Redhead_Reviewer

While the reputation of Netflix originals seems to have declined in public perception, their record for making adaptations is strong. The MCU shows they originally had are some of the best content in the franchise, they produced the visually and emotionally beautiful Violet Evergarden anime, the live action One Piece series faithfully delivered, and Castlevania and Castlevania Nocturne are a masterpiece and great respectively. Likewise, their new Devil May Cry series is extremely fun. I haven't played the games so I can't comment from that perspective, but like Castlevania I am now interested in getting into them.

For starters, the voice acting all around is excellent. While there are no bad performances and only a few weird lines here and there, the obvious standouts are Johnny Young Bosch as Dante and Kevin Conroy as William Baines. Bosch's performance singlehandedly sells the fact that Dante is a carefree mercenary who deflects from all the heavy stuff in life--trauma, emotional connections and heartbreak, etc--and delivers wisecracks and quips perfectly. And channeling the gravitas of his two decades playing Batman, Conroy's voice adds a layer of tunnel-visioned determination to Vice President Baines, his quest to fight demons, and his religious zealotry. Trust me, if there's anyone you want referencing Scripture at the audience, it's the man who delivered the iconic "I am Vengeance" line.

One of the most fun things about this series is the number of easter eggs to other Capcom games. As someone with minimal knowledge of their games, it was fun to see nods to Street Fighter, Mega Man, and a quick line acknowledging Resident Evil. The more lighthearted tone of the show makes these references feel right in place, as opposed to a sudden clash in emotions where someone might, say, namedrop Dr. Light during a tense moment. Regardless of the tone though, the easter eggs to other games and such are part of what make these video game adaptations fun.

As an action game, the adaptation is likewise an action show. And for the most part, I would say that the action is superb. With only one or two exceptions, the sequences are well-choreographed and hard-hitting. Even with the few lackluster ones, they at least provide a variety of types so the entire series isn't just repeating itself. Sometimes demons are fought in a basement, sometimes in the sky, sometimes through an apartment complex. In one instance they're fought in a bike chase while Papa Roach's "Last Resort" is playing in the background (my personal favorite fight).

Finally, the stuff going on with some of the characters is very interesting. The character of Mary Arkham is front and center in this regard, acting as the loyal soldier who faces off against Dante the most. She has half an episode showcasing her past, intertwined with the White Rabbit, who is a decently fleshed-out antagonist. In addition, the series does something with the demons that serves to make them more than just standard monsters. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is a development original to the show, and that there are plenty of people--fans and newcomers alike--who detest this decision, but I found it to be mostly well-realized.

As for negatives, regarding characters the scope of interesting specific characters is limited. While Arkham and Baines are well-realized and feel like people, the rest of Arkham's strike team is very one-note. They all have cool designs and seem like they have something there, with the exception of a rookie named Anders they're all very one-note. The prominent henchman demons are somewhat the same. While their lack of character doesn't feel as disappointing as the Darkcom agents, many of them are unfortunately designed with CGI. And while it's not truly bad CGI, it is very noticeable when they are intercut with scenes of the 2D characters.

While I like the character of Mary Arkham plenty, I do feel that her use of swear words was a bit overdone. There are several times where it's very warranted, either as a cool line or as her way of letting off steam when stressed. But there are also plenty of times where it just feels like they're trying to get the R-rating when all the blood and gore does that fine, or like they're trying to sell Arkham as a no-nonsense badass when the show already does that to great effect. As for the humor of the show, I feel that your mileage may vary regarding a character named Enzo, who is the primary funnel for the funny moments. I found him funny enough, but some might think he's overused. And finally, my biggest negative isn't a criticism so much as a lament that Dante and Baines only have a few scenes of direct confrontation. Part of what sold me on this show was the thought of Ichigo Kurosaki and Batman butting heads and constantly arguing. And unfortunately, due to Conroy's untimely passing that has now become a missed opportunity. The few times we got that are everything I was hoping for; I just wish we could have gotten more.

Even with the lack of direct conflict between its two biggest names, this show is still a great fun time, and I'm looking forward to seeing the second season. Especially after the ending stinger, teasing good things to come.

Ah, Valentine's Day. Love is in the air, chocolate is everywhere, and fights ensue every five minutes. Great holiday.

The biggest draw to this movie is likely going to be Ke Huy Quan, beloved 80's kid star and recent Oscar winner. He is clearly giving it his all, both acting- and action-wise, with a performance I can best describe as friendly, making Marvin Gable someone you'd root for no matter what. Everyone else in the movie does well as well, with the other notable standout being Ariana DeBose as Rose. Other than a few lines that feel a bit over-the-top, she brings a fun presence to the movie.

The other big sell, the action, is another reason that's worth the price of admission. Director Jonathan Eusebio, known for stunt coordination on several other projects including John Wick, manages to make the fights a joy in every situation. The camera isn't steady all of the time, but unlike most shaky cam, it works in a way to make the fights feel chaotic while still maintaining a clear sense of what is going on. It also helps that there are several unique setpieces to the fights, including the weaponry of choice by Mustafa Shakir's character The Raven.

Besides the leads and the action, the story is admittedly very light. While the trailer's hook is interesting, there isn't much going on in the plot save for one minor subplot that isn't expounded upon, but I thought had a neat little payoff for all the little details throughout. It does work to the movie's favor as a quick 80-minute action flick, but those hoping for more substance will undoubtedly be disappointed. The other criticism I have is that there are several moments of handholding throughout. There will be a focus on an object or setpiece, then a character will say something to the effect of "I can use this" or "Ah, I recognize this" rather than letting the visual cues clue the audience in.

If you can look past the empty-calorie story, I recommend this, especially if you're looking for a Valentine's Day date at the movies. It's an easy watch that pairs well with a dinner afterward. Not much else Valentines-themed this month anyway. Unless you like slashers, in which case Heart Eyes may be more up your alley.

Your opinion on this movie will change drastically depending on how much you can stand the humans they always cut back to. Personally, I thought they were fine here, but there are definitely going to be people who wish they were cut entirely. It especially hurts in the beginning, as there is a solid half hour or so of them setting up the story in between shots of the titular characters. And while their scenes were certainly the weakest, there are more than plenty of kaiju fights to go around.

For those who come to this film wanting some story with their fights, there is actually a really good plot thread involving Kong. He is the main protagonist of the film (despite the title implying shared screentime) and the majority of his scenes have no human interaction whatsoever. Instead, the film beautifully tells its story through the body language of the kaiju as they interact and face off against each other.

Obviously, people will want to see this movie for the action. And the action more than delivers. There are nearly a dozen different fights in this movie, and the worst that can be said is that some are too short. They're all beautifully shot, catch all the action, and each major kaiju has a big moment at least once.

As for Godzilla, while he's not in play nearly as much as Kong, he still has presence in the film and a couple of my favorite moments. The most I'll say without getting into spoilers is that he's like a house cat, doing his own thing and not caring how it inconveniences others.

I highly recommend seeing this on the big screen. Get a bucket of popcorn, sit back, and enjoy this two hour ride of fun. You won't regret it.