The Devil’s Advocate (1997)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 1

 

 

VERDICT – 4/5

 

 

PROS –
1) A gifted young Florida lawyer who never lost a case was invited to New York City to work for a major firm. As his wife becomes haunted by frightening visions, the lawyer slowly begins to realize the owner of the firm is not what he appears to be, and is in fact the Devil as well his biological father.
2) A supernatural horror, legal-thriller, wrapped up in one. An under-rated gem.
3) Al Pacino performance is Oscar-worthy. His Eddie Barzoon monologue is phenomenal.

 

 

CONS –
N/A

 

 

QUOTE –
Kevin Lomax: “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven”, is that it?
John Milton: Why not? I’m here on the ground with my nose in it since the whole thing began. I’ve nurtured every sensation man’s been inspired to have. I cared about what he wanted and I never judged him. Why? Because I never rejected him. In spite of all his imperfections, I’m a fan of man!

Nobody (2021)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 1
CULT – 1

 

 

VERDICT – 5/5

 

 

PROS –
1) An ex-CIA assassin, now living life as an ordinary guy with his family is craving for action. A minor break-in to his home triggered his instinct back to his violent ways.
2) Good old action movie where the primary plot is an amalgamation of A History of Violence (2005) and John Wick (2014). We saw the trailer, we know what was coming.
3) Decent mix-tape.
4) RZA & Christopher Lloyd’s end credits scene promises a sequel.

 

 

CONS –
N/A

 

 

QUOTE –
Hutch Mansell: Give me the goddamn kitty cat bracelet, motherfucker!

Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 1
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 1

 

 

VERDICT – 4/5

 

 

PROS –
1) Batman & Wonder Woman jointly start recruiting superheroes for the Justice League while Darkseid’s henchman Steppenwolf is collecting all 3 “Mother Boxes”. After knowing the origin story of Cyborg they decided to bring Superman back to life with the help of a “Mother Box”.
2) Flash & Cyborg take center stage in this movie while Aquaman & Wonder Woman are in the backseat.
3) The extended Knightmare Sequence from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) gives us more information about the abandoned Snyderverse. There are hints of Infinite Earths with characters like Robin, Joker, Harley Quinn, and a villainous Superman.
4) A superior version of the theatrical release. Snyder’s vision was clearly butchered by Joss Whedon on the editing table. Steppenwolf got a kickass armor and his character is well developed in this version.
5) The quintessential 7th member of the Justice League, Martian Manhunter, finally made his appearance.

 

 

CONS –
1) The 4:3 aspect ratio is not serving any purpose.

 

 

QUOTE –
Steppenwolf: For Darkseid.
Superman: Not impressed.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

 

 

VERDICT – 1/5

 

 

PROS –
1) The plot surrounds a mysterious Dreamstone that grants a user their wish but at an unknown cost from the user. A struggling oil businessman somehow knew of its power and takes its possession resulting chaos.
2) Kickass Asteria’s armor.
3) The movie is a solo WonderWoman adventure movie without any Justice League connection.

 

 

CONS –
1) The movie is criminally long for an average superhero movie. For the first 90 minutes, the movie is without any major action or any villain.
2) The screenplay is slow and full of plotholes. How Maxlord knew about the Dreamstone? What was his grand plan?
3) The movie delivers an equally confusing message of “denounce your wish”.

 

 

QUOTE –
Nothing good is born from lies. And greatness is not what you think.

Wonder Woman (2017)

STORY – 0
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 0

Verdict – 1/5

Pros –
1) No man’s land – action scene
2) Revelation of Ares

 

Cons –
1) 45 minutes too long for a generic origin story.
2) No appearance of any other DC character, not even in a post-credit scene
3) DC’s Thor.

 

Quote –
Charlie : May we get what we want.
Steve : May we get what we need.
Sameer : But may we never get what we deserve.
All : Bang !

Basic (2003)

STORY – 1
DIRECTOR – 0
ACTOR – 1
MUSIC – 0
CULT – 1

 

VERDICT – 3/5

 

 

PROS –
1) Samuel L. Jackson as Master Sgt. Nathan West – a larger than life character
2) Sgt. West training monologues
3) Final plot twist.
4) Possibly the last John McTiernan movie. It’s last but definitely not the least.

 

 

CONS –
1) Weak presentation and marketing. This movie is terribly under-rated.

 

 

 

QUOTE –
A Ranger never relinquishes his weapon! If George S. Motherfucking Patton rises from his holy grave and asks you for your weapon, you will not surrender your weapon. Everybody better give me a “Hoo-ha, sergeant.”