Haiku Revieu | Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War
★★★★½

So many people
How is my heart still beating
Is it next year yet

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The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

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This is a hard review to write, y'all.

A month later, and I'm still reeling from this film.

I mean, I had an inkling going in that not everyone was going to make it. But I wasn't prepared for that. (Since it's only been a month, I'll refrain from spoilers here, but those of you who've seen Infinity War—and if you haven't, what are you doing?—know exactly what I'm talking about.) Sure, I'm positive that a lot of what happened at the end will be undone, somehow, in Avengers 4, but that doesn't exactly make anything easier at this moment in time.

Nor does the stuff that likely won't get undone.

That said, I really loved this movie. I've been telling people that it's more Captain America: Civil War than Thor: Ragnarok, but like any good Marvel movie, it brings both the humor and the tears. Early on, I had my reservations on how a movie with this many personalities involved would work. But the dynamics between all of the characters are fabulous, and the way they flow between the various parts of the MCU franchise seems almost effortless. Even the most "standalone" of the MCU characters—i.e., Doctor Strange—meshes into the larger universe like it's no big thing. (He and Tony's animosity was particularly delightful to watch.) 

I really have to applaud all the people behind the scenes who made this happen. I don't know that I consider Infinity War the greatest crossover of all time, considering how much crossing-over took place before this film, but I certainly recognize how much work has gone on in the decade since the MCU started to make such a movie possible.

Some quick, not-too-spoilery highlights:

• Steve's "on-the-run" look. HERE FOR IT.
• Thor's intital meeting with the Guardians of the Galaxy.
• Shuri's dressing down of Bruce/the tech that makes Vision who he is.
• Steve and Groot's meet cute.
• Everything Peter says.
• Everything Drax says.
• The subversion of the "dwarf" stereotype.
• Loki's "redemption" (?)
• That moment with Natasha, Wanda, and Okoye
• Every one of our heroes being Heroes
• The post-credits scene

(I'm sure I'm forgetting something.)

Do I have a few complaints? Sure: Black Widow has never been used to her full potential, and I don't get the blonde. (It's maybe a disguise, OK, but no one else went that far.) Thanos's universe domination plot is FILLED with holes. Where were Valkryie, Korg, Ant-Man, or Hawkeye? Shuri and Peter never made plans to take over the world (and snatch control from the olds). And, natch, all that I mentioned at the start of this post.

But overall, the MCU continues to impress me, and I'm still proud to be such a massive stan. I'm DREADING what's to come, but have faith that it'll all be OK¹.

Check it out:

¹ OK is such a subjective term, but even if my heart gets broken again, I trust that the reasons for whatever happens will make sense in the end.

Haiku Revieu | Love, Simon

Love, Simon
★★★★1/2

Heartwarming and fun
Harkens back to old rom-coms
Important movie

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Simon Spier keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends, and all of his classmates: he's gay. When that secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone and come to terms with his identity.

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I read Becky Albertalli's Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda—the YA book that Love, Simon is based on—a couple of years ago for FYA Book Club, and I loved it. It's a super sweet, funny coming-of-age novel about a young man who isn't quite sure how to reveal to the world that he's gay. And from the moment I heard that it was going to be a movie, I was on board. Hesitant, because it's such a great novel, and we all know how adaptations can go, but excited for Simon to get his day on the big screen.

Happily, I can say that my hesitations were pretty much for naught, because Love, Simon is a fantastic adaptation—and an all-around delight of a movie.

The movie is very reminiscent of romantic comedies of old, with a freshening up for today's audiences. (I've seen it described as John Hughes-ian, which I think is very apt.) It's cute and awkward (SO AWKWARD) in equal amounts, and you'll find yourself falling in love with Simon, his friends and his family from the very start.

Nick Robinson—a current YA film go-to—is adorable as Simon. He's not a stereotype, and I think anyone can see their own early identity investigations in his, regardless of whether they're a young gay man. His struggles, while not universal, are believable and honest; they resonate. Simon's parents, played by Jennifer Garner and Josh Duhamel, are brilliant (even though it's somewhat hard to watch the two play parents) and are involved in some of the most moving moments of the movie.

As Simon's email relationship with Blue (an anonymous guy at Simon's school who's also hiding the fact that he's gay) progresses, it's easy to get swept up in the romance of it all. You'll cheer, you'll shed a tear, and you'll be all the better for it.

Definitely get to the theater to see this movie, and show the powers that be that representation matters!

Check it out:

P.S.—I also highly recommend reading the book, but maybe not right before or after you see the film.

