Tag: Zendaya

Challengers

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After being delayed a couple of times, Challengers has finally graced cinema screens around the globe. Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy turned coach makes no excuses for the person she is on and off the court. Married to Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), a champion who has been on somewhat of a losing streak, she signs him up for a smaller scale competition in hopes it’ll bring him redemption. He just has to face off against his former best friend and Tashi’s former flame Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) first.

Tennis may play an important part in the film, but at the center of it all is a love triangle. Zendaya delivers her most mature and captivating performance yet. Tashi was a magnetic character who didn’t care about anybody but herself and the way she commanded those boys was intriguing to watch. Faist and O’Connor held their own against her as well as each other; their bromance was one for the books and if you ask me, I think they should have been together, not fighting over who got to be with Tashi! That being said, all three had crazy chemistry that I won’t be recovering from anytime soon.

Music helps amplify certain scenes and put you in the right frame of mind. The score that was used throughout was so unlike any that I have ever experienced before. It was loud and pulsating especially during the big tennis match. That mixed with the unique way in which it was shot was a palette not only for the ears but for the eyes too.

To help bridge the gap between the past and the present, there were multiple flashbacks. The first one really set the stage. After a while, it started skipping around a bit too much and was hard to keep track of. As a result, the big match almost seemed to take a backseat while simultaneously feeling like it lasted far too long.

My expectations for Challengers was pretty high and for the most part I feel like it delivered. Thanks to the stunning performance from our three leads and the direction of Luca Guadagnino, this is a film that tingled all of my senses while also staying true to such a beloved sport.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Dune Part Two

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The long awaited Dune sequel is here and holy crap was it worth the wait! I’m not the biggest science fiction fan, but even I have to admit that this instalment was on a whole other level. I was left completely and utterly transfixed on what was unfolding in front of me.

Picking up right from where we left off, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) has joined forces with the Fremen and is getting closer to Chani (Zendaya) as a result. Despite the prophecy claiming he is the Chosen One, he does all that he can to stay true to himself while grappling with his inevitable fate.

Firstly, it’s important to note how visually stunning the cinematography is here. The way in which the landscapes were shot from the sand dunes to the various locations were literally out of this world. It was like an overload to the senses at times and I mean that in the best way possible. Just absolutely outstanding!

The acting here is top notch with everyone delivering career best performances. Chalamet solidifies the fact that he was the right choice for our leader; I wasn’t sure of him before, but now I am. It was great to have more of Zendaya on screen this time around as she really was the grounding force throughout. Newcomers to the group Florence Pugh and Austin Butler fit right in; the former was the perfect Princess Irulan while the latter was completely chilling as the sadistic Feyd-Rautha. Complete with Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgärd and Charlotte Rampling, there was nothing they couldn’t do.

While there were times where I felt the pace needed to pick up slightly and the open ending, I was engrossed the whole way through. I remember enjoying the first film, but this was so much more elevated. It was easy to follow, had great story arcs and an incredible score that fit perfectly. This is what cinema is all about – being swept away into another world and forgetting where you are for that moment in time.

Dune Part Two really is worth the hype that it’s been getting. Run don’t walk to your nearest cinema and enjoy it on the big screen. You won’t be disappointed!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Spider-Man: No Way Home

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Following the events of Far From Home, Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) identity as Spider-Man has been revealed to the world. Life as he knew it with his aunt May (Marisa Tomei), his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) is no more. When Peter sees the lives of the people he loves becoming impacted by his choices, he knows he needs to make things right. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) has the power to make everyone forget that he was ever Spider-Man. But when the spell goes wrong, the multiverse opens and with it comes many foes.

I feel like I am incredibly late in both watching and reviewing Spider-Man: No Way Home and let me tell you, it killed me. I was worried so much that I would be spoiled and my experience of watching would therefore be ruined. I am happy to report that that was not the case. And if I’m being entirely honest, the wait was actually worth it.

Without giving too much away, I have to say that everything about this movie exceeded my expectations. It was funny, it had many thrilling moments and some crazy action sequences all in true Marvel fashion. It seemed like the stakes were raised higher than ever before and I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

Spider-Man: No Way Home seemed like an ending of sorts, though I hope that isn’t true. I’ll be the first to admit that I was hesitant about Tom Holland at first, but he really impressed me with each and every instalment. Hopefully it won’t take too long until we see him and the rest of the gang back on our screens again.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Dune

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Based on the book series of the same name, Dune follows the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a gifted young man who must fulfill his destiny. To make this happen, he must travel to a dangerous planet to secure the life of his family and his people. His journey, however, will not be an easy one as multiple forces hunt for a supply of a unique and special resource that will change the universe forever.

