featuring no voice actors and no dialogue. This film is about a stray cat whose home is devastated by a great flood. After finding refuge on a boat, the feline must team up with different kinds of animals and cooperate with them despite everyone’s differences.

I saw the trailer for “Flow” once when I was in the cinema. Specifically, when I was watching one of my favorite movies of the year, “Look Back.” The film looked different but wonderfully simple. I am not much a cat person, nor an animal person really. Nevertheless, I was intrigued. But I almost forgot about it until it came out. I saw this film on December 21st, the same weekend that another big cat movie was coming out, “Mufasa: The Lion King.” I had no interest in supporting yet another one of Disney’s live-action remakes. 2016’s “Jungle Book”-aside, which has truly stunning visual effects, none of them really interested me. So I decided to go see “Flow” instead since I had the time. I have not heard a single bad thing about this movie before I went in, so naturally I should like this movie right?…

Of course! Ladies and gentlemen, whatever hype comes your way regarding “Flow,” believe it. This movie is amazing!

“Flow” is not my favorite movie of the year, but it is up there. It is certainly one of the best animated movies of the year. If it ends up taking some of the Best Animated Feature categories during the awards shows this season, I will applaud its victory. My top 10 BEST movies of the year is coming within the next couple weeks or so, and right now in terms of animations, “Flow” belongs in the big three and has a chance of getting on the list, or at least an honorable mention. You have “Flow,” the recently mentioned “Look Back,” and the Hollywood-produced flick “The Wild Robot.” When it comes to that last film, “Flow” has some striking similarities to it. For one thing, both heavily involve animals. Granted, the animals are utilized in significantly different ways. “The Wild Robot” uses animals as secondary characters, and they are voiced by people. As for “Flow,” not only do the animals lack human voices, they are literally the only characters in this movie. No humans, no robots, no aliens. I mean, humans are animals. Still, I am sure many of you have the common sense to understand my point. Both films even present a possible reality that society could face if we are not careful enough. Both films seem to imply that mankind has ruined the earth with our own activities and did not do enough to deal with climate change. There are scenes in each picture where you can see risen water levels, particularly around manmade structures and buildings. In fact, as established previously, the film is about a cat trying to survive after a great flood.

Another similarity I can state is that I have iffy thoughts on the animation. Although I will be fair to “Flow” because it is not produced at as high of a budget as say a DreamWorks or Illumination movie, therefore I can forgive the film’s cheap look every once in a while. That said, there are times where it does look cheap. I will compliment the animation for its vibrant color palette and smooth feel. That said, if were to take certain frames out of context, I would say those frames could end up feeling cheap. At the same time, however, considering the budget of this movie, €3.5 million, which translates to $3.6 million, the animation does present a decent amount of detail. The animation style of this film, even though it feels minimalistic, is by no means bad. It is actually somewhat lifelike. If these animals were in our world, I would buy them if they had a few more specks of detail added to their bodies. There were also several shots in the movie that put me into the frame, not just because of the detail on display, but because of how long such shots went on. Some moments of this film kind of reminded me of action scenes from “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” “Atomic Blonde,” or “Zombieland: Double Tap,” where the sequence is all done in a way to make things look as if it were a single shot. “Flow” has one or two great shots that go on for an extended time. Safe to say, I was captivated.

Speaking of things that are lifelike, I admire this movie’s unique approach to have no spoken dialogue. Literally the only utterances in this film are animal sounds. This is an animated movie, and I know that these kinds of films often do well with children. There were children at my screening for the record. Although I wonder how this particular film is going to sit with the children who end up watching it. In films like these, where animals dominate the cast, children are often used to seeing them speak our own languages. I think a film like this could be a good watch for children if you want to give them a challenge. The film never “tells” the audience what it is about. It trusts the audience to understand what is happening. Even if you were to present this film to a child and they do not quite understand what is happening, I am sure that they will like watching the animals. I am sure they will enjoy the spectacle. I think there are things that they can appreciate. Although if this film were to get repeat viewings, they might pick up more as they rewatch it. I often talk about how accessible Pixar movies are not just for children, but also adults. “Flow” is in the same boat. I think this is a great movie for all ages that does not resort to immature gags or tired humor. Kind of like Pixar’s “Wall-E,” very little is said in the movie, but the film itself has a lot to say regarding our future, and offers an exciting adventure at the same time.

As I said before, I am not an animal person. Therefore, it should also not surprise you that I am not a pet person. However, I have been around dogs extensively so I know some of the realistic tendencies that were on display from those specific characters during the movie. I think dog owners will appreciate those being in the film. I think if you are a pet owner and you watch this movie, or at the very least, if you have been around these animals for extended periods of time, you will be able to appreciate this film for the little actions it sprinkles in the script here and there.

In the end, “Flow” is a must see movie that ranks as one of the best animations of the year. The style is sometimes iffy, but also kind of charming. The film has a lively adventure, great score, and ultimately, something for everyone. If you do not mind movies without dialogue, this should definitely be a priority on your movie to-do list. I have no clue on what the replay value for this movie will be, but I think that “Flow” is a movie that everyone should watch at least once. I am going to give “Flow” a 9/10.

