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Reviews
Kimitachi wa dô ikiru ka (2023)
Entertaining and gorgeous, but confusing and weird pacing
I was completely lost as to what the plot was in this film. After the super long first half concluded, and boy did it drag, I was worried that this wouldn't have any of the same emotional punch or wild concepts that other Miyazaki and Ghibli projects have. However, the second half of the film delivered on that, almost too much. The metaphors and symbolism in this film were dialed up to eleven, especially once Mahito arrived in the other world. It made the film feel messy and chaotic and lacking in cohesion. But I appreciated the concepts and adored the art as I always do with these films.
It took watching a couple videos on YouTube explaining the story and the comparison to Miyazaki's life and legacy to understand what it was really about. Once I had that information it made the movie a lot better in my eyes.
Even though the pacing felt really off in this, once I began putting things together in the last ten minutes or so of the film I finally felt the emotional punch of what was happening. I felt something deep and guttural when Mahito and Himi said goodbye in the hallway of doors into various points of time. I had my suspicions that Himi was Mahito's mother but they confirm it in this scene. And, even though we did not know Hilo's character that well and didn't spend too much time with the two of them together, when they embraced for the last time I felt myself wanting to tear up. It made up for the rest of the film not having that endearing feeling I usually get from Miyazaki's films.
Something I loved about this, despite its flaws, is the callbacks to other films that Miyazaki has done through themes and concepts. Fighter plane manufacturing relates to Porco Rosso. A mother being sick relates to My Neighbor Totoro. The other world, and the protagonist leaving both it and a spirit they formed a strong bond with, relate back to Spirited Away (one of my personal favorite films of all time). It all felt like a capstone of Miyazaki's works and seemed as though he was putting a final bow on his catalog.
My final thoughts are that this movie is complex, deeply personal to Miyazaki's life, and very much not like anything else he's made. That said, I had my problems with it and felt as though it had almost too much going on to understand it for the majority. Breathtaking art and nostalgic whimsy save this for me. 7/10.
Alien: Covenant (2017)
Great follow up to Prometheus, I want one after this one too!
This movie is filled with classic Alien suspense and action, as well as an acute sense of morbidity and violence.
As a big fan of Prometheus I was super happy with how this film continued where the previous had left off. It was a really cool move to continue with David as the antagonist, and he was definitely more of that defined role in this installment than the grey area he occupied in its predecessor. And what he did to the home planet of the engineers is absolutely brutal and terrifying.
I loved how David and Walter played off of one another. Despite them being portrayed by the same actor, these were two completely different characters.
A lot of the characters felt one dimensional, even Daniels, who is supposed to be our final girl of this film. Her character also felt like a rehash of Elizabeth Shaw to me. The others, especially the ones who die at the outset of the infections, all felt extremely boring and other than the names I couldn't tell you anything that defined each of them.
The spores with the air-born infection were a nice addition to this movie. I wasn't sure how I felt about the alternative version of the Xenomorph as they grew, but I realize that their design was different because of David's experimenting and trying to create the perfect version.
I was disappointed that the aliens were all cgi and no practical effects were used, it took me out of the feel of the franchise at times.
I really hope they eventually finish this Fassbendee trilogy because I am dying to know how we get from where this film leaves off to where the Xenomorph shows up in Alien 1979. I loved this movie, but it did have some major flaws, so it's getting a solid 8/10.
Over the Garden Wall (2014)
A fun Autumnal adventure
I've been hearing about this miniseries for the last decade and I finally got around to watching it. I just binged it all in one sitting, and as it is the first week of September I found this was the perfect tone-setter for the season. The story was whimsical and diverse, the characters fun and endearing, the setting was gorgeous and lush. And most importantly, it embodies a strong essence of childlike wonder during the Fall. It has a few lulls in the individual episodic narratives, but the overarching story is well thought out and charming. I don't think it quite reaches the heights people have said it does, though I do find it compelling and almost nostalgic in a way. It makes me want to be a child again, on Halloween night with my friends, exploring and getting into mischief, breathing in the cool air with the scent of dead leaves. I very much enjoyed this, and I adored the art style. This series holds so much of what modern cartoons and animated features lack nowadays. I will certainly come back to this in the future. 8/10.