Let’s get this out of the way: I am not a fan of science fiction. Most of the time I end up confused and missing out on half of the story because they are way too intricate for me to comprehend. So, my expectations for this movie weren’t very high. Here I was thinking I would be spending the entire time struggling to keep up. I can gladly say that the opposite happened though and I ended up completely entranced in the story. While it took some time for things to get going, once it did, I was fully immersed and could barely turn my eyes away from the screen.

With such a stacked cast, it was impossible for me not to enjoy the various performances. While I was initially interested in seeing Zendaya and Jason Mamoa, even I have to admit that I wasn’t as bothered by Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Paul. He’s not usually a favorite of mine. Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgård were all flawless in their roles. Rebecca Ferguson’s role as Lady Jessica was the standout however. She stole every scene she was in.

I think the most impressive part of the film was the world building and the sets. I don’t think I had seen anything quite like it before and I couldn’t get over how realistic it all looked. That is something that I admire most about this genre and Dune was no exception. I felt immediately transported to those places which I greatly appreciated. Additionally, the musical score was beautifully haunting and fit perfectly. Hans Zimmer is a genius. I had chills multiple times throughout.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Dune. It was very well done and I can say that it is worth the hype it has been receiving. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Space Jam: A New Legacy

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The much anticipated sequel to 1996’s Space Jam is here! A New Legacy sees superstar Lebron James at the forefront. When he and his son Dom (Cedric Joe) get trapped in a digital space by AI-G Rhythm (Don Cheadle), the only way they can get home is if they play a basketball game. With the help of the Looney Tune gang, anything is possible.

I had so many expectations for this movie. Space Jam is one of my all time favorites – I rewatch it on the regular and hold it in very high regard. Sadly, the reboot fell short for me. There were certain things that I did like such as the jokes, seeing beloved cartoons like Tweety and Lola (Zendaya) again as well as all the throwbacks they made to the original. The effects were also stepped up which helped add an extra element.

However, that is where the enjoyment ended for me. The plot was not interesting in the slightest and I felt like it took forever for the story to get going. Basically I could have done without the entire first hour. At times it also seemed as if the movie was one big marketing campaign for other WB pictures. I thought that was smart in beginning, but it became overused as the film went on.

Space Jam: A New Legacy was…interesting to say the least. I am happy I saw it and that it was my first movie back in the cinema since last September. Part of me wishes that they had left a good thing alone though. Not every single thing needs a reboot or a sequel!

Rating: ♥♥

Malcolm & Marie

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Quite possibly one of the most anticipated films of the year, Malcolm & Marie made headlines just under a year ago when news broke that it had been made during quarantine. People’s curiosities grew and so did the hype. Everyone wanted to know what the big secret was. I remember being incredibly excited to add this title to my list.

The story takes place over the span of one night. Malcolm (John David Washington) and Marie (Zendaya) have just returned home from a film premiere. Marie is disappointed in Malcolm because he forgot to thank her in his speech. What follows is a tumultuous evening complete with heightened tensions, many arguments and revelations between the two characters.

This movie left me feeling a mixed bag of emotions.

The acting was brilliant. Both John David Washington and Zendaya gave raw and chilling performances. At times I really did feel like I was right there in the room with them. I think it helped that it was just the two of them on screen as well. This made for a much more intimate experience that I won’t soon forget.

Something else that I loved was the cinematography. The black and white ambiance was a cool touch. I appreciated that it added a flair of timelessness. It was also filmed in 35mm which is unusual but added a uniqueness to the film.

However, the constant fighting really started to get to me after awhile. Just when you think it’s over, it starts all over again. The movie really is not for the faint hearted but it was eye opening at the same time. The message of giving gratitude to those you love was brought across perfectly and I felt a sense of solitary for Marie throughout.

Overall, Malcolm & Marie is a film that left an impression on me. I really don’t think I have seen anything like it before. Unfortunately the hype was too strong and it didn’t end up being like I expected.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5