“Flow” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now.

© www.screenrant.com

Thanks for reading this review! Ladies and gentlemen, we are down to the final three movies I saw in theaters in 2024! My next reviews are going to be for “Nosferatu,” “Babygirl,” and “A Complete Unknown.” Once these reviews are done, it is time once again for the end of the year countdowns! Look forward to my top 10 WORST movies of 2024 and my top 10 BEST movies of 2024, coming to Scene Before next year. If you want to see these posts and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Flow?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite animated movie you saw this year? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024): Colorful Spectacle and Obnoxious Dialogue Overshadows Stakes in This Threequel

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is directed by Jeff Fowler, who also directed the previous “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies. This film stars Jim Carrey (Batman Forever, The Mask), Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation, The Afterparty), Krysten Ritter (Veronica Mars, Gilmore Girls), Shemar Moore (S.W.A.T., Criminal Minds), Colleen O’Shaughnessey (Digimon, Naruto), James Marsden (X-Men, Superman Returns), Tika Sumpter (Mixed-ish, Ride Along), Idris Elba (Pacific Rim, The Suicide Squad), and Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, John Wick). This film follows Sonic and his team as they face a new enemy, Shadow the Hedgehog. When the team realizes the potential dangers of Shadow’s power, they choose to band together with an unlikely ally to stop him.

Video game adaptations have had an iffy history at best. Yes, on the television side you have hits like “The Last of Us” and “Arcane,” but as far as movies go, there is not a single title I imagine most people would consider to be a masterpiece. Sure, the 1995 “Mortal Kombat” had some charm to it. It is definitely not a horrible movie. Same goes with 2023’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” which I have no plans to watch ever again, but I would be lying to you if I said it was inferior to 1993’s “Super Mario Bros.” adaptation.

The “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies have made for an interesting franchise. And I do believe “interesting” is the best word to use in this case. Because neither of the two movies I have seen up to this point have been bad. I thought the first one in particular is quite fun and offers replay value. It has a simple but effective story. Ben Schwartz is a great pick to voice Sonic. Jim Carrey as Robotnik may go down as some of the best casting of the decade. The climax is really fun. Overall, it is a good time for all ages. Then we get to “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” which maintains some of the positives of the original. You have good visual effects, nice sound design, and a pretty cool third act. But the film also drags because there is an abysmally irritating wedding subplot that makes no sense. There were other things to make up for it. I even gave the film a 6/10 in my review. But that score was pretty generous if you asked me. For the record, I bought the original “Sonic the Hedgehog” and watched it at home after checking it out in the cinema. The same cannot be said for the sequel.

They say you are only as good as your last project. And while I had a positive experience with “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” I still found it disappointing. So my expectations for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” while they were not sitting right at rock bottom, were also not that high. But those expectations shot up with a pretty solid marketing campaign. I thought by the end it gave away a little too much, but the trailers were funny and promised something a little darker than the other two installments. I was ultimately onboard.

So what did I think? Eh, the movie’s fine.

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is in fact a step up from “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” But the movie is also nowhere near as good as the original “Sonic the Hedgehog.” Though if I had to name a positive for not only this movie, but all three movies so far, it is that they maintain a sense of consistency. They all feel like they belong in the same universe and work well off each other. As a trilogy, the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies are not quite as good as say “Lord of the Rings.” But just like “Lord of the Rings,” the movies feel perfectly interconnected. Coincidentally, both of these trilogies are done through a singular vision. All the “Lord of the Rings” movies were directed by Peter Jackson, and all the “Sonic the Hedgehog” installments were helmed by Jeff Fowler. If there is anyone who is perhaps responsible for “Sonic’s” consistency, Fowler is perhaps the most likely candidiate. They even got the same writers for all three movies. Pat Casey and Josh Miller wrote the first movie together. The two ended up coming back for the sequels along with John Whittington.

This leads me to perhaps the most robust assertion I could perhaps make about “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” If you really liked “Sonic the Hedgehog” and its sequel, you are going to like “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” If you find those first two movies to be bad, then chances are you will feel the same way about this latest installment. As for me, I made it clear I liked the first two movies. I did not love either of them, in fact, I would even say “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” is barely passable, so to have the third one find itself on the lower end of my positive scale comes as almost no surprise whatsoever.

One of my complaints about the second movie was the dialogue. For the record, the dialogue in the second film feels similar to the first. But every other minute Sonic is spewing out some random pop culture joke or some semblance of words that come close to such a thing and not many of them land. This film seems to maintain my dialogue distaste. There is a lot of obnoxious chit chat and a lot of the lines feel overly cartoony. Yes, I know this film has animated characters. But even for something like this, it comes off as overblown. That said, the film does still get the occasional laugh from our hero characters.

