Murder on the Orient Express

Plot: Detective Hercule Perot (Kenneth Branagh) is on a train across Europe in the 1940's when there is a murder. Someone on the train must have done it, and Hercule interviews everyone. It turns out people are not quite who they seemed. Of course Perot solves it in the end.  [imdb]    [photos]

Review: The characters are colorful, and the visual are cool. The plot was a little too twisted for me. I think it would have helped to read the book.

Kenneth Branagh's Perot is not that likable, but he his acting is excellent. It is fun to see so many other big actors playing small parts. 

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer

Directed by: Kenneth Branagh

Written by: Michael Green based on the novel by Agatha Christie

The Visuals: Nothing special, except for Hercule Perot's mustache which is occasionally cool and always distracting

Rating: 2.0 stars: I was satisfied by my experience because of the weird characters, but overall it was just OK. 

Justice League

Plot: Evil demon Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) comes to earth and steal a magic mother box from the Amazons. Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and Batman (Ben Affleck) realize this might be the end of world, and try to assemble superheroes to fight back. This includes Aquaman (Jason Momoa) who also had their magic mother box stolen from Atlantis, and Flash (Ezra Miller) who is an unemployed twenty something, and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) who was turned into a cyborg by his Dad (Joe Morton) using yet another magic mother box. Once they get the band back together, they fight Steppenwolf, but they are not strong enough, so decide to raise Superman (Henry Cavill) from the dead. Since Superman is in the movie poster, it is not a spoiler that shows up. The whole group undertakes the final battle.  [imdb]    [photos]

Review: Justice League is spotty. It has cool parts and cheesy parts. Somethings make sense, but there is a lot of mumbo-jumbo magic. Too much magic can be boring. The villain, Steppenwolf, is monotonous and has a generic backstory. He is also too cartoony.

With the exception of Batman, the villain and superheroes have inexplicable, over-the-top powers. Powers so great that they are not interesting. However, director Snyder kept the fights interesting with some variety.

The movie is worst when Superman is on the screen. Can't stand Henry Cavill. It's best when the Flash is there. We need more Ezra Miller.

Gal Gadot is OK, but her part is smaller and less interesting than in Wonder Woman. Ben Affleck is the cornerstone of the movie. He is not the coolest Batman. (I liked Val Kilmer best.) Aquaman/Momoa provided some one liners, but was barely in the plot. 

Cast: Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher, Joe Morton

Directed by: Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon for the reshoots

Written by: Eleven people!

The Music: Mostly orchestral music by Danny Elfman -- good music. I loved and then bought the opening song, "Everybody Knows" song by Sigrid; originally by Leonard Cohen. Director Snyder had a Leonard Cohen song in Watchman too.  

The Visuals: I like the scenes of Batman and Gotham City. These had some style. I liked the Amazons riding on horses too. I did not care for the final battle, which seemed too animated. 

Rating: 2.0 stars: Spotty, but worth watching

More: Josh Whedon was writing for the movie, and then was tapped to finish the movie in post production. Josh supposedly is responsible for lighter tone.

Even More: Below is a drawing of Steppenwolf from the comic. A steppenwolf is German for  "plateau wolf," that is, a coyote.

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