Haiku Revieu | The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water
★★★★1/2

Of monsters and men
Surprisingly sexual
A sweet love story

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At a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.

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I've been looking forward to seeing The Shape of Water since I first heard about it, and we finally got to the theater earlier this month to see it. I typically really enjoy Guillermo del Toro unique style of filmmaking, and something about the idea of this movie really struck me.

You'll notice that I mentioned the surprisingly sexual nature of the film in the haiku above. I mention this, not because it was done for shock factor, but because I think the trailers give off a "this is a sweet love story" more than "this is a sweet love story between two of-age individuals who have adult urges." One of my coworkers actually said that they thought it was a kid's movie—which, no—and the people sitting next to us in the theater had brought their pre-teen or early-teen son. (That kid is likely scarred for life; not because of the sexual scenes, but because he had to watch them with his parents.)

The Shape of Water definitely feels like a del Toro film. It's a period fantasy piece with strong, well-developed characters and a dreamy quality that, although I was left with questions at the end, made me hopeful in the power of the story's magic. It's a statement on how "monsters" are often more "human" than actual humans, and how love is love is love, regardless of what outsiders might think or judge.

Sally Hawkins is wonderful as Elisa, and does so well at emoting without being able to talk. The expressions on her face, and her body language, do all the talking for her. Her character is truly unique. Octavia Spencer's Zelda is adorably sassy, and a true friend, and Richard Jenkins's Giles is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Unsurprisingly, Doug Jones is perfect as the monster; if we ever met in real life, I think I'd be surprised if his mannerisms didn't trend toward the alien. And Michael Shannon was amazing as the villanous Richard Strickland. I hate that guy with all my being, but he's never flat and honestly fascinating in a "serial killers are facsinating" kind of way.

This film definitely lived up to the hype, both that in my own head and of the general public.

Check it out:

Haiku Revieu | Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming
★★★★¾

No more origins
Peter is adorable
Tom is my Spidey

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Peter Parker, with the help of his mentor Tony Stark, tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in New York City while fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man when a new threat emerges.

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I'll fully admit to rolling my eyes when I heard that we were getting yet another Spider-Man, so close on the heels of the Andrew Garfield film (which were so close on the heels of the Tobey Maguire ones ...). But after seeing Tom Holland in the role in Captain America: Civil War, I was on board. And after seeing more of him in Spider-Man: Homecoming, I have to say: I think Tom's by far my favorite Peter.

Spider-Man: Homecoming isn't another origin story, and I'm very thankful for that. Instead, it delves more into the person behind the mask, and shows how much of a regular kid Peter Parker truly is. Sure, he occasionally gets to fight alongside (or against, as the case may be) the Avengers, but he also deals with serious teenager things like crushes, homework, and Academic Decathalon meets. Holland plays him to an absolute T—it's hard to believe that he's 21 in real life—and brings a new energy to the role that hasn't ever been there before.

The movie also benefits from the tie-in to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and I don't think that's just me, the massive MCU fan, saying that. The movie felt more cohesive, and they toned down the cartoony elements that, although fun, made the other sets of movies feel more silly than serious. Not that Spider-Man: Homecoming is all that serious, mind you, but the humor and the occasional bit of more thoughtful, darker plot in the film meld very well. (Like the other MCU movies. Not that I like to harp on things or anything.) Plus: I love that Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) got more screen time, and watching Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) attempt to act like a father figure was hilarious in itself.

I really dug the villain twist, too. No spoilers, but I didn't see it coming at all.

I do have a couple of nitpicks: I don't think the movie showcased enough of Peter's intelligence, choosing instead to focus on his spidey skills. (That said, does he have the "normal" spidey senses? A friend brought this up in a post-viewing discussion of the movie, and it's a good question, since they never really talked about Peter's powers. I just sort of assumed that everything, power-wise, was the standard stuff.) And then there's the whole thing with Zendaya's character—highlight for spoilers—why name her Michelle if she's playing MJ (which stands for Mary Jane, for those not in the know)? That "reveal" was all-too-reminiscent of the "Benedict Cumberbatch IS NOT PLAYING KHAN, but he's totally playing Khan" debacle of '13.

I'll be interesting to see where Sony takes the Spider-Man universe from here, now that new life has been breathed into the franchise.

Check it out:

Haiku Revieu | Baby Driver

Baby Driver
★★★★1/2

Baby drives the car
The crazies take the money
Music runs the show

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After being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.

