Movie reviews

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE

Watchable. Dynamic, flippy even, animation, shooting in all directions with vivid colours, its style changes constantly but all backgrounds look blurry like in 3D movies when you take off the glasses, it's 2D though. Taken the dominating ambience and surround sound, I guess it was to imitate clubbing and occasional tripping on drugs. Purple-pink dominate the screen, the rapid visuals are accompanied by music, sometimes just as rapid, sometimes even slow, matching the pictures, but don't expect hits. The plot is mayhem. The multiverse is full of Spider-Men, Spider-Women, there's even a Spider-Horse and a Spider-Dragon. Two live actor characters: from the "Venom" and "Black Panther" universes make cameos. The multiverse is also very multicultural, e.g. an outstanding part takes place in Mumbattan - where Spider-Man Pav shows them around: "there's traffic here, and here, and there". There are also visually and musically dynamic yet dull family issues, the two leading Spider teenagers acting out and speaking cockily to their fathers. Unfortunately "to be continued".

INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR

Watchable.The first, unbearably boring, "Insidious" movie was released in 2010, the second, truly scary, in 2013, this one is back to non-scary and dull. James Wan's production, actor Patrick Wilson's direction, scripted by Leigh Whanell, who makes a cameo as Specs, with Joseph Bishara's ominous music, right at the opening titles. Next come ominous pictures, all intertwined with a tedious family story, which then turns into theatrically fake looking spooks. The horror layer is silly. At least the Atmos sound is surrounding, especially the MRI machine produces authentic noises. Sinclair Daniel is superb as Dalton's down-to-earth, upbeat black girl roommate Chris - I followed this tiring trite story only for her. Additionally, at the end credits I was rewarded with a great song: "Stay" (feat. Patrick Wilson) by Ghost.