This is an intellectual sci-fi piece more interested in tense mood than meaningful dialog. Captivating acting keeps the audience riveted, and moments of gorgeous cinematography give breathing time in between the implication-heavy scenes. It’s more paranoid than profound, but it’s still fascinating in its own right.
Content warning: female nudity
Closest comparison: It’s like Jurassic Park by way of Moon.
Setting: Tech Sci-Fi
Plot: Existential Sci-Fi
Tone: Slow-burn thriller
This movie is a cinematic tour-de-force with impressive cinematography and intense performances from the entire cast, Leo DeCaprio in particular. The story is bleak and depressing, and the movie goes to great lengths to demonstrate how realistic the situation is at every step. Its entire premise is about the crystallized intensity of one man’s will to enact vengeance and the brutality of wickedness and of the elements that he’s willing to endure to that end, and it’s equal parts riveting and difficult to watch.
Content warning: brutal, gory violence, sexual assault
Closest comparison: It’s like Last of the Mohicans (1992) by way of The Grey (2012).
Setting: Adventure
Plot: Survival
Tone: Revenge Thriller
This is the Donald Trump of movies; it immediately begins dismantling everything its predecessor did. At least a dozen of the biggest plot holes from the last movie get directly addressed, which is a noble attempt but ends up making for a choppy, uneven film. It’s crammed to the gills with about three movies worth of plot and the first third especially plays out almost like a montage. Visually it’s not as stunning as The Last Jedi and its plot meanders, only knowing where it doesn’t want to go. So there’s good news and bad news. The good news is it’s much better than Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the bad news is it’s still not very good.
Closest comparison: It’s like Dragonball Z by way of Indiana Jones.
Setting: Sci-Fi
Plot: Fantasy
Tone: Adventure