Seuwiteuhom (2020)
First season was good, the rest is bad
I really enjoyed the first season when it first aired. It had its problems but it was entertaining and made me excited for follow up seasons. Then four years went by before season two was released. The second season felt like a completely different show, seemingly all over the place with its writing and plethora of new characters who all lacked depth. Then season three came less than a year later and it's just a rinse and repeat of the same ideas in season two but even worse, with poor writing, terrible dialogue, and no semblance of emotional weight like the first season had. Overall this show was a huge disappointment after the first season felt so promising a few years ago. 5/10.
Prometheus (2012)
Excellent lore building, great addition to the franchise
Those who say that this is not one of the better films in the franchise are dead wrong. In my opinion, this ranks among the top three.
It is an origin story, as well as a device to expand the universe this franchise is set in. It gives purpose to Xenomorphs existing in the prior installments while also introducing new concepts, characters, and history. We finally understand what the ship was in Alien, and, most importantly, its cargo.
What really wows me about this movie is the introduction of the engineers and the idea that they are the ones who created humans. It is revealed that we are a science experiment, a test to see if they could design beings in their image, and we don't even know if we're the only ones.
The biggest reason why I love this film is how it makes you think. It takes you into an even more macro headspace than you are lead to think in Alien. We start with the premise of humans colonizing throughout the galaxy/universe and operating similarly to how we do now in terms of resources, commerce, and expansion. What Prometheus gives us is a shattered barrier that we didn't know existed in the first place. Humans existed for one reason: to see if we could become as close to Engineers as possible. It makes everything established in prior films minuscule and worthless compared to the vastness that is the concepts of other beings creating us.
The acting from Rapace was some of the best I've ever seen in a horror film. But the other performances severely drop once you look past her. Most of the roles serve their purpose. However, the multiple, clearly-British, actors who were forced to put on bad southern accents really ruined their performances for me.
The set and costume design are immaculate. Modern sensibility meets the original aesthetic while staying true to its place on the franchise timeline.
This was an overall refreshing film for the franchise. Making the main "killer" a combination of the last engineer and the sabotage from David made for an extremely entertaining watch. Though most of the film is buildup and suspense, when act three hits it really packs a wallop. This is one of the best sci-fi films I've seen to date, and I hope they continue to make more films in this vein within the Alien franchise. 9/10 from me.
Alien Resurrection (1997)
Way better than Alien 3, not as good as Alien or Aliens
Somehow this was a better film than Alien 3. I was expecting it to not be since the main premise is bringing the lead back to life, but it actually worked for me this time. There are pieces that are a little campy and weakly written, and certain details are flawed, but this was still a very entertaining watch.
It feels more in line with the first two films, much more so than the third. It combines the horror from Alien with the action of Aliens, and sprinkles in the classic 90s action and filming techniques that make this era so iconic.
Ripley, Call, and Johner were all fantastic. Their characters and performances were standouts amongst the rest of the cast. I would love to see another movie made in the future including Call and Johner after the events of this film. The rest of the characters, however, lacked depth and felt very one dimensional. Though that is what these characters are expected to be like given they are just cannon fodder for various kills.
The ending is a little odd, in that the return to Earth feels incomplete. It's a very big cliff hanger considering we've never been to Earth in this franchise and don't know what happened to it for Johner to call it a "shithole."
This was a much better installment than Alien 3, but fell short of Aliens. I'd give this a solid 8/10. Hopefully this era of the timeline gets a continuation in the future.
Alien³ (1992)
Not the part 3 of a trilogy I would've loved to have
Not quite the end to a trilogy that I would have hoped for, especially given how strong the first two installments were.