However, the biggest laughs in the film, perhaps unsurprisingly, come from Jim Carrey. Jim Carrey is back in this film doing double duty. Not only is he back for his third portrayal of Doctor Ivo Robotnik, but he is also playing his grandfather, Professor Gerald Robotnik. Seeing Jim Carrey play both of these characters at the same time makes for a weird, wacky, and fun experience like no other. I think Carrey is the best part of these movies. I say that even though I do think his material in the second film hindered his performance a bit. As for this third film, it is nice to see Carrey getting some funny, ludicrous material to work with. Every time he was on screen, I had a grin on my face.

This film also introduces a new hedgehog character, Shadow. Keanu Reeves plays the role, which I think is a great choice. Having heard the character’s voice in certain video games, this is fairly decent match. Also when it comes to Shadow’s design, Reeves’ voice seems to mesh well with the character. But as much as I liked the trailers for this film, my one worry was that Shadow would sound too much like Keanu Reeves was playing himself. I felt a lot of John Wick-isms in his execution. I like “John Wick,” but one problem I have with celebrity voice casting is that the celebrities sound so much like themselves that they fail to blend in with their character. Having seen Shadow, I can say there are scenes where Keanu clearly sounds like he is playing himself, but by no means is he phoning it in. I saw a little bit of Keanu in the performance, yet simultaneously, I saw all Shadow if that makes any sense.

Also to a certain degree, I liked seeing Shadow’s backstory. While I am one to complain about this movie being a bit obnoxious at times, I think Shadow’s backstory occasionally makes for some solid visual storytelling. There is even some decent dialogue. The film also develops a nice little commonality between Sonic and Shadow, particularly how the two were able to find humans with whom they became best friends sometime after their arrival to earth. We saw this previously with Sonic and Tom Wachowski, AKA “Donut Lord.” Shadow seems to develop a similar connection with a young girl named Maria.

If I were a young kid watching this movie, I would probably have a great time with it. There is a lot of action, adventure, and humor. This would probably be a frequent watch in my house if I were 9 or 10 years old. As a 25 year old, I am trying to think about what this movie teaches our children. Sure, it is over the top and zany to no end. But I think it delivers positive lessons. Shadow’s presence in the movie makes me think lots of children will be introduced to the potential negatives of animal testing. On the hero’s side of the spectrum, the film also showcases the importance of teamwork and the complications of making the right choice.

Photo by [Paramount Pictures and Sega of A, Inc.]/Paramount Pictures and – © 2024 Par. Pics & SEGA

I talked about how I think “Sonic 3” is a step up from “Sonic 2,” and there is another improvement regarding this film I have not mentioned yet, the humans. For one thing, the humans’ involvement in “Sonic 3” raise far fewer questions as to the logistics of the plot. There are some moments of the movie in general that I thought were a bit far-fetched, but still. We also tend to focus more on Sonic and his crew this time around as opposed to the humans. Granted, Tom and Maddie do play a significant role in the film. Though their use throughout the runtime is much more pleasing compared to the last film. This film is also noticeably tighter than “Sonic the Hedgehog 2.” Though it should come as no surprise considering “Sonic 3” is 13 minutes shorter. But they seemed to have trimmed out the fluff so to speak. In terms of plot, characters, and overall details, the film is definitely more complicated than this franchise’s kickstarter. But by no means does the film feel terribly overstuffed or boring. There is never a dull moment in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” There are slower moments, there are cheesy moments. However not once did I want to fall asleep watching this movie.

I said before that one of my complaints about this movie is that it is a little overly cartoony. And if you watch cartoons, you would know that the characters from one episode to the next behave very similarly to how they do in the last. That makes sense for consistency’s sake. You can even say the same thing in other television shows done in live-action, but it is especially noticeable in cartoons. I watched this movie and I noticed not only are Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles very similar to how they behave in the second movie, Knuckles in particular almost feels too similar. Sure, we learn that apparently he has picked up some pop culture knowledge. We see him make a “Pokemon” joke early on in the film. Even with that in mind, Knuckles still sounds like a fish out of water when it comes to concepts with which many earthlings would happen to understand. I do not know exactly how long this movie takes place after “Sonic 2,” but if Knuckles is still behaving the way he is, the timejump cannot be that far. At least for logic’s sake I hope that is the case.

Throughout the review we have talked about just how consistent this property has been. This has resulted in positives like Jim Carrey continuing to kill it as Robotnik and some action-packed third acts. But it has also resulted in negatives like a lack of character development or nonsensical scenes. There is one more consistency that if this franchise were to continue for some time, I hope gets addressed. By the end of this film, I left feeling the stakes in this franchise are minimal. I am not going to dive into detail, but the “Sonic the Hedgehog” franchise somewhat feels like the “Fast & Furious” franchise for a younger audience. Yes, both are action-packed films involving speed and globetrotting missions. But the further we get into the franchise, the more I am convinced that several characters are perhaps either invincible or lucky.

