Find out if a movie is going to be your cup of tea.
Author: tsccupoftea
I am a filmmaker and suit enthusiast. I have a degree in film and video production and watch way too many movies. I try to write reviews of the movies themselves not the hype or process of how they were made. I just want to focus on the movie and it’s effect. Focus on the film none of the noise surrounding it.
“I am serious and don’t call me Shirley!” is just one of many cultural touchstones from the 1980 comedy, Airplane. This week, our hosts revisit this classic film to see if it stood the test of time and if all of the lines burned into our memories are just as funny years later.
A major part of a trend of films glamorizing big rig trucking, Convoy (1978) popped back to the surface as truckers once again grabbed headlines in 2022.
See what has stood the test of time and what hasn’t in this week’s Cup Of Tea Review!
What a stupid movie. Sam Raimi’s incredible directorial talent adds entertainment value to an otherwise devoid mess.
The MCU is reaching the stage where it’s too much. In order to follow this film you need a working knowledge of six movies and two entire seasons of television. That’s a lot of material to keep in mind when walking into a movie. You have to be a committee devotee to enjoy this or you need to look elsewhere for your blockbuster extravaganzas. Even if you are a major mcu fan, I’d recommend looking elsewhere.
The film begins with Doctor Strange, again played by Benedict Cumberbatch. He is trying to protect a young girl called America Chavez from a red-ish blob of CGI. She is being hunted by a evil entity trying to steal her superpowers. What are her superpowers?She can travel through the Multiverse Atwill.
The movie has one of the most bloated and idiotic scripts of any modern blockbuster. The movies number one goal is to capitalize on the success of Spider-Man no way home by cramming the film with fan service. The problem is this fan service is not earned. It is cheap. It feels like a series of punch lines without set up. Imagine if you will a knock knock joke without the knock knock who’s there part.
This film has the shortest first act of any movie I’ve seen. The first act consists of about three minutes of scenes and dialogue. All of which set up the plot the McGoverns and the Easter eggs we should be looking out for as fans.it doesn’t do its characters themes or overall story anything more than lip service.
Because of this abbreviated first act the film feels rushed but not like it’s in a hurry to get anywhere important. it’s just a chase to get from plot point to the next, from one cameo to the next. The trouble is that because these cameos have no setup they ring hollow and have no impact when they land.
The best part of the film is Sam Raimi. He’s the off kilter auteur behind the evil dead and the original Spider-Man trilogy. He brings a zest and a much needed verve to the proceedings. The best scene is one in which he’s allowed to go full-Raimi. He inserts a little mini horror film into this big Marvel extravaganza. The scene involves Wanda, played by Elizabeth Olsen, being stalked by a supernatural entity in her kitchen. The scene has zooms and quick cuts and canted angles that add up to a fun and visually delightful sequence that has real power and filmmaking behind it.
The other wonderful thing Raimi brings us a good use of close up. So many of these Marvel movies linger on wides and medium shots and they never get in close and allow emotions to really register. I feel Wanda’s pain and America’s fear so much more intensely when their eyes are in major close ups that punctuate the action.
Is it a good movie? No. Is it an entertaining Marvel entry? Meh… kind of. Do you need to see it? No. There are better movies and better Marvel movies.
I hope they let Sam Raimi direct again. Give the man a decent script next time, and you’ll have a masterpiece.
This week our hosts continue in the John Wick franchise with John Wick 2. After loving the first film in the series, find out what worked and what didn’t in this week’s review!
This iconic 2014 action movie finally makes it to Cup of Tea Reviews this week! A leader in the action genre, find out what worked and didn’t in this week’s review of John Wick.
This week we take a deep dive into the film that turned Jason Statham into an action star. Does this film hold up? Is it a dated relic of the early 2000’s? Is there anything here worth watching? Listen to our three minute review to find out.
This week our hosts hit a recent release, The Adam Project (2022), to see if it lives up to all the hype. Find out what worked and what didn’t in this week’s 3-minute review!
Every once in a while, our hosts stumble into a great movie by accident. This week, our hosts check out The Harder They Fall (2021) and incredible Western with a great look and feel. Find out everything to love in this week’s review!
As we enter our second year, we are revisiting the classic good-bad movies that got us into the genre. Leading off is The Running Man (1987), starting a young Arnold Schwarzenegger and Richard Dawson giving it his all. Did this film stand the test of time?
This week we take a look at a fantasy adventure film from the 80’s. It follows a hunky block of wood who can talk to animals. He uses his powers to overthrow an evil wizard. Was this a silly mess that turned out to be a lot of fun or a silly mess that was just a drag? listen to our three minute review below…