From the jump I felt like the story didn't quite make any sense. Why were Ripley and co.'s cryotubes jettisoned into space from the ship they were on? Also, it seemed that, since this came out in the early 90s, there was an emphasis on steampunk/dystopian being the theme of the environment of the film. Otherwise I see no reason why they would have the story take place here. The idea of the remote prison filled with only men was fine, but the way it was executed felt forced and like it didn't quite fit the world of this franchise. It would have been a better story overall if Ripley had landed in another remote colony run by the company, and had her whole arc be her trying to get back to the HQ of WY to figure out what the hell was going on with the xenomorph in the first place.
Most of the characters in this movie were one-dimensional save for the doctor of the prison and maybe the "leader" who helps Ripley out throughout the film. Outside of those few, the rest are just on screen as cannon fodder for xeno.
The atmosphere is still up to par with the first two installments. Gritty, isolated, wet, futuristic, industrial, and a maze of terror for the survivors.
The fact that there was only one xeno in this movie, compared to the incredible amount in the previous film, felt very underwhelming and like they were just retreading the same ground as the first film.
I love the reveal at the end that Bishop was actually modeled after its creator and that he personally comes to take Ripley home. Obviously, his no it's must be nefarious, as he works for the company. However, I would argue that his intentions seem more complex and genuine than the viewer is originally lead to believe. It's a shame we didn't get to spend more time with this character on screen.
Ripley's sacrifice felt necessary after her yearning for death was established earlier in the film. Having seen and survived as much turmoil as she had, I can understand why she wanted to bring an end to her life. Who would want to live after surviving what she had only to find out that the monsters from her nightmares just keep coming back in real life over and over again. The way they went about this felt a bit cheesy but, for the 90s, I'm sure it was pretty effective in the theaters.
I enjoyed it, and it's by no means a terrible film. But it does not reach the heights of Aliens and, most definitely, does not come close to the original masterpiece Alien. 7/10.
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
Great at the beginning, mediocre by the end
I really loved this show when S1 was first released. The concepts, the setting, the characters, the story, all of it was so refreshing and compelling. It really stood out as a new take on a superhero universe. S2 felt like a continuation of those feelings with the slightest of drop-off. Then once S3 hits everything seems to start dropping in quality. The ideas were good around then but the writing and the execution were just not what they were in the previous two seasons. The last season was a complete disappointment. It had flashes of what the old UA was in the original season, but most of the time it felt watered-down, had no direction, rushed but dragged at the same time, and had no bearing on the overall saga all the characters had already been through. The one thing I liked about the finale is the idea that the main characters had to give up existing in any timeline in order to reduce the timelines and save everyone. As a cap for the overall narrative and what they had been running from since S1 it was a good idea. But, again, the way they went about getting to that realization was just poor and by no means interesting. Overall the show was a 7/10, with the higher score being weighed more by the first two seasons. S1 was a 9, S2 was an 8, S3 was a 6, S4 was a 4.
Aliens (1986)
Great movie, solid sequel to the original
After seeing Romulus this weekend I decided I needed to watch most of the Alien movies again to get my bearings on where I rank them all. This movie was better than I remembered it being, but it didn't quite surpass how I feel about a lot of the other films.
Making a sequel to Alien feels very natural considering how open-ended that movie was. I love the idea of bringing back Ripley decades after the events of the first film. There's the issue of her dealing with PTSD due to the events of the previous mission, plus her having to grieve the loss of the life she once knew given the time jump. Plus, she is being tried for allowing the company's property to be destroyed. All of that mixed in with her being brought back out to face the exact thing she escape from last time offers a very compelling narrative and character for a film.
There were parts of the movie that felt very tropey, mainly the use of a bunch of space marines that were overly acted to be the stereotypical macho, bravado, shoot-first types. They handled this well by giving many bodies for the deaths in this movie, especially since there were so many more xenomorphs this time.
Burke was a fantastic antagonist. Reiner did a great job portraying a double-crossing, sleazy, corporate dog who only cares about power and a paycheck. He only listens to or agrees with people when it benefits him. Going from trusting him in the beginning to reveling in his cowardly death was a perfect character arc.
