Review of The Darkest Minds (2018) by Elle%20 L — 03 Aug 2018

In a word from one reviewer, "Why is this in the THEATER!?

Sometimes I think some movies that are based off YA novels missed the boat cause other movies have followed the same tropes but did it better; Keep in mind that not all YA (Young Adult) novels end up being bad movies (IE. The Maze Runner Trilogy) but the ones that do come out and take elements from other films for the sake of trying to be edgy but kinda falling by the wayside it boggles the mind that people enjoy these films while others are awoke to how much of the same a movie is when you follow the typical check list...'The darkest minds' is just one such movie that follows the same checklist using the same tropes from better movies and still force a typical love story in the center of it cause, "that's what YA books are about!?".

Now, Keep in mind that I never read this book and i'm sure in COMPARISON the book might be better than the movie (Maybe); but when you have the people behind the hit show, "Stranger things" and a interesting sleeper hit, "Arrival" you would think this movie would be a straight blockbuster of the highest order.....nope, not the case with this one.

So the premise for this movie is that its set in a dystopian future where some kids are born with a genetic condition (sounds FAMILIAR?); now the adults believe its a DISEASE of some sort but the majority of CHILDREN have either move stuff with their minds, super genius level intellect, breath fire (I shit you not this is a thing) or can teleport or.....fade out like characters from, "infinity war"!!?

So the adults at large put some of the CHILDREN in camps where they are tested and in most cases abused for their abilities. But just when things seem bleak there word of resistance somewhere where people can "Be themselves" (sounds FAMILIAR?) so its a race against time to find this safe haven and this is where the story of Four particular kids from different walks of life meet up and try to find this resistance while also being hunted by the same camps that are abusing their powers.

This is pretty much a cut and paste of movies that were done before this but better....this movie really isn't that good....but strangely not that bad. before I go all in on this movie I will put some positive into it cause there were a sprinkle of them THROUGHOUT. I will give it to the CHEMISTRY in this movie I like the character interactions I felt that Amadala Steinberg (Ruby) was pretty decent but I will give it to another character Chubbs (Skylan Brooks) he was the funny guy in the group which of course in the check book of typical tropes there's always have to be the black funny guy but never the love interest (I'll get to that shortly); some of the cinematography was good in some parts and there were at least two action sequences for the budget was pretty good; The love interest Liam (Harris Dickinson) was not bad either there were moments where he did shine and that goes without saying that it wasn't bad at all.

But this is where the positive ends.......

Before I go any further...I just want to apologize. I'm sorry that my opinions are different from anyone else....if you loved or even liked this movie that's great i'm sure for you it was a good movie. but much like TLJ (The last Jedi) this movie is pretty decisive. So its okay to have differences of opinions and not be sheep. With that being said i'm sorry that I just don't agree with the majority that liked this movie.

*sigh* Let's get something clear, I hated TWILIGHT cause in a world where woman SHOULDN'T settle for control freaks this movie proved that its okay to love some who pretty much control your aspect and they call it love (when clearly its not!) But then again when the author of said Novel/movie have a character 'imprint' on a baby that's considered romantic, and I felt 'EVERYTHING, everything' was a pretentious mess of a typical movie that also follows tropes that I felt wasn't realistic to the everyday world but I guess who goes to the movies to see realism right?

So this movie stars Amandla Steinberg....I have nothing against the actress cause she's a very beautiful young lady. But when it comes down to it she seems to be typecast in the same type of film, maybe by her choice or by the direction of casting it just seems she just don't like being in a movie where the love interest is a black guy. Now, that goes without the saying that won't always be the case...but when it comes to her....its always the case. IN fact, the love interest in this movie looks so much like the same guy from, "everything, everything" its damn near scary. The character of Liam while I liked his character honestly could have be played by anyone but I feel that if you switch his ETHNICITY from white to black i'm sure people would be up and arms about it; which I felt again much like in my written review for, "everything, everything" the main love INTEREST could have been played by anyone and I think the movie would still be MEDIOCRE or bad. And yet here she is once again in that same type of character in that same type of role and I feel she has the capability to so better but I digress.

Also certain actors got completely short changed. So Gwendolyn Christe is in this; Lovely woman, she has the ACTING chops to go far cause she was awesome in Game of Thrones; but much like her character of Phasma in 'Star wars' she was shortchanged so hard in this movie...shes only on scene for what....5 mins and you barely hear from her anymore. Bradley whitford (The west wing, Get out) is in this movie as the President....yeah, get ready for that less screen time cause he's barely in it too. Now i'm sure people are going to say, "Well its all about the kids and their plights" okay fine; but considering the lore has to establish how did we get to this future in THE first place and while it gives some EXPLANATION in small burst we still need to know the WEAVING behind it...the INTRICATE workings and I get the movie is nearly 1 hr and 70 mins so it won't EXPLAIN everything but damn it don't rush the film either.

Oh yeah, I forgot Mandy Moore was in this movie....I guess the movie forgot that too again shortchange of actors!

Also it seems to have a lot of plots some went somewhere while others didn't; but in COMPARISON to made for DVD movies like, "Maximum Ride"......this is WAy better when it comes to at least some subplots getting resolved but still, when plots go nowhere or placed in the BACK-BURNER for sequel bait and you don't have a sequel then its a problem for those who actually are curious as to what happens. and OMG the end set up for a sequel that might not ever happen was so out there it made, "INDEPENDENCE day: resurgence" look tame and that's not saying much.

In the end, this movie isn't bad but it really isn't good either. While I did enjoy the chemistry for the four main characters; it felt like some characters could have been played by anyone and the results would still be the same, plot seems to have different elements of its own and lack of resolve. I forgot to mention there were a couple of disturbing moments which I felt was...woah . Certain actors got completely short changed and put in the back burner and I feel this movie was meant to be moreso for Netflix or digital/Blu-ray/dvd than an actual film but in comparison to movies like, "Maximum Ride" or " Percy Jackson" this movie is not all that bad...but still not meant for theaters....sorry!

Chris (aka Black Guy that reviews movies).