Special: Flora & Ulysses, Judas And The Black Messiah, Outside The Wire Mini-Reviews

Flora & Ulysses:

Synopsis: An imaginative and creative 10-year old cynic never could have predicted that her little squirrel would be born anew as a superhero and have the uncanny knack for helping her and the lovable but broken people in her life.

My thoughts: This had a chance to be really good, but it also had the chance to be really cheesy (and not in the good way). Flora & Ulysses walked the tight rope as well as it could and ended up in the middle of the two outcomes. We've seen some stinker VFX on Disney+ thus far but this flick safely avoids that as most of the visuals are well done. The acting was about as good as you can expect it given the premises and Danny Pudi makes for quite the menacing (and hilarious) villain. The film is overall charming but lacked it in a couple key places which did hold the film back.

Final verdict: 3.5 comic books out of 5.

Judas And The Black Messiah:

Synopsis: FBI informant William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois Black Panther Party and is tasked with keeping tabs on their charismatic leader, Chairman Fred Hampton. A career thief, O'Neal revels in the danger of manipulating both his comrades and his handler, Special Agent Roy Mitchell. Hampton's political prowess grows just as he's falling in love with fellow revolutionary Deborah Johnson. Meanwhile, a battle wages for O'Neal's soul. Will he align with the forces of good? Or subdue Hampton and The Panthers by any means, as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover commands?

My thoughts: A great movie from most angles that is expected to do well come award season. I find the film does the bare minimum in developing our two main characters so that we care about what happens to them and in saying that, how was this over 2 hours? With that kind of runtime I'd expect better but instead of focusing on the negatives I'll simply enjoy the overall package delivered to us.

Final verdict: 4 revolutions out of 5.

Outside The Wire:

Synopsis: In the near future, a drone pilot sent into a war zone finds himself paired up with a top-secret android officer on a mission to stop a nuclear attack.

My thoughts: I had assumed we'd get better out of this movie. Sci-Fi isn't my favourite genre but I figured Mackie could command my attention for 2 hours and although that was mostly true, the premise left me scratching my head more often than not. The ending of the film had a chance to challenge the perception of the viewer but instead slapped a bow on it and gave us an expected ending. 

Final verdict: 3 bionic men out of 5.

Top 10 Countdown: February 27, 2021

10. We Were Sharks - Bring Me Down
Last week: NEW!

9. Fever 333 - Wrong Generation
Last week: NEW!

8. Mod Sun Ft. Avril Lavigne - Flames
Last week: 9.

7. Yungblud Ft. Machine Gun Kelly - Acting Like That
Last week: NEW!

6. Machine Gun Kelly Ft. Halsey - Forget Me Too
Last week: 1.

5. jxdn - Better Off Dead
Last week: 6.

4. Architects - Black Lungs
Last week: 5.

3. Waterparks - Lowkey As Hell
Last week: 4.

2. We Were Sharks - Shameless
Last week: 3.

1. Bearings - Super Deluxe
Last week: 2.

Special: First Listen Thoughts: Mod Sun "Internet Killed The Rockstar", You Me At Six "Suckapunch", Hayley Williams "Flowers For Vases/Descansos"

Mod Sun - Internet Killed The Rockstar

Label: Big Noise

Press release: On Jan. 25, the “Flames” singer announced that his fourth studio album will be entitled, Internet Killed The Rockstar, and is set for release on February 12 via Big Noise. “Karma,” “Bones” and his latest single “Flames” featuring Avril Lavigne is set to appear on the new album but the full track listing has not yet been released.

My thoughts: I had never listened to Mod Sun prior to the new batch of singles as I had seen interviews saying he was following MGK's footsteps and putting out a pop-punk banger. There are some great songs on here outside the singles (Annoying, Better Man) but there are also some problems. I loved the title track until it cuts off prematurely in my opinion. Also pornstar has the cringiest of chorus' I've ever heard which is a shame because the music is pretty great.

You Me At Six - Suckapunch

Label: Underdog Records

Press release: You Me At Six have confirmed that their seventh studio album ‘SUCKAPUNCH’ is officially on the way, and will be released on 15th January! Josh Franceschi says, “We have been in the pursuit of happiness for quite some time, both collectively and individually, only to discover that happiness is more than just a state of mind. We had to face our pain head on and carve it into something positive. Our seventh studio album is the result of us finding peace and acceptance of what’s been and gone.”