I understand that the “Sonic” franchise is a hit with younger viewers and the people behind it would therefore not want to make it too dark. But this franchise keeps adding new faces that it just makes you wonder when the heck it is going to suddenly get rid of one of them. “Sonic the Hedgehog” is a decent moneymaker for Paramount. As good as it may be now to have all the movies feel the same, it also risks running the franchise into the ground and having it feel bland. We have seen this problem with the Michael Bay-directed “Transformers” franchise, another popular product of Paramount. While the movies tend to have slight differences, they for the most part come off as carbon copies of one another. Despite my complaint, if Jeff Fowler and the same writing team were to come back for “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” I would be onboard. They have a proven track record, even if it is not the greatest. Although I think it would be fun to see someone put their own creative spin into the franchise.

Also, one more consistency to bring up, this film has some extra material during the credits. There is a mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene. Stick around for both of them.

In the end, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is not a bad movie. In fact, by the standards of video game movies, it is one of the better ones. Despite that, the movie is still not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination. I think it is a step up from the last “Sonic” outing, but still not good enough to rival the original. Also, as far as video game movies go, I think it is slightly more watchable than “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” This feels more like a movie compared to that film, which literally just comes off as an hour and a half of nonstop easter eggs and references just for the sake of forced nostalgia within a generic storyline. The voicework in this film, per usual, is top notch. The human characters are a noticeable improvement compared to the previous installment. Shadow is a nice addition to the franchise. But the jokes are off and on, the dialogue is a little too obnoxious, and I know this is a movie about a talking hedgehog, but even with that in mind, there are things in this film that feel a tad far-fetched. If you like the last two movies, this is definitely for you. If not, maybe go see something else. I am going to give “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” a 6/10.

“Sonic the Hedgehog 3” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now!

Thanks for reading this review! Stay tuned for my thoughts on films including “Flow,” “Nosferatu,” “Babygirl,” and “A Complete Unknown.” If you want to see more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Sonic the Hedgehog 3?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies so far? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024): Nowhere Near the Quality of Peter Jackson’s Original Trilogy, But Still Precious Enough to Get by

Posted on by Jack Drees

“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” is directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Blade Runner: Black Lotus) and stars Brian Cox (Succession, X2: X-Men United), Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods, The Chelsea Detective), Luke Pasqualino (Skins, The Musketeers), and Miranda Otto (Talk to Me, War of the Worlds). This film is set 183 years before the original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and is about the tale of Helm Hammerhand (Cox) and how his family went about defending themselves against an army of Dunlendings.

Just a warning for those who need to know… I have not read a single “Lord of the Rings” book. I have not lacked desire to read the books, I just never got around to it. But I have seen every single Peter Jackson-directed “Lord of the Rings” film, including “The Hobbit” trilogy. I enjoyed all those movies. There are even a couple of those movies I would even considerto be amongst the greatest of all time. If you have not seen these movies, you are missing out and owe it to yourself to give them a watch at least once in your life.

It has been ten years since the last theatrically released “Lord of the Rings” film, specifically “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” As a fan of these movies, I thought they had a good run, but I would have been fine knowing that is all we were getting. I am well aware on the TV side, “The Rings of Power” is doing well on Prime Video in terms of finding an audience after a couple seasons, but I cannot give my thoughts on it since I have not seen a single episode. Though when they announced a new animated “Lord of the Rings” film was coming, I was not against the idea, but my reaction to it reminds me of the reaction I had when I first heard about “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” My thought was… “Okay then.” I was not completely uninterested, but I also was not going to be first in line to check it out.

Then I got the recommendation of my life, and I swear on my unborn children, this is a true story.

I went to a taping of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in October and during a Q&A, Colbert picked me to ask him a question. I was one of three people. I asked him, “Have you seen any good movies lately?” To which he responds, “Yes.”

…

Following the audience’s laughter, he asks, “Would you like to know which ones?”

I say, “If you would like to tell me about them.”

That is when he recommends this movie. He saw it early. This is no surprise considering Colbert has established himself as a J.R.R. Tolkien and “Lord of the Rings” fanboy. He told the audience and I that the film matches the feel that he got out of the Tolkien books and the Peter Jackson films. Granted, I was aware that he was going to be hosting a panel for the film at New York Comic Con the next day, so this may as well be a plug for the movie.

That said, if it was good enough for Stephen Colbert, it was good enough for me.

So without dillydallying any longer, I thought the movie was fine.

As far as “The Lord of the Rings” film franchise goes, I think this is the weakest of the films I have seen so far. This is not to say it is bad. If anything it is just that most of the other ones are so good that this film easily pales in comparison to them. It is like when I watched “Lightyear.” I thought almost every “Toy Story” movie was a masterpiece of animation and storytelling, then we get to the “Lightyear” spinoff, which was fun but it did not have the impact on me that the “Toy Story” movies did.

I will admit, Colbert was correct on one thing. Tonally, this film feels like it belongs in Jackson’s Middle-earth. That said, it does so maybe to an unhealthy degree. The film is a nice welcoming back to that universe with the familiar title cards and Howard Shore’s music. For the record, Howard Shore did not do the music for this movie, it was instead composed by Stephen Gallagher, who I thought did an okay job. I am not going to go back to listen to the score on my own time unlike some of Shore’s work, but I thought it fit the movie. There are also some pieces of fan service that have ties to the Jackson films, including one towards the end that involves someone’s voice that audiences have not heard in a new film for a long, long time. I thought it was a clever addon towards the film’s conclusion.

