Gillipedia Official Rating: I’m Todd Hewitt I’m Todd Hewitt I’m Todd Hewitt
It’s the YA movie featuring Spider-Man
and Rey and … Hannibal Lector/Le Chiffre I guess. We’re talking about the
unthinkable here—a movie releasing solely in theaters. I love the experience
and will continue my best to support the industry, but I digress. What we’re
really talking about is the dystopian sci-fi movie Chaos Walking starring Tom Holland and
Daisy Ridley where only men are left (until Daisy shows up) and all of their
thoughts can be heard. Don’t think too hard, masks up (that means over the nose), and let’s review.
I have no idea what book series this
film is based off, so my only reference point is in fact what I just watched. After
a quick quote to begin the movie, we’re thrown straight into this world where
the atmosphere has a slight tint to it, and it doesn’t take long to start hearing
everyone’s thoughts. I’m impressed by the quick start to the film, and I guess
part of that is thanks to the easily surmisable premise. This is a foreign
world where you can hear men’s thoughts, pretty simple. No scientific
explanation, no history of the planet, just straight into building the world. And
none is really needed.
Some thoughts come across a bit as
expositional, but that’s not very often. I was a little worried that I would
grow tired of all the thinking—the bulk rightfully comes from Tom’s Todd Hewitt
(you’ll never forget his name)—but they reign it in just enough. Not to mention
that in general, I think the movie does a pretty decent job of reflecting how
people think and how it would be displayed to the outside world.
Tom Holland does a more Southern
American accent this time, and he gets hung up on a couple of words, but if you
didn’t know he was British, I think he pulls it off well enough to blend in.
Daisy Ridley is blonde, and again I have no idea if that’s how her character is
written, but I think part of that has to be her trying to separate from Rey.
And it works, and she’s fine in the movie. I always love Mads Mikkelsen, Demian
Bichir is also good, there’s also the likes of David Oyelowo and Cynthia Erivo,
and Nick Jonas is in there. It’s not like he does anything significant, but I
can confirm that he is indeed there.
The story won’t really surprise anyone
on who the real enemies are, the adventure Todd Hewitt and Daisy are forced to
go on, and what revelations they discover. There’s some clever uses of the
thought gimmick, and it even allows Tom Holland to have some humorous moments
as well, almost like a 90s Spider-Man TV show, but anyways.
There’s two things that ultimately
stood out to me about the film. Director Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow)
does a better job in this movie than what is to be expected. There’s a good
amount of chase sequences, and he makes sure to always have the camera moving
and flowing around the environment alongside the action. If not masterful, it
is still better than typical action fare. The other thing of note here is the
ending. I do understand that this comes from a series of books and is certainly
building toward a sequel, but it still didn’t feel complete. Even to the point
where I wouldn’t mind another 20 minutes tacked on to finish the story in some
way. I have no idea how many movies they’ll try to crank out or if there’s even
that possibility with today’s box office, but it failed to leave much of a
cliffhanger to entice me further into the story or a satisfactory ending by
itself.
The theater I went to is doing what
now seems commonplace where you buy tickets, and the seats next to you
automatically become unavailable to build that distance. And with the setup
with the reclining chairs, you don’t feel like people in the row behind you are
breathing down your neck either. Masks are mandatory unless you’re eating
popcorn or drinking, and all payment was able to be made contactless. During
the previews it was also noted what cleanliness measures were being taken
before and after every showing. The point here is that the necessary safety
precautions are being taken—at least, that’s what I’m able to take away from my
experience. And when it comes to any innate risk we all take whenever we go out
anywhere or the mental toll being couped up has already proven to take on the
populace, if the only thing holding you back from going to the theater now is a
worry about your safety, all I can say is that I believe it’s as safe as it can
be to make me feel comfortable in its environment. Annnnnnnd with all that
said, Chaos Walking isn’t exactly a film you need to jump out of your
sunken in couch to go watch, but it is entertaining and at a relatively cheap
price too especially if you go to a matinee showing. However you choose to
consume your content, stuff is still coming out and will continue to. Enjoy it.
**This site’s
creator recommends sanitizing after every review that is read. Please don’t
cancel me.
In
Brief:
- I’m ashamed I didn’t get around to making Golden Globes predictions. Probably the biggest surprise from the night was that I learned it was happening before it started. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted. Overall, a lackluster night. But Chadwick Boseman’s wife gave a moving speech.
- There’s a decent amount of films I’ve seen, but the biggest recommendation I can give of what I’ve recently seen is for The Farewell with Awkwafina. It’s included with Prime and is a really fun film based off a true story.
- I watched Phantom Thread. Daniel Day-Lewis obviously is great and the costumes are also, obviously, great. But it’s also quite a boring film. I’m sorry, I don’t care what awards it won or was nominated for. That was dull.
- What wasn’t dull was Judas and the Black Messiah. Daniel Kaluuya will win the awards, but don’t count out LaKeith Stanfield. Terrific performance. And it has Jesse Plemons who is someone everyone has seen but no one really knows his name or even his face for that matter. Very interesting watch.
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