The Paper Tigers Review: A Middle Age Martial Arts Comedy Knock Out

Release date: May 7, 2021
Running time: 108 minutes
Written and Directed by: Tran Quoc Bao
Starring: Alain Uy (True Detective), Ron Yuan (Mulan), Mykel Shannon Jenkins (Undisputed III), Matthew Page ("Enter the Dojo" - Master Ken), Andy Le (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Yuji Okumoto ("Cobra Kai" & Karate Kid II)

As teenagers, kung fu disciples Danny (Alain Uy), Hing (Ron Yuan) and Jim (Mykel Shannon Jenkins) were inseparable. Fast forward 25 years, and each has grown into a washed-up middle-aged man seemingly one kick away from pulling a hamstring—and not at all preoccupied with thoughts of martial arts or childhood best friends. But when their old master is murdered, the trio reunites, soon learning that avenging their sifu will require conquering old grudges (and a dangerous hitman still armed with ample knee cartilage) if they are to honorably defend his legacy.

The Paper Tigers starts off perfectly, with VHS home movies that are filled with character and 80s style.  The trio are shown in their martial arts prime, with the confidence and invincibility of youth.  It really gives you a vision of this trio and their tight bond growing up.  The VHS videos set the tone perfectly, as does the amazing 80s music that gets your blood flowing.  And then when it fast forwards to them not in their prime, the film shows its comedic roots.  Boisterous youths go to middle aged adults just over the hill.  And the concerns they have, especially those of Danny who is juggling a job, a kid, and a crumbling marriage, feel like those of any normal adult.  It is illuminating to see the person that he became versus the person he thought he would be.

But what The Paper Tigers has in spades is comedy and heart.  The movie is just funny.  The camaraderie between the trio in their youth and as adults is palatable and shows on screen.  The disciples have built up anger, love, and a shared knowledge that is instantly infectious.  And the over the top style has some call backs to old school martial arts movies, but with an added dry comedic style.  The movie riffs on fighting, on grudges, and on age equally well, making a melting pot of comedic gold.  And despite these character's ages, the kung fu action is exciting and enjoyable.  They are definitely not in their prime, but they still are fun to see when they let loose.

The story of this movie is long, but I didn't mind it at all.  There are a few fight scenes that seem a little drawn out, but it's a martial arts comedy movie so I can't begrudge the film for lingering on martial arts action.  And some of the fights use stylish cuts to slow down the action, which lets you get in the heads of the fighters but also makes for some action that is less frantic than I was hoping.  And a minor point, but the young characters in the VHS videos look nothing like their older counterparts, including some of their height.  But The Paper Tigers has a unique tone, great characters, and more heart than your average martial arts movie.  And it occupies a unique space that skirts the line between following your dreams and the realities of life.  

Paper Tigers will knock you out with its wonderful comedic style, over the top and over the hill characters, and the amazing camaraderie and heart of the main trio.

Watch it.

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The Paper Tigers will be released in theaters and on demand on May 7, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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What to Watch This Weekend: Without Remorse, Tu Me Manques, Golden Arm, Limbo, Mitchell vs. Machines, Nomadland, Guns Akimbo, Marijuana Conspiracy

For Michael B. Jordan Action: Without Remorse (Amazon)
Without Remorse is a good action movie made great by Michael B. Jordan, some exciting effects and sound, and a story with plenty of intrigue.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Powerful Love Drama: Tu Me Manques (Digital)

Tu Me Manques is a beautiful, bittersweet, and poignant look into love, the need to be yourself, and the homosexual stigma in Latino culture.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Over-the-Top Sports Comedy: Golden Arm (Theaters and Digital)

Golden Arm flexes its movie biceps with its over the top characters, fun cameos, and strong female protagonists, making for a golden opportunity for a good time!  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Subdued and Entertaining Refugee Drama: Limbo (Hulu)

Limbo uses its stylish, subdued cinematography and stoic performances to tell a poignant and utterly entertaining tale that both entertains, humanizes, and provides biting commentary about the refugee experience.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Hilarious Family Trip: The Mitchells vs. The Machines (Netflix)

The Mitchells vs. The Machines is a modern animated film, with a great use of memes and internet culture, laugh out loud moments, and a story that has #allthefeels.   For more information, check out the review!