“The War of the Rohirrim” is done in the style of an anime. You have this colorful 2D look to the film with a rough pace to it. When I watched the trailer for this film previously, I thought it looked cool. Having seen the movie, I would say it is cool to a degree, but also kind of underwhelming. There are many scenes where we see some vibrant colors, finely detailed characters, and some nice landscapes. But there are other scenes that either lack detail, feel slapped together, done on the cheap, or flat. They lack a sense of realism. Now I know you can get away with a lack of realism in animation. But this lack of realism honestly equals a lack of flair at times.

The same can be said for the actual journey of the film and what we see our hero, specifically Hera, go through. I will give credit for the film for one thing, nearly each and every scene, even if it is subtle, oozes with conflict. Who is gonna live? Who is gonna die? Will our hero make it? The film is a lot of things, but uneventful is not one of them. Speaking of Hera, Gaia Wise does a great job voicing her. Wise’s resume is not huge, but I would not mind seeing her in more projects. Though as I watched the movie, the progression of the story seemed to lack unpredictability or a sense of originality. The structure feels familiar. Granted, even the better “Lord of the Rings” films are not that complex when it comes to the plot as they are with the world involving said plot. Most of the films are essentially about the characters navigating from point A to point B. This is not as much the case with “The War of the Rohirrim,” which spends most of its time around one specific portion of Middle Earth. The scope feels a bit smaller. But the earlier films were simply much more well executed in terms of bringing the best out of a familiar journey. Not to mention, for the time they came out, Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” films had monumental special effects, whereas the animation for this film, while definitely different, lacks innovation.

“The War of the Rohirrim” is a standalone “Lord of the Rings” project. There are no continuations planned for it. By that logic, this should make “The War of the Rohirrim” a good watch in the franchise if you do not want to worry about keeping up with the greater lore. While this is true, I will also say if you are a more casual “Lord of the Rings” fan or someone looking for a place to start, I do not think “The War of the Rohirrim” is a priority. Is it a good movie? Yes. If anything, while the negatives stand out, I think I lean a little more positive when it comes to my overall verdict. While Hera’s journey has cliches, it is still engaging. The soundwork for the film is quite solid. Tonally, this film is very good. If you love Brian Cox’s voice, you will hear plenty of it in this film. Every time Cox speaks as Helm Hammerhand, he steals the scene. If you are a “Lord of the Rings” casual, there is a chance you might walk out of the movie thinking it is a thumbs up. If you are perhaps a more hardcore fan of the franchise, there could be something more for you. But I also think most people who watch this movie will end up saying that it is not as good as any of the films in Jackson’s original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. As for ranking this film against “The Hobbit” trilogy, I am not sure. I know it has its fans, and I am one of them. I personally find “Desolation of Smaug” to be one of my favorite movies. But if it were a Friday night, I ordered a pizza, and I needed a movie to go with it, I might put on “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” which I thought to be the weakest of the “Lord of the Rings” installments for a long time, before watching “The War of the Rohirrim” again.

Although speaking of “An Unexpected Journey,” this brings me to a negative I sometimes found with both that film and “The War of the Rohirrim.” As engaged as I was in the journey, I wish I found myself more attached to some of the characters. I do not think I am going to remember some of these characters’ names a couple years from now. If you want a good movie, watch “The War of the Rohirrim.” But if you are looking for the best possible “Lord of the Rings” experience, Peter Jackson might have some better options available.

In the end, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” was a fine time at the movies, especially compared to the film this one opened against, “Kraven the Hunter.” Both of these films are flops at this point. Neither of them likely have any chance of making their budgets back. But if you had to pick between one of these losers to watch in the cinema right now, then “The War of the Rohirrim” is definitely the winner. The film is a fun adventure that sometimes comes off as cliche. Some of these cliches are handled well, others not so much. The cast is likable, even if I am probably not going to remember some of these characters in a couple years. The action scenes have their moments. And for the most part, I was engaged in the journey. This film is not playing in a ton of places right now, but if you have a cinema loyalty subscription like AMC A-List or Regal Unlimited, use it for this film. Either that or find a showtime at matinee price. Even though I think the film looks cheap at times, the sound design makes up for it. There are moments where the film does become wonderfully obnoxious and immersive. I am going to give “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” a 6/10.

“The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” is now playing in theaters and is now available to rent or buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! If you enjoyed this review, I have more coming! Stay tuned for my thoughts on “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” “Flow,” “Nosferatu,” and “Babygirl.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim?” What did you think about it? Or, have you seen “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power?” For those who have seen it, tell me your thoughts! Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Kraven the Hunter (2024): Sony… PLEASE. STOP.