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I knew very little about Baby Driver going into the movie, even though I'd watched the trailer. I did know that it was an Edgar Wright film, however, and being a fan of his other films—The Cornetto Trilogy, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, etc.—I wanted to see it regardless. And I'm very glad I did; the movie is a total delight, and a unique one at that.

First of all, the music in this movie is fantastic—and there's a lot of it. Baby (Ansel Elgort) listens to songs through his various iPods for the entire film, and there are more song lyrics than actual dialogue. (I think, don't quote me on that.) The music is in itself a character, and is used in a way that adds so much emphasis and complexity to an otherwise pretty simple story. Without the music, Baby Driver would be just another heist movie. A fun one, mind you, thanks to the characters, but nothing spectacular.

Ansel does a great job at the quiet, reserved Baby. He's also surprisingly lithe for such a tall dude, as shown by his dancing early on in the film. His soft-spoken nature is juxtaposed with the over the top antics of Buddy (Jon Hamm), Darling (Eiza González), and Bats (Jamie Foxx), who are all crazy, but in the best kind of (criminally insane) way. Kevin Spacey is great as the ringleader, Doc; he's the sort of guy that you wouldn't really notice if you passed him on the street, but getting on his bad side is the absolute worst thing you could do. Lily James is sweet as Debora, but I feel like pretty much any young actor her age could have played the role and it would have had the same impact. The real stand-out for me is CJ Jones as Baby's foster dad, Joseph. The man is ADORABLE.

I also really dug how the plot escalated toward the end. No spoilers, but it makes a lot of sense if you've seen other Edgar Wright films. It had me cackling in my seat. And the car chases were so great. It's hard to go wrong with some fancy driving antics, in my book.

I highly recommend seeing Baby Driver in theaters, both because it's a lot of fun and to show Hollywood that there's a definite interest in this kind of under-the-radar film.

Check it out:

Haiku Revieu | Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman
★★★★½

Amazon badass
She needs no man (except Steve ...)
So much girl power

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Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons and trained warrior. When a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and true destiny.

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Thanks to vacation and then a nasty cold, I didn't get to see Wonder Woman until more than a week after it came out. (That might seem like not a lot of time, but it's unusual for me with this sort of movie.) I tried my best to avoid spoilers, but couldn't help hearing the many, many positive feelings about the film, from both critics and friends. Those opinions bolstered my already high hopes for the movie, and—for the most part—I wasn't at all disappointed.

I really liked the way the movie was an origin story, but didn't feel completely removed from the rest of the DC movie universe (regardless of how I feel about those movies). Having Diana basically intro the story tied this movie, which is a historical piece, to Wonder Woman's intro in Batman v. Superman. Thankfully, because it was a historical piece, it stands on its own two, powerful feet. The WWI setting was also a pretty dang perfect backdrop for Diana's introduction to humanity, both its pros and cons. (Even though I've seen confusion over the whole Steve/Steve thing. 😜)

Gal Gadot was wonderful in the role of Diana. I'll totally admit to having reservations about her, but I also know when to admit that I was wrong. The way she played Diana as both fierce and more than a little naive was delightful. I found myself wanting to protect her from the evils of mankind at the same time that I was realizing she needed absolutely none of my help.

I loved seeing Themyscira, and the women who live there. They're unbelievably beautiful, and enviably strong, both physically and mentally. Their fight scene at the start of the film was jaw-dropping, and made me especially proud to be a woman (who might be capable of such skill and grace, given the opportunity).

Chris Pine's Steve Trevor was also fantastic. I've enjoyed Chris' past roles, but he's never been at the top of my Chris Ranking—until Steve Trevor. I appreciate how, even though he's a main character, he never overshadows Diana. (One of the many excellent feminist parts of the movie.) Although he begins the movie as a pretty typical dude, he's quick to realize how much he can step back and let her do her thing and offer support as she might need it.

My only complaints about the movie revolve around the villain, some of the CGI, and the fight scene at the end of the film. Working backwards: The fight scene felt overly produced, in a typical Zack Snyder sort of way. The CGI at times was really awful, particularly when Diana was leaping or fighting. She's a superhero, yes, but she can't stop time/pause mid-air for emphasis. And the reveal of the villain, although unexpected, felt strange. And—highlight for spoilers—David Thewlis' mustache was SUPER distracting. It was fine in WWII, but did Ares really sport that style of 'stache way back when? Methinks no.

Am I now waiting with baited breath for Justice League? Not at all. But I have a strong feeling that Wonder Woman will be the best part.

