Bright

GenerationofSwine 1/14/2023 1:53:46 AM 8.4

Well, you do get the feel that it will work as a series. But you also get the feel that like all the good shows Sci-Fi puts out, Netflix will only let it run long enough for you to get involved before they cancel it...so it is probably better it's just a singular film. The bad would be that, at least the introduction of Will Smith in the film mirrors ID4 so much its a little unsettling...it gives the feel that "I've seen this before" and that feel kind of lingers throughout the movie as it seemingly resembles other films you've thought you've seen before...but can't exactly place, at least not all the time. The good news is, the opening credits do the same thing and that works to brilliantly set up the films universe. It gives it a very 90s gangland LA feel from the get-go with a play on race relations without mentioning actual races that is only really beaten by Marvel's use of Mutants. It all makes for a very familiar movie. You do feel like you've seen it before and that works both as a strength and a weakness. Ultimately, however, it is more of a strength as the feeling that it's not totally fresh actually helps you get involved in the movie. It helps you so suspend your disbelief enough to fully by into the new world, that magic is real, at least until the credits role.

ryan2johnson9 1/5/2022 3:08:51 PM 8.4

Sometimes friends say "just go and enjoy the movie and don't be too critical of the plot". I tried that for the 2021 Bond movie, it did not work. So after thoroughly enjoying this movie and coming out of it on a high, I was amazed to see the criticism. Some of the critiques make sense: the backstory is not explained, and why are orcs hated if 1000 years ago it was an orc who united all to overcome the dark lord? However, this movie was a unique fantastic spectacle, and at its heart was an orc hero who despite being ostracised was noble, honest, brave, and lovable. Will Smith was an excellent reluctant hero too. The action was intense but I never felt exhausted. And it was funny in the best way thanks to the virtuous innocence of the orc. It worked for me and I highly recommend it.

fung0 6/23/2021 3:58:03 PM 8.4

Almost a great film, but the ending lets it down just a bit. The concept is brilliant: buddy cop + _Lord of the Rings_ sequel. What you'd expect is a somewhat humorous popcorn action flick. Instead, Bright turns out to be quite dark and deep. It's about racial prejudice, for a start. It's about police corruption. It's about hard choices and trusting people you don't like. And, of course, it's about good versus evil. The Orcs are a stand-in for just about any oppressed minority. It's a clever bit of allegory, if a bit obvious. Less obvious is the portrayal of the Elves, who turn out to be the arrogant, uber-entitled 0.1-percenters. If you always thought the elves in LOTR were a bit snooty, you'll love this switcheroo. Will Smith is as good as ever, playing an older and more world-weary version of his character from films like _I Robot_. Joel Edgerton is fine as the Orc, and Noomi Rapace seems to have been born to play an evil Elf. Unfortunately, after a lot of gritty action superbly directed by Ayer, the ending arrives as a bit of an action-movie cliche. There was so much more meat here, in the characters, in the politics, in the weird magical backdrop. I was hoping for a more character-driven ending, instead of the usual mindless brute-force head-bashing (as superbly exemplified by every DC comix movie of recent years). Nonetheless, Bright is well worth a watch. It fails in some of its higher aspirations, but reverts to being a very entertaining buddy-cop romp. Which isn't so bad.