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Kraven the Hunter” is directed by J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year, Margin Call) and stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Godzilla, Avengers: Age of Ultron), Ariana DeBose (West Side Story, Wish), Fred Hechinger (The White Lotus, Gladiator II), Alessandro Nivola (Amsterdam, Jurassic Park III), Christopher Abbott (Girls, The Sinner), and Russell Crowe (Thor: Love and Thunder, Gladiator). This film is about Sergei Kravinoff, AKA Kraven the Hunter, and explores his complex relationship with his father in addition to how he uses his hunting skills to find targets and seek revenge.

© Sony Pictures Entertainment

Have you guys ever heard the saying “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me,”? That phrase could almost apply to my experience with the Sony Spider-Man Universe. Note the use of the word almost. I say this because I basically go to see Sony’s Spider-Man villain standalone films out of obligation. Very rarely do I look forward to these movies. I think the closest I got to actually looking forward to one of these movies was “Morbius,” which ended up being my worst film of 2022. Although now that I think about it, I was intrigued by at least one trailer for “Venom: Let There be Carnage” before it came out. At least there is that.

For those playing catchup, let me give you the rundown so far on my thoughts on all the movies in the Sony Spider-Man universe… First “Venom” movie… Terrible! A lot of people seem to think it is okay. I think it is one of the most bland, boring, and horribly polished comic book movies ever made. Second “Venom” movie… Actually, pretty good. I thought the action was fun, it ups the one good thing about the original movie, specifically the humor. And it contains maybe the greatest PG-13 f-bomb in cinematic history. “Morbius…” A big fat joke! Other than Jared Leto’s performance and parts of the first act, there is nothing redeeming about this film. Oh yeah, let’s not forget that the marketing lied to its audience and the film may be responsible for the most tacked on and abysmal end credits scenes of all time. “Madame Web…” somehow WORSE than “Morbius!” Not even big name actors can save this abomination! Also, for some reason, this schlock saw the light of day despite being written by the same team who wrote “Morbius.” Bad dialogue, okay at best action, horrible camerawork, and another case of deceptive marketing. Genuinely one of the worst films I have ever seen, and if you think I am saying this for dramatic effect, I have some magic beans to sell you. And lastly, “Venom: The Last Dance…” Safe to say, I was immensely bored. Other than the chemistry between Eddie and the titular character on top of one admirable motivation between them, I thought this threequel was a waste of time. Add on a whole Area 51 subplot that nearly put me to sleep, then you have a recipe for, surprisingly, the second best Sony Spider-Man Universe movie. How sad.

Thus far, the Sony Spider-Man Universe, or whatever you want to call it at this point, is one for five. People say the recently finished DCEU sucks compared to the MCU? Oh, boy oh boy, this universe WISHES it were the DCEU! That universe has cinematic bangers like “Wonder Woman” and “The Suicide Squad!” The DCEU even spawned the incredible TV series “Peacemaker!” While definitely inconsistent, when that cinematic universe fired on all cylinders, it was on the right track. But “Kraven the Hunter” had something attached to it that the other movies did not… An R rating! Yeah! That “Morbius” nonsense? That is for babies! Now it is daddy’s turn! If “Deadpool” can get away with an R, so can “Kraven!”

Having seen the movie, it may be able to get away with an R, but it certainly is not getting away from my infinite rage. This is yet another epic fail for Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Though am I really surprised?

Sony, how many times do we have to do this same old song and dance before it becomes stale? I think this is a great question.

…If I were an imbecile!

This whole Sony Spider-Man Barrel of Monkeys was already stale from the first of these wannabe “Spider-Man” flicks. I ask this question specifically to you guys. Genuinely! What on earth are you doing?! What is it going to take for this saga of nonsense to end?! I understand that the rights to “Spider-Man” are your most valuable asset, but if you keep making movies like these, then this whole property is going to be a joke. Tom Holland is not going to be playing the character forever. The “Spider-Verse” series can only go on for so long. You can only do so many crossovers involving the three live-action Spider-Men before they stop acting. The solution is not to continue making cheap, boring anti-hero movies featuring villains as the main character. Movies like “Kraven the Hunter” justify cases where movies like “Batgirl” get scrapped by the studio for a tax write-off.

Honestly, if someone popped me the question as to which movie I would want to watch more, and I had to pick between the first “Venom” and “Kraven the Hunter,” I might go with “Venom!” At least in “Venom,” you had some occasional funny lines and some decent chemistry between the two main characters. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is clearly giving the lead role his all here. But he does not have a great script to back him up. While Aaron Taylor-Johnson is playing the lead role, he is not even the most high profile actor on the roster. The film also features Russell Crowe, and I think it is safe to say that I was not entertained by his completely one-dimensional so-called character. Crowe plays Kraven’s father, and not only is he unworthy of even a Dollar Tree card on Father’s Day, but he has incredibly repetitive, cliche dialogue. The movie clearly establishes him as far from the finest father figure. That seems to be the point at times. But I cared so little about the story and characters of this film to the point where Crowe’s character comes off as a joke.

