REVIEW: KRAVEN THE HUNTER

3/5

The Huntsman

127 Mins. Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott & Russell Crowe. Screenplay: Richard Wenk, Art Marcum & Matt Holloway. Director: J.C. Chandor. In: Theatres.

The hunt for the red arachnid continues with the latest and perhaps the last Sony ("in association with" Marvel) Spider-Man (SSU) web spin-off, 'Kraven The Hunter'. A mere month after Tom Hardy's 'Venom' had his 'Last Dance'. Ending the same year that began with all those 'Madame Web' memes, making 'Morbius' look like the Scorsese "absolute cinema" gag that well-intentioned cop character star Tyrese Gibson fell for on social media. Starring 'Kick Ass' swolle superhero Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the former Quicksilver in Marvel's avenging 'Age Of Ulton' makes even more madness in this multiverse as more classic and cult comic characters are added to this mix. "Come see this movie. I promise you it won't disappoint," urges ATJ. And you know what, he's got a predator point sharper than the blades he keeps in his 'Rambo' forest. A Jurassic world away from the big cities of the smoke and mirrors of London and the capital criminals in Mother Russia.

Sure, and we've said it before, these movies feel like they were made in the early 2000s. But to a writer pushing 40 like he is this pen, and refusing to believe the original 'Spider-Man', 'X-Men' and 'Fantastic Four' were over twenty years ago, that's not necessarily a bad thing. If this really is the end, at least Sony's shared universe goes out on one of its better bangs. Bond to be (?) Taylor-Johnson has played everyone from a young John Lennon ('Nowhere Boy', take note, Harris Dickinson), to both Elizabeth Olsen's brother ('AOU') to lover ('Godzilla'), and we really could see him muscling up in the originally intended 'No Way Home' of Tom Holland's universe...if only this Marvel would know his name. Craving this hunter, Aaron attacks this movie with everything he's got. Owning us with a bow and arrow and better office audition than Deadpool's Avenger one. Not to mention an ante upped accent than his one that rivalled Evan Peters' Pietro. And when Johnson takes his seat, striking that iconic pose in the lion's mane jacket, just like the comic, the character he hunts down to the throne, is his. 

Other names that won't come off the multiple Marvel list, belong to Zeus himself, Russell Crowe ('Thor: Love and Thunder'), compelling us with his criminal intent. The sins of this 'Gladiator' father aren't just visited on one son, mind you. As one-part of the Joaquin Phoenix like 'Gladiator II' scene-stealing (see a Human Torch, for the blazing and ignited other half) Fred Hechinger is truly chameleonic. Who else could command both Harry Styles and Tony Bennett on stage? And just like Crowe calls it, we can't trust anyone who doesn't like the man who left his heart in San Francisco. Also alongside this hunter, is the huntress with a Hawkeye bow of 'Westside Story', Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winner Ariana DeBose's Calypso. Asha's 'Wish' is upon star status in a Hollywood that is all too quick to forget actors of the Academy when they're given the brunt end of big-budget blockbusters. But she adds substance.

'A Most Violent Year' (absolute classic) direct J.C. Chandor ('All Is Lost') is also an emerging leading light who gives us decadent direction. Even if, like Netflix's 'Triple Frontier', he's better than this substandard. Perhaps it's too many cooks (or writer) spoiling the soup (or script), as Richard Wenk, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway all lend their pen to the proceedings. Yet, 'Kraven The Hunter' looks pretty good for a Sony/Marvel movie. Especially on the new planetarium like surround-screen Dolby Atmos, IMAX rivalling experience of Screen X that really climbs the walls like a Parker. Sometimes jarring, especially when it comes to the still images (there are some kinks to be worked out), but saved for the best moments, this X could mark the spot for a cinema comeback, as the world trades theatres for the threads of smaller, smartphone screens. Dialled in to a Chandor reunion, Alessandro Nivola one-ups Paul Giamatti's mechanized Rhino, with a more comic capture (in more ways than one). Yet it's the 'Catch-22' of fellow 'AMVY' star Christopher Abbott's Foreigner comic character that will really hypnotize you like, one...two...three. Three, two, one, this Sony Spider-Man Universe may be done with this sinister sixth, but we're still hurting, hunting and craving for more. Let's not make this the last hunt. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Venom: The Last Dance', 'Morbius', 'Madame Web'.