Welcome to the ninth installment of #StalloneMonth, which I have to say, is my favorite time of the year! In February we look over the filmography of this wonderful actor, Sylvester Stallone.
This year, however, it is going to be a little bit different, as I am currently finishing my doctorate dissertation. This has required more energy from me than I can admit. Been working late hours, then getting up before dawn, seeing the sun come up while I am working has actually been great for my mental health.
So what does this mean for #StalloneMonth? Well, this year I am only going to write one review, instead of four. I simply do not have the time to watch movies nor to write reviews. A few weeks ago it took me an entire day to write just one entry. I would not mind, usually, when I write these essays it is very liberating, but I feel the pressure of finishing my dissertation breathing down my neck, and right now, it is not a distraction I can allow. This liberating writing is going to be on an academic level so I can finish my studies properly. Just as always, this blog is here to stay, it has had my back over the years, and #StalloneMonth will be here as well next February.
That having been said, enjoy this year's review.
Sam Cleary (Javon 'Wanna' Walton) is an enthusiastic boy, fan of comics, from a difficult neighborhood. The city is divided, as it was once lead by a pair of twins with superpowers. Some believe, that when the twins fought each other, Nemesis and Samaritan, that Samaritan had survived and had defeated his evil twin. Sam is adamant on finding Samaritan, and he does so while there is a significant civil war brewing in his neighborhood, prompted by those who followed Nemesis' ideals.
And of all the reasons why I would recommend this movie, it is the simple fact that is despite being a superhero movie, it is very different from what we are used to. On the one hand you have the feel-good but deep stories by Marvel and DC, and then you have the other end of the spectrum, the grotesque and subverted ideas from series like The Boys. And this movie is very separate. It reminded me of those comic adaptations that were made before Marvel become the mega empire that it is now, and how sometimes these stories are told better by independent artists.
So watch it? Definitely. I can recommend this movie wholeheartedly. There is very little that Stallone can do badly for me, but I have definitely seen movies that felt more like a paycheck rather than a good film. And the chemistry between Stallone and Walton was wonderful: these kind of dynamics can make and break a movie. I have seen too many annoying kids trying to get any kind of emotion out of the main character and it just does not work. But thankfully, not only was the story good, but the casting was outstanding.
Until the next item on my list!