For Those Longing To Go Outside: Nomadland (Redbox and Hulu)
Nomadland highlights a different, beautiful lifestyle with a very human performance by McDormand, amazing cinematography, and a wonderful sense of community.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Gamer In Your Life: Guns Akimbo (Amazon)

Guns Akimbo is a thoroughly enjoyable video game-style movie with a ridiculously entertaining premise and plenty of video game effects and references to make sure you don’t say game over.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Looking For A Drama Based on A True Story: The Marijuana Conspiracy (Digital)
Critically panned but with good reviews, Kin is not a great movie, but it is an enjoyable science fiction film with some fresh new talent.  For more information, check out the review!

Screening: Jupiter's Legacy Episode 1

We have teamed up with Netflix to invite you to a special screening of the first episode of Jupiter's Legacy.  The screening takes place on May 6th and you can watch the episode anytime from May 6th at 3:00 pm EST to May 7th at 3:00 am EST!

Screening Info:
Jupiter's Legacy Episode 1

May 6th

Anytime from 3:00 pm to May 7th at 3:00 am

To RSVP, register at this link!

Screening registration closes at 6:00 pm EST today (4/30) so fly on over!

Synopsis:

After nearly a century of keeping mankind safe, the world's first generation of superheroes must look to their children to continue the legacy. But tensions rise as the young superheroes, hungry to prove their worth, struggle to live up to their parents' legendary public reputations — and exacting personal standards. Based on the graphic novels by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely, Jupiter's Legacy is an epic superhero drama that spans decades and navigates the complex dynamics of family, power, and loyalty. From executive producers Mark Millar, Frank Quitely, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Dan McDermott, Steven S. DeKnight, James Middleton, Sang Kyu Kim. Jupiter’s Legacy stars Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, Ben Daniels, Elena Kampouris, Andrew Horton, Mike Wade, Matt Lanter and Ian Quinlan.

TRAILER

Cast

Josh Duhamel - Sheldon aka "The Utopian"

Leslie Bibb - Grace aka "Lady Liberty"

Ben Daniels - Walter aka "Brainwave"

Andrew Horton - Brandon aka "Paragon"

Elena Kampouris - Chloe Sampson

Matt Lanter - George aka "Sky Fox"

Ian Quinlan - Actor

Mike Wade - Fitz aka "The Flare"

David Julian Hirsh - Richard aka "Blue Bolt"

Tenika Davis - Petra

Things Heard and Seen Review: An Atmospheric Film That Does Not Do Enough To Be Seen Or Heard

Release date: April 29, 2021
Running time: 121 minutes
Directed by: Joe Penna
Written by: Joe Penna and Ryan Morrison
Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton

A Manhattan couple moves to a historic hamlet in the Hudson Valley and come to discover that their marriage has a sinister darkness, one that rivals their new home’s history. Based on the acclaimed novel by Elizabeth Brundage.

Things Heard and Seen's main draw is the stellar cast for this atmospheric haunting film.  It has Amanda Seyfriend and James Norton as a young couple who move to a rural town in the hopes of a better life.  The pair are great in their own respect and do a good job of portraying this couple.  I really liked James Norton's character, as a charismatic teacher who is always smiling and always scheming.  And although Amanda Seyfried's character doesn't portray a lot of emotion, I do think she did a fine job.  The film is set mostly in an old house, with plenty of creaks, electricity issues, and other telltale signs of a haunting.  The story is slow to progress with many ups and downs, and overall this is an interesting film to watch. I really liked the setting and some of the side characters who add some life to this world.