Check it out:

Haiku Revieu | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
★★★★½

Quill has dad issues
Save the galaxy again
All heart eyes for Groot

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Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team's adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage.

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The first Guardians of the Galaxy is probably my second favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe movie (after The Avengers), so to say that I was excited about this sequel is a bit of an understatement. I love pretty much everything about this franchise, from the music to the characters to the colors that saturate pretty much every scene. And, for the most part, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 didn't let me down.

It was great being able to jump right in with the Guardians crew (as much as I enjoyed watching them come together in the first movie), and everyone played their roles to a T. Chris Pratt plays Peter Quill/Star-Lord's mix of swagger and insecurity so well, and Dave Bautista's Drax never fails to make me laugh, hard. Rocket was snarky and endearing, in equal parts, and I love how I tend to forget that he's voiced by Bradley Cooper, if that makes sense? (How about this: The character is so well done, and feels so "realistic," that it's easy for me to separate the voice actor from the role.)

Zoe Saldana's Gamora was a little underused, but her scenes with Karen Gillen's Nebula were some of the most powerful of the movie. There was an overarching theme of family, whether blood or found, in this film, which gave it a lot of heart. And Michael Rooker's Yondu really made some huge strides in character growth. The smattering of cameo appearances by celebrities were also delightful, but I won't spoil who all appeared.

Unsurprisingly, Baby Groot (Toddler Groot?) stole the show. From his opening credits dance party to his post-credits scene, everything he did was either adorable, hilarious, or a combination of the two.

The plot of this movie was the only thing that I felt was a little lacking. Although the story line surrounding Ego was interesting, and was a good story on its own, the movie felt overly "bridgy," like it was there to get us from GotG to Infinity War without making too much of an impact. That said, I loved it. It made me laugh, it made me tear up, and it made me want to listen to the soundtrack on repeat. (To be honest, however, the soundtrack of the first movie was better, too.) If that's not a good time at the movies, I don't want to know what is.

Check it out:

Haiku Revieu | The Fate of the Furious

The Fate of the Furious
★★★★½

Dominic goes rogue
It's all about family
Cars v. submarine

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When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of terrorism and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.

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Y'all know how I feel about the Fast and Furious franchise, so it should come as no surprise that I've been excited about The Fate of the Furious since the credits rolled for Furious 7. (After a moment of silence for Paul Walker, natch.) I can't get enough of these ridiculous movies—or the crazy band of characters they bring to the big screen.

I was a little nervous after watching the trailers and seeing Dom "turn on" his family, but it's important to have faith that the people behind the movies know what they're doing. And without getting too spoilery, it all turned out OK in the end.

Charlize Theron was a welcome addition to the cast, even if she did sport a seriously questionable wig throughout the film. She's a delightful villain, and I loved seeing her walk that fine line between too over the top and not ridiculous enough. (I mean, these movies aren't exactly about the nuanced performances, but there's certainly a level of taking things too far.) It was also awesome to have Jason Statham back as Deckard Shaw, and to learn more about his character's backstory. Something I particularly love about this franchise is how well they take flat characters and make them multi-faceted. (In related news: There's talk about a spin-off series starring Statham and The Rock's character, Luke Hobbs. I am SO HERE FOR IT.)

Also: Helen Mirren is a GIFT. But that'll all I'll say about her role.

Plot-wise, there have definitely been better Fast and Furious movies. The whole "betrayal" trope is overdone and obvious, but that's not to say that the movie didn't have some surprises. And the action scenes—which, lets be honest, are the main reason these movies are so amazing—didn't disappoint. Statham, however, absolutely stole the show. His scene with [REDACTED] had me grinning from ear to ear.

I can't wait to see how F9 tops this one.

Check it out:

Haiku Revieu | Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
★★★★¾

Live-action cartoon
Hermione meets the Beast
Little Me is awed

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An adaptation of the Disney fairy tale about a monstrous-looking prince and a young woman who fall in love.

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Let me preface this review: The animated Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney animated film, and when I was 8, it was my everything. I had the sheet and comforter set, the books, and the Barbies. I loved everything about the story of a girl who loved books falling in love with a literal beast of a man who just needed some proper guidance on how to behave in polite company. I loved that Belle loved books and reading as much as I did, and have long believed that Beast's gift of his entire library to Belle was one of the best gifts ever given.

So when I heard that they were making a live-action version of the movie, I couldn't help but be skeptical. Would they do it justice? Would Adult Mandy feel the same as Little Mandy about the story (which, yes, is somewhat problematic, but I won't get into that here). Watching the news roll in about the casting, then when watching the trailers, I reserved judgement. This wasn't going to be a case of "it was OK"; because of my connection to the source material, the film was either going to be amazing or absolute crap.

