New Crap: Robert and the Toymaker (2017)

 The Doll that won't die continues to appear in Films.  How much mileage can you get from a real life Doll that didn't kill anyone?  Let's see...

In 1940s Germany, things aren't great.

A man is hiding out from the Nazis (all 3 of them).  Can they hide him and his magic book?

More importantly, can the Film be a more blatant rip-off of Inglorious Basterds?

Seriously- this is so sad and blatant.

One girl survives the incident (which takes up nearly half of the runtime!) and gives the book to the titular Toymaker.

So here's the second big issue for me- they made the Toymaker old here, despite casting a younger Actor as him.

I thought the whole idea of him being old in the Present was to explain how they do a 1940s story with the YOUNG Actor...but nope.  WTF?!?

As a test of the Book's power, he uses it on Robert.  

He tells his Assistant that he thinks the Doll already houses the soul of a boy named Robert (who died while holding it).

So, obvious question, why have this redundant origin?
Either have the soul animate the Doll OR have the magic animate the Doll?

Oh right- we're ripping off Annabelle, which also DOUBLE DIPPED on its Origin Story!

Besides, ripping off Inglorious Basterds, let's address the obvious...

A Dollmaker is trapped in a Country with Nazis.
He uses a magic formula to bring his Dolls to life to kill them.
He's captured.
The Dolls save him.

So yeah, this is Puppet Master 3.  
Period.

Anyhow, Robert attacks the Assistant for no reason and he gets stopped.

I'm sure that this won't turn out to be important.

To see how this goes, watch the Film on Prime or other services.

Another disappointment of a Film.  Mind you, the last 2 weren't good, so what was I expecting?  This is no different, for the most part.  All of the same problems are here.  The Dolls aren't articulated and don't move- at all.  Anytime they are supposed to be moving, it is either tiny feet moving in a tight shot or someone clearing just moving them up and down.  Seriously- don't make Films about killer dolls if you can't afford CGI or Stop-Motion or Model-Work.  If you can't show the damn dolls move, don't bother!  It's like making a Godzilla Film where you can't afford/figure out how to make him blow up a damn City!  The Acting isn't bad, but it is not impressive.  Not Christoph Waltz does try to sound scary and/or authoritative, but it never feels authentic.  I never 'believed' he was evil, if that makes sense.  That's another thing- they loved to give him Monologues in this one.  He monologues in EVERY Scene.  In a bit where he kills 'a rat,' he can't just do it.  No, he needs to drone on for like five minutes about 'the rat race' and stuff like that before he kills them.  The old 'Here's your payment- shot in the head' schtick is too good for you, eh?  This one also continues the double-dose of stupid: people can't overpower dolls and one tiny cut/blow kills you.  Tell me how a doll can hit you with a bat to knock you out again- I'm all ears.  The Film is long and drawn out with little payoff.  That's clearly why they made...a FOURTH ONE?!?

Bad stuff that thinks that it is better than it is.  It's not original or thrilling- bummer.