Tag: Queens of Geekdom

The Machine (2023) Film Review

Rating 15
Length 1h52
Release 31.05.2023
Director Peter Atencio
About The past comes back to haunt Bert Kreischer when a murderous mobster tries to kidnap him to atone for his crimes. With help from his estranged father, Bert must retrace the steps of his younger self as a sociopathic crime family goes to war.
Moon: no moon sighting
Where to Watch: Now TV/ Amazon Prime (for rental or purchase)
Trailer:

The Good

Mark Hamill is a renaissance man! For years he solely belonged to the geeks, known for Star Wars and his epic voice work in Batman. Now he’s being cast in everything, and I’m here for it! From Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman to the scene stealing turn in Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher, Mark Hamill is getting the career he deserves. Much like Brendon Fraser and Key Huy Quan, I’m so very happy to see the good eggs get their time.
The Machine is certainly good for showing another side to Hamill. Not Luke, not the Joker, but a character somewhere in between. He’s a saving grace for this film, and the main thing you should be watching it for.

The action is pretty cool and there is the novelty of it being quasi-biopic. I’d also imagine that if you’re familiar with Bert Kreischer’s comedy, you’ll find the retelling of his infamous robbery and a subsequent “what if?” rather entertaining.

The Bad

The film takes way too long to get going. The whole setting up the family dynamics, while great for establishing the character, does very little to set the pace of what is meant to be an action movie. By the time there’s any sort of speed to the plot, I was checked out.

The Ugly

Given the current political climate with Russia, I did find it difficult to settle into the film and find the whole Russia is the capital of violence shtick. While I can imagine the film was in production long before Putin decimated Ukraine and displaced an entire country, but its release seems in bad taste; even with it very much poking fun.

Final Thoughts

Well, I know someone would have been laughing like Muttley throughout this. My brother will have loved so much about this film. Unfortunately, for me, the trailer showed all the best bits and outside of Mark Hamill, the full runtime fell flat.

Film Review: Willy’s Wonderland (2021)

Rating 25
Length 1h 28
Release 12.2.2021
Dir Kevin Lewis
About When his car breaks down, a quiet loner agrees to clean an abandoned family fun center in exchange for repairs. He soon finds himself waging war against possessed animatronic mascots while trapped inside Willy’s Wonderland.

The Good

It’s chaotic and bonkers. It is Cabin in the Woods meets Jennifer’s Body by way of The Dead Don’t Die. It’s not going to everyone’s cup of tea but it is entertaining.

  • This film is chaotic, bonkers and the perfect vehicle for Nicolas Cage. This is gory, volatile type of horror that is more likely to make to chuckle or squirm than scream.
  • It’s not for everyone, but it feels like Cabin in the Woods (2011) meets Jennifer’s Body (2009) by way of The Dead Don’t Die (2019). So while its not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, if you like those movies this will be, at the very least, entertaining for you.
  • The lighting in this film (aside from the migraine inducing strobe) is incredible. I can’t put my finger on how it was done, but it adds light to the screen so you can see the action, without dulling the atmosphere.

The Bad

  • Nicolas Cage doesn’t speak. Now, he does a perfectly excellent job at presenting the character without words. That, I have no issue with. I just really missed Cage’s manic dialogue.
  • There are few really weird plot choices that are left unexplained. They just seem like plot devices and that’s a little disappointing.

The Ugly

  • The flashing/ strobe lighting that’s used at the beginning and partway through is nauseating. I totally understanding the artistic decision for it, however it detracts more than it adds.
  • With Nicolas Cage’s character mute, he’s not well rounded. It means we’re in the same position as the rest of the cast, but it has come at the expense of not investing in any of the characters.

Final Thoughts

It’s flawed (What Nic Cage project in the last decade isn’t), but well worth your time.