Anika Begay
Get ready for a double bill of déjà vu as two familiar franchises return this week with Watchmen: Chapter 1 AND Alien: Romulus. Guardians takes another shot at Alan Mooreseminal classic, this time taking an animated approach. But can it soar where other adaptations have failed? That’s the question that also arises Romulusas we return to the world of xenomorphs and facehuggers to see if a legacy sequel can live up to the hype Ridley Scott‘s 1979 sci-fi stunner. From all this to a new John Cena–Awkwafina action comedy, a twist Elizabeth Banks thriller and one of the most spectacular surprises of the year, we have reviews of what you can see at the cinema and at home, classified according to our opinions.
5 Win!
Directed by Paul Feig
John Cena and Awkwafina try it Paul Feig‘S new movie Win!an action comedy where winning the lottery means dozens of desperate people will try to kill you in an attempt to get hard cash for themselves. In his review, editor-in-chief Robert Brian Taylor wrote that “the film could be called Win!but no one will emerge victorious from this game.”
REVISION
The Jackpot! (2024)
The action comedy “Jackpot!” attempts to blend a dystopian concept with a farcical style of comedy, with a disastrous end result.
- Pro? Um… um… well…
- The combination of a dystopian thriller and Paul Feig’s trademark improvisational comedy creates an unconvincing result.
- The near-future world in “Jackpot!” makes no sense.
- Awkwafina and John Cena can be incredibly attractive performers. But you’ll have to look elsewhere to see that.
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4 Skin care
Directed by Austin Peters
Elizabeth Banks stars in Skin carea supposedly true-story thriller about a rivalry that quickly spirals out of control. The truth is that the film isn’t very good, struggling to find a tone and create characters that feel even remotely real. In her review, Senior Editor Taylor Gates wrote, “Take care of your skin and your sanity by skipping this movie.”
REVISION
Skin care
‘Skincare’ can’t figure out whether it wants to be a crime thriller or a dark satire, which makes it a confusing mess.
- The soundtrack and cinematography occasionally give it a certain style.
- The characters range from one-dimensional clichés to erratic contradictions, with none of them feeling like real people.
- The combination of crime thriller and black satire is poorly done.
- The characters’ motivations are unclear, which makes for a rather confusing viewing.
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3 Watchmen: Chapter 1
Directed by Brandon Vietti
Who watches the Watchmen? Well, we do, and we’re here to tell you. Watchmen: Chapter 1 It’s a mixed bag. In his review, Senior Film Editor Ross Bonaime wrote that the film “is a compelling curio, but it never quite matches the power of the source material, and if nothing else, it should make people turn to the graphic novel instead of checking out another adaptation.”
REVISION
Watchmen: Chapter 1 (2024)
Watchmen: Chapter 1 is an intriguing idea with a powerful voice cast, but it rarely lives up to the tone or spirit of the original story.
- The voice cast of Watchmen: Chapter 1, particularly Titus Welliver and Matthew Rhys, deliver intelligent performances as these characters.
- The quieter moments allow us to immerse ourselves in this alternate history more than most other adaptations do.
- The animation style doesn’t seem right for this narrative and is a departure from Dave Gibbons’ art style.
- Splitting the story into two chapters will probably just be a premise and will not bring any benefit to those who are new to this world.
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2 Alien: Romulus
Directed by Fede Alvarez
It’s one small step for a franchise and a painfully giant leap for nostalgia with Alien: Romulusthe long-awaited sequel to the sci-fi horror classic that is at its best when it can stand on its own two feet. In his review, Bonaime wrote “Alien: Romulus proves that, in order to move forward, the Alien franchise needs to stop looking so far back.”
REVISION
Alien: Romulus
Alien Romulus has a promising beginning and end, but the middle is a bit too confusing, as it’s tied to the nostalgia of this franchise.
- The beginning and end of Alien: Romulus find interesting ways to expand the Alien saga in ways never seen before.
- David Jonsson’s Andy is another great android in a series full of androids.
- Director Fede Álvarez does a great job of integrating horror elements into the Alien saga.
- The central part of the film is too focused on references to previous chapters.
- A particular callback to the original Alien is particularly evident and makes this film feel like a footnote to the first film.
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1 Chronicles of a Wandering Saint
Directed by Tomás Gómez Bustillo
Best movie of the week, Chronicles of a Wandering Saintis one to die for. Alas, we have to be shy about the wonderful turn this work of cheerful, magical realism takes. Trust us when we say it’s worth checking out. Not only will you experience one of the best needle drops of the 21st century, but you’ll find yourself wishing you could wander with it just a little longer as everything comes into glorious focus. In my rave review, I wrote “it’s a film that, much like life, relies on you sticking with it, warts and all, to discover the beauty that lies at its core.”
REVISION
Chronicles of a Wandering Saint (2024)
Tomás Gómez Bustillo’s Chronicles of a Wandering Saint is a fantastic feature debut and a small miracle of a film that offers one of the nicest surprises of 2024 so far.
- Without giving anything away, the shift this film makes is delightful, as it immerses us in its decidedly unconventional, often absurd and ultimately melancholic vision.
- Mónica Villa is magnificent as a woman who wanders into her little corner of the world and discovers what she has to lose.
- Cinematographer Pablo Lozano and composer Felipe Delsart work in complete harmony with each other, making the whole thing even more unexpectedly touching.
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