Thankfully, my feelings fall firmly in the former camp. I adore this movie. From the very first word of Mrs. Potts' introductory voice over, I found myself in a trance. An online friend put it perfectly when she said, "Childhood love is a helluva drug."

I've heard some people critique the movie for being a near shot-for-shot remake of the animated version, but that didn't bother me one bit. (See: My long-held love for the original.) I love how the various scenes, characters and costumes are brought to life with updates that made them feel more real and less cartoony. I also really enjoyed the new parts, from the backstory about Belle's mother to the Beast's solo song as Belle leaves the castle to rescue Maurice. (This seems to be an unpopular opinion, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ .) I thought the casting was excellent, and was surprised at how much I liked both Emma Watson and Dan Stevens' voices. (The latter was largely edited to sound more "beastly," but again—it worked well for me.)

I am always down for Ewan MacGregor in a a singing role, and wish there'd been more of an opportunity for him to showcase his talents. (He's got a killer voice.) Luke Evans as Gaston was spot on, and I appreciate Le Fou's character growth; instead of being the flat, jokey sidekick, he actually had quite a bit of depth.

And I can't even explain how amazing it was to see the Beast's transformation from beast back to man. Dan looked exactly like the animated version, right down to the terrible hair and hilarious manpris.

I do have to nitpick a couple of things, though. One: The Growl. If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about. That was awkwardly unnecessary. (But I'm totally #TeamBeard.) And two: I find it somewhat odd how the servants reacted to Beast's imprisonment of Belle. The live-action versions of the characters seemed much more inclined to excuse his behavior, while the animated versions only let him go so far. 

I highly recommend seeing this movie, especially if you're a life-long fan like me.

Check it out:

Haiku Revieu | Logan

Logan
★★★★

Wolverine is old
Taking care of Charles X.
They both curse a lot

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In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X somewhere on the Mexican border. However, Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives, pursued by dark forces.

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Going into Logan, I only knew two things: The movie would be a hard one to watch—I tear up every time I see the trailer with "Hurt" played with it—and it wasn't an X-Men storyline I was familiar with. (I've never read the Old Man Logan comics, which I heard the film was loosely based on?) Still, I wanted to see it, particularly because it featured an R-rating, and I was curious to see how the Wolverine and Professor X we "know" would translate to a more adult film.

And Logan is definitely a more adult film. I'm not typically squeamish when it comes to action gore, but there were a few scenes in which Logan stabbed someone with his claws and I cringed and hid my eyes. Little Laura (newcomer Dafne Keen, who is awesome) is brutal, too. And hearing Professor X spout the F word is jarring. (Hearing Logan call someone a motherf**ker, however, is actually really fitting for his character.) All of the more adult themes fit with the movie's plot and feel, though—the film is bleak and heartbreaking, and watching someone get stabbed through the chest in a ridiculously over the top manner adds a bit of levity¹ to a movie that otherwise might break you.

That's not saying it didn't break me. I cried—hard—and for way more of the film than I'd been expecting. (Yes, even with my feelings toward the "Hurt" trailer in mind.) Watching Logan and Professor X as old, broken men, rather than superheroes, did a number on my emotional state. Add to that the fact that Old Charles reminded me of my own father, and the fact that the day Patrick Stewart leaves us² will be a day I call out of work sick because I will be that distraught, and I felt like I'd taken a beating alongside Logan. And that's not even taking into account when [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] happened. (Happy to chat about the REDACTED moments in the comments.)

All that said, I think the movie was great, and I love that although part of it was an ending, it left the door open for further adventures with Laura and the rest of project X-23.

Check it out:

¹I know that's a strange word to use in this situation, but I think you know what I mean.
²Knocking on all wood that this NEVER HAPPENS.

Haiku Revieu | La La Land

La La Land
★★★★

Modern song and dance
Gos + Emma foreva'
Bittersweet ending

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A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles.

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La La Land is another movie I watched in December ... and then moving and the holidays and all the other excuses got in the way of my typing up a review. So, again, forgive me if I don't go into super specifics.

I was excited about La La Land from the moment I heard about it. I adore Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone acting opposite each other; they always have crazy delicious chemistry. Add to that the fact that the movie's a musical, and this checked all the right boxes on my "I have to see this" chart.