But Things Heard and Seen's story takes a long time to develop.  I feel like this is to set the tone of the film and let you really get to know this young couple, but it seems like it could have been shortened down.  Some of this could have been by removing extraneous plot threads that do help to flesh out the characters but don't contribute much to the overall film. And some of this could have been a quicker pace to get into the more supernatural elements.  Things Heard and Seen takes a very long time to get to anything supernatural, and when it finally does, the effects are not impressive and the overall supernatural elements do not wow you.  The whole film is an exercise in subdued story telling, but this also leads to a climax that does not surprise and that also doesn't feel as shocking as it could have.  And for a film that has so much development, the emotional turns in it seem to happen too quickly.  

Now Things Heard and Seen does have an interesting use of the supernatural to explore a marriage that already had issues.  It uses the supernatural to amplify the existing issues, and to frame the overall haunting.  And it also does get more interesting as it develops and as you learn more about this town and the strange house this couple resides in.  But in the end, the film just does not excite, does not scare, and doesn't cause you to care about the plight of this family.  Things Heard and Seen should not be ignored, but it doesn't scream out to be watched.

Things Heard and Seen has a great cast and a good atmosphere, but the overall pace of the film and the subdued nature make for a not scary horror / drama experience.

Rent it.

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Things Heard and Seen is available on Netflix on April 29, 2021.

The Marijuana Conspiracy Review: Rolling An Interesting Tale Of Laced Research

Release date: April 20, 2021
Running time: 123 minutes
Written and Directed By: Craig Pryce
Starring: Brittany Bristow, Morgan Kohan, Julia Sarah Stone, Tymika Tafari, Kyla Young, Marie Ward, Luke Bilyk, Gregory Calderone, Derek McGrath, Paulino Nunes

In 1972, young women looking for a fresh start in life endure isolated captivity in a true 98-day human experiment studying the effects of marijuana on females.

The Marijuana Conspiracy really feels like a true to life film.  It is set in the 70s and really feels like it came from this time.  From the costumes, to the activities, to the language, the film has a wonderful 70s style that feels right at home.  The movie also has an amazing commitment to the hippie lifestyle with period appropriate music.  And the overall story of The Marijuana Conspiracy is a fascinating one: paying a group of women to smoke pot everyday for 90 days and studying the effects.  It sounds like easy money and some people's dream job, but the study ends up being far more difficult than any of these women imagined.  It is interesting to see the effect that the constant marijuana usage has on them, and the overall changes in their work ethic, behavior, and mental health that occur as a result.  And the film also points to some underlying societal biases and the question of how research studies can be slanted for specific goals.  

The story of the Marijuana Conspiracy is slow to develop, which gives you plenty of time to get to know the five main subjects of this study, but it can also lead to a film that starts off well and gets very slow in the middle.  As the study progresses, sometimes it feels like the film just idles as the days count down.  It does pick up towards the end, but the film definitely feels the full two hours of run time.  And the movie also has a side plot part way through that deals with sexual orientation.  Although it was well done, it also felt like it didn't add much to the story of the study and just felt like a strange tangent in the middle of the movie.  The film definitely has an agenda with the study, showing how bias crept into the research into marijuana.  But the side plot made the movie feel a little disjointed and I think hurt the overall impact of the film.  

The Marijuana Conspiracy rolls an interesting tale with a fantastic 70s style, an impactful story, and a look into how bias can creep into research.

Rent it.

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The Marijuana Conspiracy is available digitally and on demand on April 20, 2021. 

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

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Separation Review: A Creepy Custody Battle

Release date: April 30, 2021
Running time: 108 minutes
Directed By: William Brent Bell
Written By: Nick Amadeus, Josh Braun
Starring: Rupert Friend, Brian Cox, Madeline Brewer, Violet McGraw, Troy James

A young girl is in the middle of a marriage that is falling apart.  After tragedy strikes, she finds solace in her artist father and the strange spirit that she says is her dead mother.  But is this spirit helpful or something that is out to harm the family.

