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📸 #1 - Dave Alloca / Starpix

And again, I love and will always love the musical, but like with the first film, I was so struck by how the power of a good close-up can add a whole new layer to the experience.

Lastly (for now), big fan of the new songs. They’re not there just to give the second movie more music, but they’re positioned in ways that truly bolster the narrative.

For Good demands a much more internal performance, however, and Grande most certainly has the range to nail every ounce of it.

And my favorite thing about Grande’s performance this time around is what she’s able to accomplish by doing less. It’s such a blast watching Glinda’s sky high flashiness and energy in the first film.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are phenomenal as Elphaba and Glinda yet again, but in new ways. Erivo is just electric in the role. Every moment she’s on screen, she sizzles with determination. No Good Deed is especially breathtaking.

The mix of it being a beautiful journey of being changed for good but also one that acknowledges the power of public perception and how hard it can be to change it, even when it’s based on lies, gives the film a significant amount of staying power.

As fans of the musical know, the second half of the story is different. Part one starts to unearth the lies and cruelty happening in Oz, but then part two fully immerses you in them. And the movie is quite successful at painting a picture of a situation that can’t be fixed with the snap of a finger.

... I knew seeing the back half of the story come to life via movie magic was going to be an emotional experience, but I don’t think I was prepared for how much this part of the story was going to rock me on screen.

I LOVE the vibrant mayhem of this movie, but the investment in Ben Richards and his fight for survival is totally tethered to how well Powell and Lawson establish his motivation at the beginning of the film, and they absolutely nail it.

In addition to Powell, The Running Man also rocks a top-tier supporting ensemble across the board, but for now, I’ll roll with one specific shout out — Jayme Lawson.

And watching him do so is a visual feast as well. No surprise with Chung-hoon Chung behind the lens.

As expected, Glen Powell is just the perfect Ben Richards. It’s a total blast watching him play a guy with no filter and this raw intensity who’s essentially a wrecking ball, trying to barrel his way through to the biggest possible payday.

He’s got a remarkably firm handle on the style and tone of the film, and that’s what allows it to be both bombastic high-energy fun, and also just grounded enough to ensure you care and take the story home with you after the credits roll.

I enjoy the 87 film, but I was real eager to see a more faithful adaptation of the novel. Not only do Edgar Wright and co. deliver big on that front, but he manages to do so while still making it feel like an Edgar Wright movie.

I was absolutely buzzing after this one. It’s just so refreshing to see a film franchise dish out something so unexpected.

I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fact that we have a Predator film that’s essentially an alien and robot buddy movie. It manages to be a wildly exhilarating ride, one packed with super tense and thoughtfully crafted set pieces, that’s also impossibly charming.