Tag: ZackSnyder

Army of Thieves

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

The prequel to Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead which came out earlier this year, Army of Thieves follows Sebastian (Matthias Schweighöfer), or more commonly known as Ludwig Dieter, your average every day banker who just happens to have a knack for cracking safes. Bored of the regular nine to five life, Dieter hopes for something more. Then one day, he is approached by infamous jewellery theif Gwendoline (Nathalie Emmanuel) to join in on a top secret heist during the beginning of the zombie apocalypse.

I was one of the few people who actually really liked Army of the Dead. When I heard the universe was being expanded, I couldn’t wait, especially when the next instalment would be about my favorite character Dieter. I instantly fell for his charm and nerdy ways and so to have the opportunity to learn more about him was awesome. He was the perfect protagonist to lead this film. It was also impressive to discover that in addition to starring in the movie, he also produced and directed it.

The other characters were a lot of fun to get to know too. They each brought something to the table and I wouldn’t be surprised if they popped up somewhere down the line as there is still so much we don’t know about them. Super hacker Korina (Ruby O. Fee) was sassy and oozed girl power, meathead Brad (Stuart Martin) while wonderful to look at was kind of a dud and sandwich loving getaway driver Rolph (Guz Khan) was severely underused.

Being transported inside the safes was really cool. In fact, the way in which the film as a whole was filmed felt like it belonged in a comic book. The character introductions, location names, music choices and fight sequences sucked me in and made me feel like I was in another dimension.

While the film was full of entertainment, the storyline itself was more on the predictable side. It was easy to tell what was going to happen next and there weren’t many surprises along the way. I also felt that what was going on outside of the heist didn’t do much to advance the plot. I guess I expected a lot more action considering the original movie, but I was wrong.

Still, for an origin story, Army of Thieves was an enjoyable caper that left me pretty satisfied. The various Easter eggs bridging the two movies together was done well and I cannot wait to see what happens next in this franchise.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

Army of the Dead

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

After a zombie outbreak occurs in Las Vegas, a mismatched group of people are recruited to pull off the greatest heist ever. They must walk into the quarantine zone to retrieve money from a vault underneath one of the casinos. Putting their lives at risk, no matter what, is no problem when the payout is sure to be worth it.

Zack Snyder really has done it again. I don’t know where the man comes up with all these epic movie ideas, but he is a visionary. This was unlike anything I had ever seen before in the best way possible. There was not one dull moment starting right from the get go. That opening sequence alone helped set the tone and was completely captivating. The film didn’t let up afterwards and I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time. I also caught myself constantly screaming at my TV when something crazy happened.

I must give a special shoutout to the incredible cast that helmed this movie. Each played their role so flawlessly and the chemistry between them was off the charts. I couldn’t have imagined a better group. Dave Bautista, in particular, was able to show off more of his range as Scott Ward. I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters of Vanderohe (Omari Hardwick), Dieter (Matthias Schweighofer) and Mikey Guzman (Raul Castillo).

To be honest, I’m not sure why I liked Army of the Dead so much. It’s not usually my cup of tea, however, there was just something about it that was so intriguing to me. It was fun, entertaining and pure escapism. That is truly what we all need these days.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Published on by Daniela2 Comments

It’s no secret that I am total DC trash. I have always preferred DC to Marvel and it’s not just because Batman was my favorite character growing up. Despite the fact that they still need to find their footing, I am constantly looking forward to the newest installments and I believe they have a lot of potential. So, when I heard that Zack Snyder was releasing his cut of Justice League, I was stoked. Even I can admit that the 2017 Joss Whedon version left a lot to be desired. This was a chance at redemption and I loved absolutely everything about it.

Following Superman’s (Henry Cavill) self sacrifice, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) enlists the help of Diana Prince aka Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) to put together a team of superheroes in order to save the planet from new foe Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds). Arthur Curry/Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Victor Stone/Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) are recruited to form The Justice League. If they want to be successful, they need to get Superman back – and that’s just the start of their problems.

This movie is long. At a whopping four hours and two minutes, I think it is the longest superhero movie I have ever seen. But that is how it needed to be. Having all this extra time really allowed for storylines to be fleshed out more. Details here are vital and that is something we missed out on the first time around.

Not only that, but every single character had a strong backstory. This change gave us better insight into characters that we didn’t know much about before, like Cyborg and The Flash, for example. Nobody was left out and it was great to see more interaction between everyone too. The Flash in particular was an absolute stand out. He brought some much needed comic relief in the otherwise dark setting and I really hope he gets his solo film now.

The effects seemed like they had stepped up a notch and the overall atmosphere was much darker. I liked that because it fit the story and overall DC feel that way. I also loved the music choices throughout. They weren’t overdone, however when they were used, fit perfectly.

I truly believe that Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a masterpiece. I’m forever grateful that he decided to give the fans this gift. He really does have an amazing understanding on the DC universe and I hope there is a sequel (with him on the helm) in the future.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥.5