Separation has a very creepy opening that highlights the artist father as well as the creepy characters he created.  The film uses this imagery throughout to highlight some of the strange entities that come into the father and daughter's life.  The creepy carnival old school aspect is great for keeping you on edge, and makes for some scary imagery.  Especially when dolls and other objects begin to move and interact, it will definitely keep you feeling uneasy.  I also really liked Rupert Friend as the father; he has a whimsical childlike nature at times and yet also feels like a father way over his head.  And Violet McGraw shows why she is both an amazing actor and a treat for the horror genre, providing an unsettling and sweet child that seems to be a conduit for the supernatural entities.  And I always love seeing Twisty Troy James in a horror film.  He adds a great, unsettling aspect with his otherworldly movement.  And I also did like a lot of the story, and the use of horror to add some unease to an already messy family situation.

But despite Separation's great atmosphere and inherent creepiness, the movie does have a few flaws.  For one the story does not come together in the end.  There is an interesting revelation that explains some things, but overall the supernatural aspect is not fulfilling when viewed in the full context.  And despite there being a heartfelt resolution, it still leaves something to be desired.  The spirits are not well explained and the explanation does not gel with what we find out later.  And the story tries to also wrap up some of the loose threads before the end, but this feels far too convenient.  The movie has a good introduction and a creepy build up, with a much more subdued sense of horror than I am used to, but the viewer is left wanting at the end.  Additionally, the film uses a lot of great practical effects (especially Twisty Troy and his amazing body contortions), but it has large chunks of CG.  These come into play during the scenes showing the outside of the house, which look obviously computer generated.  There are also strange red scenes involving the trees that are CG generated and take away from your engagement.  It made these sections feel almost illustrated, which I think was the intent given the father's job, but these cartoony aspects hurt the overall immersion.  It is just not that scary when someone is hanging on a ledge and it looks like they are about to jump into a comic scene.

Separation's inherently creepy creatures and good practical effects are hampered by an unfulfilling story and some less realistic CG touches.

Rent it.

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Separation is available in theaters on April 30, 2021.  For tickets, click here.

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The Virtuoso Review: A Stylish Noir Cloak-and-Dagger

Release date: April 30, 2021
Running time: 110 minutes
Directed By: Nick Stagliano
Written By: James C. Wolf
Starring: Anson Mount, Abbie Cornish, Eddie Marsan, Diora Baird, Richard Brake, with David Morse and Anthony Hopkins

Danger, deception, and murder descend upon a sleepy country town when a professional assassin (Anson Mount) accepts a new assignment from his enigmatic mentor and boss (Oscar® winner Anthony Hopkins). Given only where and when along with a cryptic clue, the methodical hit man must identify his mysterious mark from among several possible targets, including a local sheriff (David Morse). Meanwhile, a chance encounter with an alluring woman (Abbie Cornish) at the town’s rustic diner threatens to derail his mission in this noir-style cloak-and-dagger thriller.

The Virtuoso wears its noir inspiration on its sleeve, with a mysterious main character who often seems to be plotting his next move, and a mysterious game of cat and mouse that will keep you guessing what will happen next.  The film starts with an explosive opening that shows how cold the main character can be, but also how good he is at his job.  His character is intriguing and I love the way that he narrates everything that happens, letting you get in his head.  And Abbie Cornish is another fun character who plays the Waitress perfectly.  She doesn't have a lot of time but quickly establishes a rapport with Mount.  Although the main draw of this film is Anthony Hopkins, his character just doesn't have much of a role in the film.  He is the mentor but we don't get to see much of him, probably because of the indie budget in this movie.  

But the main conflict in the film, as can often be the case in films where someone questions their previous choices, feels manufactured.  Not the cat and mouse game that occurs, but the event that leads to that game just doesn't have the emotional impact that I think it should have.  It is also tough to believe given the actions of the Virtuoso during the film.  I am not sure what could have been done to make it more realistic, but the triggering event could have fit in better with the story I think.  And the film does have some strange, unrealistic sound effects at times, but this might have just been the screener I was watching.  That being said, the story of the film is compact but has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.  As with any good cloak-and-dagger, you are left in the dark until the very end with a nice ending that ties everything together.  

The Virtuoso is a stylish noir film with great style, an interesting story that will keep you guessing, and entertaining leads.  

Rent it.

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The Virtuoso in select theaters and everywhere you rent movies on April 30th; on Blu-ray and DVD May 4th. For theatrical showtimes, click here. 

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.