Movie reviews of Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen

With Dr. No Terence Young did a competent job of crafting the cinematic legacy of James Bond. It is by no means the most exciting entry in the franchise, but it succeeded in introducing us to franchise elements we now know and love. Review

Frankly, this film is at its best when it tries to be more of an epilogue to Casino Royale than its own story. It is disappointingly uninvolving when it tries to be its own thing. Review

Martin Campbell successfully reinvigorated the franchise and reinvented the central character with his second Bond-film, Casino Royale, which I think is a near-masterpiece and, without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite James Bond-film ever made. Review

Though it absolutely does borrow a lot from other action-thrillers such as John Wick, Ilya Naishuller’s Nobody is a genuinely entertaining film. Review

But, honestly, the film still won me over thanks in large part to the story, the tone, and the fact that Ryan Reynolds, who I always greatly enjoy, is used perfectly without ever overwhelming the subplot that puts the (though not unknown) not-so-household-names into the spotlight. I think this is a charming and rather inoffensive comedy that the entire family can enjoy. Review

Though some bold choices may be divisive, it should leave long-time fans of the franchise thrilled, just like it should also succeed with those who only recently got attached to the character precisely because of the Daniel Craig-era. Review

Sam Mendes’ first Bond-film, Skyfall, is a thrill-ride of a film and a gripping blend of the new and the old in this franchise. It is arguably one of the best looking Bond films ever made in large part thanks to cinematographer Roger Deakins, and I think it was really smart to focus the plot around Judi Dench’s character. Review

Although it doesn’t have a sequence that is as magnificent as the motorway sequence from Reloaded, I actually enjoyed watching The Matrix Revolutions more than I liked watching Reloaded. Review

This is an overstuffed film that takes too long to get going, and the subplots in the B-plot don’t go anywhere in this movie. I think there is a lot of good in the A-plot, though, its details should have just been made more clear than they actually were. Review

The Wachowskis’ The Matrix succeeds with its generation-defining and trend-setting action and fight choreography, as well as its central idea and world-building. It isn’t just one of the best films of the 1990s, it is also a near-masterpiece. Review

It has some great hidden delights for genre-fans, but the thing about Midnight Mass that I love the most is that Flanagan has made a truly terrific horror show that somehow still, in pivotal moments, has the ability to feel comforting without, to me, ever feeling hokey. Review

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part One welcomes you to an intricate and awe-inspiring science-fiction universe brought to life via epic visuals, a menacing score and startling sound work, and an A-list cast dedicated to Villeneuve’s faithful adaptation. Although it is breathtaking, hair racing, and immersive, this technical achievement is also deliberately paced and incomplete. Review

The cinematography and the score help to make you feel the warmth that at times also emanates from Youn Yuh-jung’s character. The other central performances are often nuanced but they always feel genuine. Review

I was worried that perhaps the film’s central gimmick would be its downfall, but, even though the gimmick has some untapped potential, I actually think it’s the best thing about the movie. I really wanted to like this film, but, unfortunately, Doug Liman’s Chaos Walking is a bit of a dud, all things considered. Review

It has a lot of visual flair with its busy hyper-energetic animation style, but it also has a lot of heart, and I can definitely see people of all ages (i.e. all members of the family) enjoy the messages at the heart of this film... Review

The film has a surprisingly complex antagonist, well-choreographed action fight scenes, heart and humor thanks to the committed performances from Awkwafina, Liu, and Leung, and excellent mythical and fantastical surprises along the way that keep you on your toes. Review

It is a socially-conscious film and it probably has its heart in the right place, but the execution does not live up to its own lofty ambitions. Review

It is nowhere near as good as Wan’s films, but it is a decent continuation of the film series. It won’t knock your socks off, but it’ll do the job most people will want it to do. Review

Godzilla vs. Kong is exactly what the average person would want from a big kaiju blockbuster film, but it isn’t anything more than that. Review

I think it is clear and obvious for all to see that James Gunn was given free rein and creative freedom to do exactly what he wanted, and it turns out that he was the right man to trust the future of the once-stained franchise with. James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is a bloody good time at the movies. Review

There are certainly things to admire about the film, and fans of the genre will have a decent time with it, but it is significantly hampered by the runtime and the slow pace. Review

At its best, it is a very entertaining ride with fun characters and neat mythological world-building. It is in no way, shape, or form original and it probably won’t age all that well, but it is a fun summer blockbuster popcorn film and that is, ultimately, exactly what it was meant to be. Review

Navot Papushado’s Gunpowder Milkshake pales in comparison to the films that it is imitating. Although it, in spurts, does feature some visual flair that I greatly appreciated, the rest of the film just isn’t up to scratch. Review

Cate Shortland’s Black Widow does a lot of things right, but it falls just short of being great, and it isn’t a top-tier Marvel movie, in part due to the the fact that its antagonists are underused and that its ending is decidedly awkward. Review