Then you have Ariana DeBose, who is one of the most dynamic, lively, energetic talents working today. The woman in the past couple years deservedly won an Academy Award for “West Side Story.” She was also pretty good in other films following that, even if they did not get the best reviews. Unpopular opinion, I really liked “Wish…” I said what I said. DeBose, to my shock and amazement, plays one of the most forgettable core characters of a comic book film I have ever seen. If you were to ask me what the purpose of this character was in a few years from now, I will probably refer to her as the boring tarot card lady or something, because while her presence serves the story, it does so in maybe the dullest way possible. Shoutout to Sony for making two movies in the same year that somehow made me give me even less of a crap about tarot cards than I already do. Anybody remember the film “Tarot” from earlier this year? No? If you are loyal to this blog you will hear about it again soon on the top 10 worst movies of 2024 list once I get finished with that. You know, kind of like this atrocity some like to call a comic book movie.

Going back to what I said about “Madame Web” and how a big name cast could not save the film from being bad. I think “Kraven the Hunter” somehow takes that inferiority to another level. Because yes, Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney have been in big projects. Some good, some bad. That is the classic life of an actor, but they are both lucky enough to achieve their level of fame. Sweeney has been nominated for a couple Primetime Emmys so congrats to her. That said, “Kraven the Hunter” is much more excruciating to think about because while “Madame Web’s” Sweeney has gotten some awards attention, “Kraven” has multiple actors who have actually have prestigious awards on their mantle.

© Sony Pictures Entertainment

Again, you have Russell Crowe who has an extended career, an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globes. Circling back to Ariana DeBose, it was like watching Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy in “Batman & Robin,” but worse. Because while Thurman was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in “Pulp Fiction,” a couple years before that flopbuster came out, DeBose actually WON her Academy Award. I do not think DeBose’s performance is Razzie-worthy. There is nothing extreme about it that makes it stand out as one of the worst performances of all time. The best word I can use to describe it would be “tiring.” I guess that is one reason to watch this movie again. If I am really tired and want to catch some z’s, “Kraven the Hunter” might make for solid background noise.

I will be fair to Crowe, however. As infuriating as his character is to watch, I must admit he makes the most of a crappy script with his chops. Crowe does his best with the material to the point where I almost cannot imagine anyone else in his role. So… Yay?…

Courtesy of Sony Pictures – © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Another actor I enjoyed watching in this hot mess? Aaron Taylor-Johnson. No, it is not because of his abs. He legit does an okay job as the lead. Again, his character is not written well. But I buy him in the role. He is not perfect, but he definitely has an inkling of charisma. I just wish such charisma were saved for something that would not be a waste of my time and money. That is another consistency with these Sony movies. As much as I do not like “Venom,” I still think Tom Hardy is well cast as the lead role. Same goes for Jared Leto in “Morbius.”

For those of you who saw the first eight minutes of the movie when it dropped online, you would know it starts off with, admittedly, a halfway decent action sequence. That adjective might as well be used to describe a good amount of the action in this film. The action does not reinvent the wheel. There are a couple cuts that I thought were a little too quick, but for the most part, the action is one of the better parts of the movie. “Kraven the Hunter” sometimes finds its footing in some places, but when it comes to structure, that is definitely not one of those places. Sure, the movie starts off with a decent action scene that could likely hook viewers into the story. But then we get to the part of the film that dives into Kraven’s origins. The timing of this transition feels abrupt and out of place. Given the length of these moments and how long it deviates from what we already saw in Kraven’s adulthood, I would have preferred for the final cut of the film to start with Kraven’s origins. It would allow me to more easily know and understand the characters that way if we were to get to an action sequence like the one we see at the beginning, I would probably care a little more about the people in the scene and possibly the sequence itself.

I will give props to Sony for not hiring Mark Sazama and Burk Sharpless to write this film. Although to be fair, they were probably already busy figuring out how to beat the odds and make a worse screenplay for “Madame Web” than they did for “Morbius.” Spoiler alert, they did. Instead, this film has three writers. You have Richard Wenk, known for writing the “Equalizer” movies starring Denzel Washington. I have not watched those films, but I have heard good things. His resume contains some other notable work, but oddly enough, I cannot give my opinion on any of his titles because I never watched any of them. As for the other two writers, you have Art Marcum and Matt Holloway. These are two of the four writers responsible for one of the better Marvel Cinematic Universe films, “Iron Man.” Although the rest of their resume is not particularly great. There is “Men in Black: International,” which I actually liked. But there are also a lot of people who would challenge my unpopular opinion. They just did “Uncharted,” which has a couple cool action scenes, but the screenplay has nothing that stands out about it. The film itself is rather unmemorable. Then we travel back in time to my least favorite movie of theirs, “Transformers: The Last Knight.” My biggest problem with the film is with the headache-inducing use of IMAX technology that honestly leaves no one but Michael Bay to blame. But if I had another notable problem, it is that the film’s script repeats the problems of the previous movies, but somehow delivers maybe the least engaging journey the franchise has given yet. Going back even further to a movie I did not see, these two even did “Punisher: War Zone,” which was not only poorly reviewed, but with more than $10 million total, it made less money at the box office than any other movie based on Marvel Comics. Part of me is convinced that Sony could be having a streak of bad luck, but then I look at the resumes of the people they hire and I think either their options are limited, they are choosing the wrong people, or they have better options out there and do not want to spend more money on them. I have no clue.