Although I really liked the movie, it wasn't quite what I expected. For one, it was more realistic than I'd hoped for, specifically the relationship between Sebastian (Ryan) and Mia (Emma). Now, realism isn't a bad thing, and it made for quite an interesting juxtaposition against the cheerful colors and songs of the film. I guess I just wanted to escape into something more romantic and fantastical? (No spoilers, but Colt—ever the hopeless romantic—disliked the ending immensely.)

I wasn't blown away by Ryan and Emma's singing or dancing, but I loved both of their performances overall. I think the fact the neither of them dances or sings like a total professional added to the realistic feeling the film had; again, not a pro or a con—just a statement. And I mentioned this above, but I really could watch the two of them in a movie with no other people; their chemistry is that good.

The movie is also really pretty, and not just from a "look at those gorgeous movie stars" standpoint. The colors and scenery are all super saturated, which made me think of old musicals and movies about the heyday of Hollywood. (I'm guessing these nods were done on purpose.) The story runs the gamut of emotions from funny to sweet to sexy to heartbreaking, and is all-around unique. At least, to me.

If you like complex movies with musical numbers, then this one's for you.

Check it out:

Haiku Revieu | Moana

Moana
★★★★1/2

Moana is rad
The Rock is a demigod
Heihei is the best

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In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain's daughter's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.

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I'm totally late on my review of this movie—I saw it back in December—so you'll have to forgive me for being unusually general with my review. Basically: this movie was wonderful, and yet another example of Disney's recent excellence in creating films with strong female leads and an important message.

The Rock is fantastic at Maui, natch, and his singing voice was a pleasant surprise. He basically is Maui, with less hair. I also really enjoyed Auli'i Cravalho as Moana; her voice is stunning, and I feel like we'll see a lot more from her in the future. (Perhaps literally, you know, since Moana's a cartoon character.) My favorite character in the movie had to be Heihei, however. That stupid chicken stole every scene he was in, and I love that Alan Tudyk "voiced" him. (Alan's such a vocal chameleon.)

The movie featured empowering messages of believing in oneself, listening to one's intuition, and taking risks, all of which are important for young girls (and boys) to internalize. They resonated with me, a not-so-young girl, too.

The soundtrack is also fantastic; Lin-Manuel Miranda did a wonderful job of mixing catchy Disney princess tunes with equally catchy Polynesian music. (Full disclosure: I've never listened to anything Hamilton-related, but even I know that he's a true talent.)

I highly recommend seeing Moana, if you haven't already. Just don't blame me when you can't get the songs out of your head.

Check it out:

Haiku Review | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
★★★★3/4

Welcome backstory
Adds a weight to the first three
Jyn isn't Rey's mom

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The Rebel Alliance makes a risky move to steal the plans for the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.

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It's no secret that I'm a huge Star Wars fan, and when The Force Awakens came out last year, my love of the movies portion of the fandom was totally reinvigorated. The Force Awakens felt like a true Star Wars movie—unlike those other attempts that shall not be named—and brought some of my favorite characters of all time back into my life while introducing new ones who immediately found places in my nerd heart.

Because of how much I loved TFA, I couldn't help but get super excited when Rogue One was announced. I thought the idea of the movie was brilliant—fill in a bit of the original timeline that wasn't a plot hole, exactly, but would be fascinating to see and only add to the universe. Plus: have a female lead and a diverse supporting cast. All the yes, please and thank you.

Rogue One didn't disappoint. Without getting too spoilery, the movie was wonderful and helped add a level of gravity to the original trilogy that wasn't really there before. (As Colt says, they are in a war, after all.) I've seen complaints from critics that the movie wasn't fun, and "Star Wars movies are supposed to be fun," but I disagree. It's not a happy film, overall, but it's in no way un-fun. The cast is delightful and has amazing chemistry, the nods to the original movies are well done, and I got sucked into the story from the very first scene.

The movie is heartbreaking, however, which is understandable and obviously necessary. Again, no spoilers, but the way things go down makes total sense. Sad sense, but sense nonetheless. (Want to be spoilery? We can chat in the comments.)

The standouts among the cast for me were the sassy reprogrammed Imperial droid K-2SO (voiced by Alan Tudyk, which I didn't realize until the credits—that guy is good at voices), and Chirrut (Donnie Yen) and Baze (Wen Jiang), who were adorable and totally a couple, you can't tell me otherwise. Director Krennic was delightfully "middle management"-type evil, too. (This isn't a description I came up with, but it's perfect. I unfortunately can't remember the source.)