My thoughts: You Me At Six return to their roots, kinda. It's been well documented that the band has said they'd rather breakup than further experiment with sounds. That being said guitars are the focal point of this record. That being said the first half of this album which contains the singles, the token slow song (Glasgow), the worst song on the album (WYDRN) and a merely okay album opener in Nice To Me. But once the end of Glasgow picked up the heaviness it didn't stop through the next few tracks before slowing down a bit over the last two tracks but still being driven by the guitar and the drums.

Hayley Williams - Flowers For Vases/Descansos

Label: Atlantic Records

Press release: Less than one year after she released her solo debut, Hayley Williams is back with another new album: Flowers For Vases/Descansos—produced by Daniel James, mixed by Carlos de la Garza, and mastered by Heba Kadry—is out now via Atlantic. In a statement, the Paramore leader said, “This isn’t really a follow-up to Petals for Armor. If anything, it’s a prequel, or some sort of detour between parts 1 and 2 of Petals. The meaning of the album as a whole is maybe entirely different from diving into each song in particular.”

My thoughts: I really want to avoid copying and pasting my review of Petals For Armor here but it basically contains my feelings on this album as well. I'm not a fan of this type of music. It's listenable as background noise but not something I'd regularly come back to. As I said in the aforementioned Petals For Armor review, if Hayley gets this type of music out of her system now so Paramore can return to her rockier roots I am all for it. I'm just gonna need a new Paramore record to prove that.

Top 10 Countdown: February 20, 2021

10. Jetty Bones - That's All
Last week: NEW!

9. Mod Sun Ft. Avril Lavigne - Flames
Last week: NEW!

8. Mod Sun - Karma
Last week: 3.

7. Four Year Strong - Brain Pain
Last week: 7.

6. jxdn - Better Off Dead
Last week: 8.

5. Architects - Black Lungs
Last week: 6.

4. Waterparks - Lowkey As Hell
Last week: 5.

3. We Were Sharks - Shameless
Last week: 4.

2. Bearings - Super Deluxe
Last week: 2.

1. Machine Gun Kelly Ft. Halsey - Forget Me Too
Last week: 1.

Special: First Listen Thoughts: Weezer "OK Human", The Dirty Nil "Fuck Art", We The Kings "Saga EP"

Weezer - OK Human

Label: Atlantic Records

Press release: Weezer’s 14th studio album OK Human is due out on January 29, with a lead single entitled All My Favorite Songs arriving this Thursday (January 21). ​“Hold on to your hard drives,” Rivers Cuomo and co. announced on social media. ​“OK Human, the new album, arrives 1/29.

My thoughts: I was really looking forward to Van Weezer set for release in May (the band states that's still happening). OK Human ditches the guitars for synths, piano and orchestral arrangements which is just not all that strong but I get why they felt the need after likely going guitar heavy on Van Weezer. The album is an overall meh for me with a few highlights (Grapes Of Wrath, Dead Roses). Weezer returns to the dark imagery and tone they explored on the superb album Pinkerton back in the mid 90's but without the aggressive instrumentation it's hard for me personally to enjoy it front to back. 

The Dirty Nil - Fuck Art

Label: Dine Alone Records

Press release: The Dirty Nil, the amp-blowing, JUNO Award-winning trio have embraced, torn down, and then reinvented the quintessential rock ‘n’ roll star archetype for years. Now the band has announced the title of their hotly anticipated new album, Fuck Art, set for release later this year via Dine Alone Records. The Dirty Nil’s third LP is an unabashed concoction of classic-rock heroism, pop-punk horsepower, ’80s indie scrappiness, ’90s alterna-crunch, and speed-metal adrenaline.

My thoughts: The Dirty Nil's combination of all things punk makes for a hell of a ride. Fuck Art released on New Years Day kicked off the new year with a bang and is a very early contender for album of the year. Possession and Doom boy are the highlights once through but the whole album deserves your attention.

We The Kings - Saga EP

Label: S-Curve Records

Press release: For a majority of 2020 while We The Kings were at home, the band carefully put the final touches on ‘SAGA’ and dropped new singles from the EP, giving listeners a taste of what to expect. Fans, old and new, have been thrilled to hear a familiar sound that the band has been known for while delivering an exciting, bold mix of pop songs that include acoustic, electric guitar and electronic instrumentation. Songwriting has always been at the forefront of We The Kings as a collective as they aim to bring listeners and fans even closer together with their most thought-provoking music to date.

My thoughts: We The Kings don't really do anything to surprise anyone anymore. You know you're gonna get a series of pop-rock songs with some synths mixed in for good measure. They did go heavier on the synths with this EP (but really who isn't?) I liked most of the songs on this EP upon first listen but I feel like the tracks will likely be forgotten as more releases come out in 2021.