Courtesy of Sony Pictures – © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In all seriousness though, this trio of writers managed to join forces to create one of the most snore-inducing films of the year. I do not think there is any way to sugarcoat this. It is also full of Academy Award-level lines like “I’m a hunter.” In addition to Russell Crowe repeatedly telling his boys, and therefore the audience, that their mother died and she was weak. As I watched this movie and came to realize the director and cast handled their material, I honestly thought “Kraven the Hunter” has a feel that is kind of similar to “The Room.” I say kind of because unlike “The Room,” the chances of me ever watching “Kraven the Hunter” again are pretty slim. But this is a movie that I can honestly watch, acknowledge how bad it is, and sometimes burst out laughing for the wrong reasons. If you want a more genre-related example, I will go back to the recently mentioned “Batman & Robin.” It definitely makes me laugh, but the humor sometimes feels accidental.

You know the Island of Misfit Toys from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?” If there were ever a place I could associate with this universe, that would be it. I assume most inhabitants, or in this case, filmmakers, actors, producers, crew, etc., that make it up are kind, but compared to the toys Santa delivers to kids on Christmas, which in this case would be Disney’s MCU and Warner Brothers’ DCEU, Sony’s got its own little private island full of outcasts. I have not gone back to watch a single Sony Spider-Man Enigmaverse movie since seeing them in the theater, other than “Venom: Let There be Carnage” when it was airing one time on cable. It is like that scene from “Toy Story 2” where Andy picks up Woody and says he does not want to play with him anymore, except in this case, the toy is fresh out of the box and has barely been used.

This is why I ask Sony not to sell the rights to “Spider-Man…” I really want to see them pump out that third “Spider-Verse” movie. Instead I would like Sony to stop with these standalone villain spinoffs. These are not movies, these are corporate products designed by people trying to fill a release slot and keep the rights just a while longer. “Kraven the Hunter” is the latest example of this. If you are looking for Spider-Man connections in this film, all you are getting are secondary characters who appear in various Spider-Man properties who are poorly executed, and one scene where a ton of spiders are on screen. It is not even a good scene! Spider-Man is not in this movie. Peter Parker is not in this movie. Although the Rhino is in this movie. This time around is better than how the character was presented in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” but that does not really say much.

Speaking of which, let’s talk about the CGI… This movie is chock-full of distractingly noticeable visuals. Going back to Rhino, that is one example. You can definitely tell he has fake skin, but I would not even consider that the worst CGI in this film. This film has multiple scenes containing animals, including a lion I thought looked somewhat artificial, but at most I would consider to be tolerable. The animals that stood out to me the most in terms of how offputting they looked are the buffalo. And there are a lot of them in this movie. There is this scene where this buffalo is holding steady in front of Kraven. They are in the middle of a field. When that buffalo is staying still, all that allows me to do is take in as much detail as possible to realize that the creature looks like something out of a video game. When Kraven is looking at this buffalo, he comes off like he is staring at a picture instead of something live.

Sony, please. Just stop! I have had it up to here at this point! This year is the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures. When it comes to celebrating it, this, “Venom: The Last Dance,” and “Madame Web” were clearly not the best ways to do it on the Marvel front. I am thankful they brought all the old “Spider-Man” movies back to theaters. I went back to watch “Spider-Man 2” and “Spider-Man 3” in the theater this year. If for whatever reason Sony decides to do some anniversary screening for “Kraven the Hunter,” I am going to give it a hard pass.

© Sony Pictures Entertainment

In the end, “Kraven the Hunter” sucks. Plain and simple. It is a poorly structured, badly edited, laughably acted, shoddily directed misfire that I would not recommend to anyone. I will honestly watch “Venom: The Last Dance” three more times before turning this movie on again. Yes, there are positives. The action is okay. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is a good choice to play Kraven. And even though Russell Crowe plays an unlikable character, he at least acts like he is giving two squirts of urine about his role. “Kraven the Hunter” is not a movie. It is a series of scenes spliced together by a corporation to continue preserving franchise rights. If this is the last movie we see in the Sony Spider-Man Insert Clever Name Here, good riddance. I am going to give “Kraven the Hunter” a 2/10.

“Kraven the Hunter” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! My next reviews are going to be for “Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” and “Flow.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Kraven the Hunter?” What did you think about it? Or, what are your 2024 comic book movies ranked? What a terrible question that must be… That is like ranking your children, and you are choosing your favorite child based on which one you find the least irritating. I will admit, I did not even see “The Crow” this year. I think I dodged a bullet with that one. That said, there were plenty of awful comic book films this year to make up for whatever that one would end up being. If you have a ranking, list your top movies down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!