On a more nitpicky note, I found the CGIed humans somewhat distracting, but appreciate the attempt. And I found it a little strange at how different Darth Vader seemed; not only did he make a punny comment, but whomever was in the suit carried himself totally differently than the original actor. Is that a strange thing to notice?

Overall, Rogue One is a fantastic addition to the Star Wars cinematic universe, and should definitely be seen in theaters.

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Haiku Revieu | Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
★★★★1/2

Welcome back wizards
Not so much about the beasts
I want a Niffler

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The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.

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As a long time Harry Potter fan, I was excited about the possibilities of new movies set in the same wizarding world. At the same time, I was hesitant, as I think fans often are in cases like these. Will the new movies be good? Will they do the franchise—both books and movies—justice? Or will they be terrible, childhood-ruining events from which I will have to run, sobbing, and turn to drink to forget?

Thankfully, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them fell squarely in the "this is good" camp. I'm not entirely sure that it did the Harry Potter books/movies justice, but that's more because it felt like an entirely new animal rather than not living up to expectations. In fact, I had very little in the way of expectations going in, other than the hope that I'd enjoy it.

Fantastic Beasts is a darker, more adult movie than its Harry Potter predecessors. Although things got dark when Harry and Co. were battling Voldemort and his Death Eaters, Fantastic Beasts touches on themes of child and animal abuse and racism. But it's not a total bummer of a film, the titular fantastic beasts are for the most part adorable, and you can't help but root for the main quartet of Newt Scamander, Tina and Queenie Goldstein and Jacob Kowalski.

I particularly enjoyed the quirky way Eddie Redmayne portrayed Newt. His mannerisms were somewhat bizarre, but watching him with his beasts was heartwarming. And I loved that this was the first Harry Potter movie that made it a point to talk about how wizards work with muggles—I still don't love the Americanized "no-maj" term—going so far as to have a completely non-magical main character in Dan Fogler's Kowalski.

I would have liked more about the beasts and where to find them—I'm hoping for a buddy movie where Newt and Jacob (along with Tina and Queenie) go on adventures to rescue beasts. And I didn't really love the Graves plot line, nor his creepy sexual predator vibes, but I understand that it was necessary to set up future things. And (highlight for spoilers), I am really on the fence about Johnny Depp's Grindelwald. As much as I used to adore Johnny in roles and years past, he hasn't been truly great for a while, and I worry that he'll turn the character into a too-weird joke.

But really, what I wanted most out of this film was to be able to forget about the real world for a couple of hours, and my experience was exactly that. I look forward to revisiting this world in the movies to come.

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Haiku Revieu | Arrival

Arrival
★★★★1/2

Amy Adams shines
Aliens are not like us
This film gives me hope

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A linguist is recruited by the military to assist in translating alien communications.

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Before seeing Arrival, I was worried that this was going to be one of the type of alien movies I don't like, movies like District 9 in which humanity is The Absolute Worst and after watching I feel like utter crap about the entire human race. I know humans aren't the best, overall, but I prefer a little bit of "humanity" in my alien movies; i.e., there can be some bad guys, but their actions are balanced by the good ones.

Thankfully, I was wrong. Arrival is a stunning, hopeful movie that shows what we could do, "if only."

I won't go into too much detail, because this is definitely a movie I don't want to spoil for those of you who want to see it. But I might recommend not watching when you're having a particularly emotional day, because this is a heavy film. (We saw it the day after the election, and suffice it to say, I was a mess afterward.)

Amy Adams is glorious in the film, and completely steals the show. Her co-star, Jeremy Renner, is good, too, but Amy absolutely shines. The entire supporting cast, which also includes Forest Whittaker, could have been faceless mannequins and the movie still would have been wonderful. I truly hope she gets some sort of award for the role, because it's utterly deserved.

If you're in any way a fan of thoughtful science fiction, please do yourself a favor and see this film. (Side note: The trailer might make it seem a little scary, what with the alien hitting the glass with its appendage, but it's not like that at all. No jump scares, I promise.)

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P.S.—Part of my brain kept confusing this movie with The Arrival, an alien movie from the 90's starring Charlie Sheen. It's terrible, but also worth a watch in that "SyFy movie of the week" kind of way.

Haiku Revieu | Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange
★★★★

Benedict is Strange
Marvel meets mysticism
"I've come to bargain"

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A former neurosurgeon embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

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Y'all know how I feel about Marvel movies (click if you're new here), so it should come as no surprise that I was excited about Doctor Strange. I'm also a fan of Mr. Benedict Cumberbatch, so the combination of the two was definitely enticing.

