Review of Glass (2019) by Razormavis — 18 Jan 2019

Ironically set to deliver on the promises of director's commentaries and deleted scenes in the 1999 film 'Unbreakable', Glass does indeed provide this, in combination to a tie in with 2016's 'Split', which I still am resistant to explain it's connection explicitly for the sake of it's own storybeats.

Sometimes heavy with over-explanation, Glass never feels as if it's condescending, nor condemning of comicbook tropes, and sometimes, if even a little comedically, sets up standard AAA superhero film tropes only to stand on the sidelines and call them out in-universe, more on-the-nose than not.

It is as much parody as it is a celebration of mankind's fascination with power endowed beings, as much a call out as it is a reveler of the aforementioned superhero and comic film tropes. Sometimes the payoffs feel half-loaded, but such is the case in the mostly well grounded world that has been set up in the previous films.

The deliveries that happen can feel underwhelming, but perhaps as a juxtaposition, especially in the face of the current age of comic movie culture, they feel incredibly genuine and of a heartfelt vision.

Could this film be viewed on it's own, seperate from the connected two films? I would say it could be considered mostly self contained, but the world that Glass has seemingly continued and ended simultaneously feels incredibly concise and fleshed out, and whether or not there is any kind of continuation of this narrative, I can't say that I am dissatisfied with what this trilogy of film offers and how it ties itself together, though I have to say if I had any real distinct complaint, I would have to say more time with Bruce Willis would have made it more enjoyable, though this can likely be reasoned that of the three leading characters, he has the most screentime accounting for the whole trilogy, so you mostly already have a big enough gauge on his character.

It is easy and definitely understandable to be dissatisfied with the way this film delivers on it's promises, but it would be unchallenging to simply dismiss it for percieved shortcomings. Based on the last two films, it is completely plausible in it's structure and the language the film speaks, and as a longtime fan of these characters [so bias notwithstanding of course] I can happily say that this film feels completely in character, takes a methodical and precise pace while still enjoying suspense, and that I am quite endeared to this bittersweet capoff to the narrative.

It's sure to divide critics and fans alike, but unlike a lot of sequels and connected films that come out nowadays, I can confidently say this is one worthy of it's legacy.