“Monkey Man” is the next big action blockbuster to hit the big screen on April 5, 2024. From director, producer, and lead actor, Dev Patel, comes one of the best movies of the year so far. Easily receiving 89% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an audience score of 84%, this movie is the next John Wick-esk franchise to hit the movie screens. This movie will easily be worth the trip to cinemas alone. It has been one of my most expected films for this year, and I am so happy to say that it delivers in every way and more. Everything from the story, symbolism, ties to the real world, and the score truly make this movie a masterpiece.
The story follows Kid, played by Patel, as he fights through the corrupt streets of India and the vast forests to find peace through an undeterred vengeance. For those familiar with other religions and myths, they will recognize the legend of the divine monkey Hanuman, the spirit of courage and strength against abuse in the world. The symbolism and contrast in the present-day is very strongly underhanded to the audience, almost begging for bigger questions about society and the power structure of the world to be called into question. The low-budget of $10 million dollars has very little to no recognizable actors to the vast majority of audiences, but easily showcases the massive talent of Patel and other stars on-screen.
The score of “Monkey Man” was made by Jed Kurzel, who has also worked on films such as “Alien Covenant,” “Assassin’s Creed,” and “Macbeth” for the scores and soundtracks. The score and music is available on Spotify under the name of the film and deserves a listen for those that are interested. The score uses instruments and sounds that originate from India and Indonesia in an upbeat, intense format for the film. Additionally, the music contains unique elements pertaining to the film like a boxing ring bell and tablas, drums from India that are typically played on the floor.
Overall, “Monkey Man” is the next best action movie to see in theaters. A fun adventure of vengeance filled with lots of character, violence, and action, this movie will easily bring moviegoers to joy. While it was rated R for a very good couple of reasons, I suggest this movie to everyone that wants to enjoy a fun trip to the other side of the world. This movie has a lot of expectations to live up to and is one of the best films to come out of the Pandemic (yes, this entire film was shot during the Pandemic with strict rules). I personally cannot wait to go back and watch this film again to deeper analyze its commentary and break down the action of this film.
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