The main story was a good step up from the original, and the writers were smart not to just copy and paste the same idea from the original (one alien loose on a cramped-quarters ship). This story was more of a rescue mission that the company authorized whereas the original was more of a reconnaissance and looting expedition.
Lastly, the xenomorph queen was such a cool addition to this movie both from a practical effects standpoint as well as a lore standpoint. Now we see how the face-huggers are made. We also see that the xenomorphs operate as a sort of colony instead of independently. And, to top it all off, it levels up the fights from not only the first movie but also all the fight scenes in this movie to the very last.
All that being said, this just isn't as good as the original. It's definitely not hitting the same as some of the other films, including Romulus. I would give this a strong 8.5/10.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Perfect installment to a beloved franchise
This is how you make another installment to an already iconic film franchise. Romulus blew me away, far better than I ever expected it to be.
The performances by Spaeny and, most definitely, Jonsson were stellar to say the least. Spaeny's character was strong and endearing, leaving the audience yearning for her to accomplish her goals of freedom and living a better life, something we all have felt at one time or another. Jonsson was perfectly cast for this role. His ability to effortlessly switch between the various versions of his character based on the context of the scene was some of the best acting I've seen in a while. And while his character was clearly made in the image of Ash from the original film, Andy held more depth and layers, making him the most lovable synthetic we've seen yet. The other characters in the film felt lacking in depth a bit and felt more like typical slasher narrative tools. So in that respect I didn't feel much connection to the others, especially Kay who seemed to be such a large focus at the end.
The cinematography was gorgeous, and from the opening scene I knew it would be paying a lot of homage to the original film with how it was shot and directed. The sound design and use of no sound throughout was perfect, evoking the right emotions and giving precise impact at the best times.
I loved the lore tie-ins to other films, such as the original, Prometheus, and Covenant. This gives the film weight and continuity with the other installments. It makes this movie feel pivotal and not as if it is just a movie set within the universe for the sake of it. If anything, this feels more connected to the main timeline of events than some of the other films have.
Never would I have guessed they would be able to create yet another unique and menacing creature to wow us. When it first was revealed the audience in my theater, myself included, audibly gasped in shock. No one was expecting to see something as grotesque and monolithic as the mutant. Amazing character design.
The ending was terrifying and jaw-dropping. The last ten minutes or so had me on the edge of my seat, gaping at the screen, and heart pounding. I have not been hit with a scare in a long time as hard as I had in this segment of the movie. What a way to cap off an incredible story.
Lastly, I adore that they left this movie open-ended akin to how we leave Ripley in the original. I would be happy with this being its own film with no follow-up, though I wouldn't be upset about direct sequel either as long as it was the same quality.
I am in love with this film. It was the perfect movie to jumpstart the franchise back into the spotlight again. A true sci-if/horror goliath. Highly recommend for anyone even thinking about going to see it. 9/10.
Cuckoo (2024)
Good movie, lacked depth, acting carried it
Man I didn't know what to expect going into this movie. The trailers were very good at concealing the general plot while still gaining my interest. The biggest selling point for me were the three big names heading the cast: Hunter Schafer, Dan Stevens, and Jessica Henwick.
The setting is fresh for horror, as well as the general vibe of the film. However, the plot felt a bit lacking outside of the main premise being that the resort is the location of a Cuckoo-bird-like human species that live and breed in that area. The ideas used in the film were novel but seemed to land flat for me and lacked depth. There was no motive given as to why Stevens' character was motivated to breed and maintain the Cuckoo's species other than him saying outright that he was a preservationist. To me, this seemed uninteresting, as we never were told of why he chose to preserve them, how he found/cultivated them, or where they came from in the first place.
Another weak point for me is the weak writing. The fact that Hunter is saved by the stranger they met only a few days prior and hooked up with one time is kinda odd. The character is just a convenient plot device written in for that sole purpose. Also, we never saw what happened to Henwick's character who had claimed to not be feeling well in the hospital. After the father takes her home from the hospital we never see them again and don't find out why she's having such a reaction to whatever is going on.