But before we get into my thoughts on the movie, I want to recognize the discussion that surrounded some of the casting in Doctor Strange. Many people called Marvel out for casting white actors—specifically Tilda Swinton—in roles that should have been given to an actor of color. I understand and respect the cries of cultural appropriation. (Read more about the situation here.) As a white woman, I can't empathize with this situation, but I can and do certainly sympathize with it. And I'm sorry that this continues to be an issue in Hollywood.

Casting issues aside, I thought Doctor Strange was a fun experience. It's very different from previous Marvel movies, but I love that Marvel is taking chances on such "out there" material. As Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) said in the movie, the Avengers protect the physical parts of Earth, and they (Mordo, etc.) protect the "other" parts.

I'm not familiar with any Doctor Strange comics, so I have no clue how the movie was in comparison to comic storylines, but the casting team did get one thing right: Benedict Cumberbatch looks so much like all versions of Stephen Strange I've seen (even the more emo/Criss Angel-looking ones from recent animated series). His performance, too, was great. It wasn't the most nuanced thing I've ever seen him do, but Strange's transition from self-centered surgeon to hero was wholly believable, and Benedict did well at both the more serious parts and the humorous ones.

I liked the rest of the cast too; issues aside, I loved Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One (but I love her particular brand of kooky in general); Chiwetel was intriguing as Mordo, and I'm very interested to see where his character goes from here; and Mads Mikkelson was fantastically maniacal as Kaecilius. (I'm sure he's tired of being typecast as a villain, but he's just so good at that sort of role!)

I really dug the Inception-like weirdness of the movie's graphics, but at times, the CG was really, distractedly bad. Thankfully, those moments weren't many, and didn't really detract from the plot as a whole. The plot itself wasn't overly complex, but served as a good introduction/origin story to the characters and how they intertwine with the rest of the Marvel characters we already know and love.

And I really loved the first post credits scene, which (highlight to reveal spoilers) has me thinking that we'll see Doctor Strange team up with Thor and Loki in Thor: Ragnarok. I am all about Benedict and Tom Hiddleston acting opposite one another.

All in all, a fun movie, and a good addition to the Marvel franchise. Definitely one to see in theaters, too, if only for the graphics.

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Haiku Revieu | Star Trek Beyond

Star Trek Beyond
★★★★1/2

You Go, Enterprise
Faster and Furiouser
RIP, Anton

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The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

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It should come as no surprise that I am a huge Star Trek fan who comes by the fandom genetically. (I was named Amanda for a reason, after all.) But there's been contention in our familial ranks over whether the newest movies actually remain true to the franchise. (My mom can't stand Zachary Quinto, and thinks he makes a terrible Spock. I disagree, but am not going to argue with my mother. I also come by my stubbornness genetically.)

I was totally on board with the first movie in the new series—Star Trek—but was then super disappointed in Star Trek Into Darkness. My biggest peeve: Why, when you've created a completely new universe/time stream with endless possibilities for stories, would you re-do what is possibly the most well-known and well-loved Star Trek movie (i.e., Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan)? Why would you not seek out new stories and go where no movie has gone before?

Thankfully, Star Trek Beyond took a lesson from the failure of its predecessor and gave us fans a new, new movie. Of course, it still sticks with the most basic premise of all Star Trek movies and TV shows—the crew of the Enterprise (/Voyager/Deep Space Nine/etc.) work together to battle the evils of the universe—but it felt fresh. And really, really fun.

I particularly enjoyed the renewed focus on the crew, and how they all work together. There's obviously a lot of focus on the main three—Kirk, Spock and Bones—but the rest of the crew got more screen time than in previous movies. There were also more nods to the crew's relationships, both with their fellow Starfleet officers and their partners, which I enjoyed. (Sulu's family is PRESH.) Additionally, I think the filmmakers did a great job at showing what a diverse and complex universe these people live in, which I think would make Gene Roddenberry, and his reasons for creating this world in the first place, proud.

Of course, these new movies are action-oriented, and Star Trek Beyond didn't disappoint in that arena either. Directed by Justin Lin, the film was full of space battles and chase scenes. (Fast and Furious on a galaxy-size scale? YES PLEASE. It's like this movie was made just for me.) There's one scene that I wish I could watch over and over again; it's such ridiculous fun. (If you've seen the movie, I'm thinking of the "Sabotage" scene.) 

If you, too, were disappointed with Into Darkness, but don't yet want to give up on Star Trek, definitely check this one out.

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