Quarantine Movie Round-Up #3

Another round of movie reviews for you! Though quarantine is still in effect, we're still blessed with new movies to watch, and that's fantastic. This week I tackle a mixture of brand new movies and some earlier 2020 offerings. Enjoy!

Mulan - Disney+ (with premiere access)

 

Disney’s latest live-action adaptation is now available on Disney+ for a premium. A lot of flak has been flung at Disney for this move, requiring subscribers who are already paying a monthly fee to pay an additional $30 to watch their sprawling new epic. This is especially interesting because in weird fashion Disney announced—mere days before Mulan’s release—that the movie will be available on the service for free starting December 4. So, it begs the question then: why pay when I can wait to see it for free?

 

I could write a whole article on why I think it’s worth the price, but that’s not the reason for this post. I will say, though, that if you are a fan of the movies; if you appreciate the art form or just the mere commercial escapism that the cinema provides, then paying extra to see this movie is worth it. Then again, we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic, so expendable funds might be few and far between. I get it, but if you’re able to swing it, do it. You won’t be disappointed.

 

Mulan, much like its animated predecessor, tells the story of a young Chinese maiden who disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father. Only, there’s no musical numbers, no talking dragons, and really no connection to the animated feature other than the basic plot structure. This version, though, is epic is its storytelling and elevates the narrative to heights I didn’t expect. It’s a visually-stunning and epic movie. The performances are wonderful, with a lead performance from Yifei Liu—Mulan—that is not only elegant but regal and powerful in every right. This movie captures the spirit of the animated version while managing to craft its own identity. That’s what you want in an adaptation; the good ones don’t repeat the past.

 

I thoroughly enjoyed Mulan. I got what I needed from the performances and the story, but what did it for me were the underlying elements of the score, the cinematography, and the action. Though there are no musical numbers, the score weaves in the familiar songs from the animated version beautifully. The action is vast and epic and left me wishing there was more, and the cinematography is absolutely stunning. Seeing this on the big screen would have been amazing, but it still managed to move me at times. All these various components managed to weave together what is arguably Disney’s best adaptation to date. 

 

 

Bill and Ted Face the Music - VOD

 

Finally! After twenty+ years, we finally have the long-awaited third installment of one of the greatest franchises in cinema history! Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter return as the Wyld Stallyns themselves, Bill and Ted, in what is surely their greatest adventure yet. Tasked to write the song that would unite the world back in their youth, we find Bill and Ted as middle-aged fathers still trying to do just that. When they are faced with a ticking time clock that spells the end of the universe, they must put aside their fears and get to writing the song. Pulling from Excellent Adventure (1989) and Bogus Journey (1991), Bill and Ted once again travel through time, and between heaven and hell, to “face the music.” 

 

This movie was everything I wanted it to be. It didn't feel trite or repetitive to the past. Reeves and Winter fall right back into it and their chemistry is still as palpable as it was twenty years ago. There’s a host of new characters, including their daughters played by Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine who are an absolute delight. That being said, my new favorite character is one that I think people will either love or hate. It’s a robot named Dennis tasked to stop Bill and Ted, and who delivers some of the movie’s best laughs. This movie is just pure joy bottled in movie form. If you’re a fan of the Bill and Ted movies, you’ll love this one. It’s excellent.

 

 

Project Power - Netflix

 

Jamie Foxx stars in this new movie where a pill exists that when you take it, it gives you superhuman abilities for five minutes. It sounds like a simple premise because it is. If you’re looking for a straightforward action movie to shut your brain off to, this is the one. The performances are good, the story is somewhat predictable, but that’s okay. The action is fun, the powers are cool, and the movie manages to move at a pretty decent pace despite the lacking narrative. I was entertained, but at times while watching I found myself saying “man, it would have been cool if they did this” more times than not. But, in a current movie climate where the cinemas are still closed for the most part, I welcomed this new movie and had fun with it. Check it out if you haven’t already.

 

The Willoughbys - Netflix

 

It was a late night last week when I checked this little movie out, and I have to say if you haven’t seen it, you should. This movie is an absolute riot. Convinced they'd be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family. It’s a silly animated movie that actually deals with serious themes and handles them with grace and fun. I think that’s what I loved the most about this movie (despite the twins, they’re the best characters in the entire film), that this movie literally tells you it’s going to do things and go places with the narrative that you wouldn’t expect, and then delivers on that in spades. This movie is a great time for the whole family, so check it out. It dropped earlier this year, but I’m glad I finally got to it. Big thumbs-up.