Top 10 Countdown: February 13, 2021

10. Less Than Jake - Keep On Chasing
Last week: NEW!

9. The Wonder Years - Out On My Feet
Last week: 9.

8. jxdn - Better Off Dead
Last week: NEW!

7. Four Year Strong - Brain Pain
Last week: 8.

6. Architects - Black Lungs
Last week: 7.

5. Waterparks - Lowkey As Hell
Last week: 5.

4. We Were Sharks - Shameless
Last week: 4.

3. Mod Sun - Karma
Last week: 3.

2. Bearings - Super Deluxe
Last week: 2.

1. Machine Gun Kelly Ft. Halsey - Forget Me Too
Last week: 1.

Special: Batman: Soul Of The Dragon, Palmer, Downfalls High Mini-Reviews

Batman: Soul Of The Dragon:

Synopsis: Set in the midst of the swinging 1970s, this Elseworlds adventure finds Bruce Wayne training under a master sensei. It is here that Bruce, along with other elite students, is forged in the fire of the martial arts discipline. The lifelong bonds they form will be put to the test when a deadly menace arises from their past. It will take the combined efforts of Batman and world-renowned martial artists Richard Dragon, Ben Turner and Lady Shiva to battle the monsters of this world and beyond!

My thoughts: The story was interesting enough and I'm glad they made certain elements non canonical, like Richard Dragon being Asian since that makes a lot of sense. But they went a little too far with the 70's vibes since the score made it seem like this was a Blaxploitation film in some instances before flipping to bad pornography. The visuals were top notch which we've mostly become accustomed to with the DC Animated Universe films. The voice acting was strong and I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel seeing where this movie ended however I fully expect this to be a one and done project. 

Final verdict: 3.5 magic swords out of 5.

Palmer:

Synopsis: Former high school football star Eddie Palmer went from hometown hero to convicted felon, earning himself 12 years in a state penitentiary. He returns home to Louisiana, where he moves back in with Vivian, the grandmother who raised him. While trying to keep his head down and rebuild a quiet life for himself, Palmer is haunted by memories of his glory days and the suspicious eyes of his small town community. Things become more complicated when Vivian’s hard-living neighbor Shelly disappears on a prolonged bender, leaving her precocious and unique 7-year-old son Sam, often the target of bullying, in Palmer’s reluctant care. In time, Palmer is drawn into a more hopeful world as he forges a connection with Sam through their shared experience of being made to feel different by those around them. Life improves for Palmer, and a romance develops between him and Sam’s teacher Maggie. An inspiring and unexpected journey unfolds for the three of them, but soon Palmer’s past threatens to tear apart this new life.

My thoughts: Palmer has strong acting across the board even if the story was a little too cookie cutter for my tastes it was an enjoyable emotional ride as Justin Timberlake returns to acting for the first time in a long time and he enjoyed chewing the scenery of this flick from start to end.

Final verdict: 3.5 flying fairies out of 5.

Downfalls High:

Synopsis: When reserved and lonely teenager Fenix (Chase Hudson) meets popular high school girl Scarlett (Sydney Sweeney), the two form a bond that shapes the rest of his life. A musical drama featuring the music of Machine Gun Kelly.

My thoughts: If you've seen my top albums of 2020 list you'll see that I really enjoyed Machine Gun Kelly's album Tickets To My Downfall quite a bit and although the whole album gets a playthrough in this movie I feel it would've been better served if they changed the songs order to fit the narrative. There we're also some point where MGK just didn't need to be front and center and he was. I did enjoy some of the new arrangements for the songs which made this a little better than just listening to the album playlist on YouTube. That being said the acting was stale as lots of the performers inexperience showed.

Final verdict: 3 bloody valentines out of 5.

Top 10 Countdown: February 6, 2021

10. Goldfinger - Wallflower
Last week: NEW!

9. The Wonder Years - Out On My Feet
Last week: 10.

8. Four Year Strong - Brain Pain
Last week: NEW!

7. Architects - Black Lungs
Last week: 8.

6. Seaway - Mrs. David
Last week: 1.

5. Waterparks - Lowkey As Hell
Last week: 6.

4. We Were Sharks - Shameless
Last week: 5.

3. Mod Sun - Karma
Last week: 4.

2. Bearings - Super Deluxe
Last week: 3.

1. Machine Gun Kelly ft. Halsey - Forget Me Too
Last week: 2.