The strongest point for me in this movie was the aesthetics and the acting. Aesthetically this movie was gorgeous and really played on the indie horror niche. That combined with the somewhat retro soundscapes and well-done sound design made the movie very easy to watch. Acting-wise, Hunter Schafer carried this film on her back, with Stevens and Henwick putting in a good amount of work too. The only other really good acting job I felt was given by the disavowed detective Henry.
I enjoyed the movie, but because I really like Hunter Schafer and the other cast members I was really hoping the film would impress. But now sitting with the finished product I feel as though it lacked depth in its plot and could have done more to stand out from other movies in the genre from the last few years. Overall score: 6/10.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Perfectly imperfect
I am simply blown away by what Marvel accomplished in this movie. What I thought would be an introduction of Deadpool into the MCU (which is technically was) ended up being a send-off for the Fox Marvel films, and they did it perfectly.
Hugh Jackman was born to play this role. He has more than proved himself in the last 25 years playing Wolverine, but in this it was like he was turned up to eleven. His attitude, his fighting, his emotions, and his insults were the best he's ever done. It was truly special getting to see him on the big screen again and officially be welcomed into the MCU.
Reynolds is a mastermind when it comes to mashing chaotic fighting with hilarious one-liners. The last two films were great when it came to the jokes, but this one cleared the bar and then some. And it didn't do it in a way that seemed forced like a lot of the other Marvel projects have been doing for years. This felt natural, and there's no other actor I would ever want to play Deadpool. Similar to Hugh with Logan, Ryan was born to play the role of Wade Wilson.
This movie was equal part action as it was comedy, and it was balanced in the most tasteful way it could have been. It accomplished what it was advertising it as and I applaud the writers for their execution of such a daunting task.
I know a lot of people will be upset with the large amount of fan service in this movie. I see it more as an awesome way to cap the legacy of the Fox films under the Marvel franchise. Did they add in a ton of characters for the sake of cameos? Yes. But was it badass? Absolutely. This movie is what Multiverse of Madness wanted to be and more. If anything DP&W eats MoM's lunch and makes it say thank you for doing so.
I could not have asked for a better experience with this movie. And although it's not a perfect movie and has some weaker writing, like with the character of Cassandra Nova, I still loved it for what it was. Despite any criticisms I may have, I wouldn't change anything about this film. Perfectly imperfect. 10/10.
Deadpool 2 (2018)
The original was great, but this is better
Everything feels ramped up in this movie: the action, the comedy, the plot, fight choreography, the clear cut three acts, all of it. I like that they were quick to get Wade's motivation out of the way in the exposition, despite it being dependent on the death of a great character. I like the union of DP with Domino and, eventually, the X-men and Cable. This movie felt like it had a more fleshed out cast of characters than the first film. This was the one that solidifies the Deadpool franchise as being able to stand on its own outside of the MCU. I can't wait for the newest one later this week. 9/10.
Deadpool (2016)
Solid origin film
Deadpool was a character that I had been unfamiliar with prior to the initial inclusion (albeit terribly done) in X-men Origins. This movie seems like the character done right. As an origin story, this did a good job of having the audience get to know Wade, who his loved ones are, and where his motivations lie. I very much enjoyed how this isn't a superhero movie and more of a vigilante style film. They take the piss out of Marvel a lot in it, especially the complicated mess that is the X-Men franchise. Ryan Reynolds is the perfect actor for the role of Wade Wilson. Though the film seems a little rushed at times, mainly because it was giving an origin story and revenge story in one. Because of this the actual story was a little lacking despite the character development and world building. The action scenes were great and the one liners from Reynolds are hilarious. Just not as full of a film as I would've liked. 8/10.
MaXXXine (2024)
Better than Pearl, not better than X
I would rank this below X but above Pearl. I was hoping for more from this movie and it didn't hit like I wanted it to. I have some discrepancies with the plot and the underuse of so many big name actors in small roles that didn't contribute much. But overall I had a fun time with this movie. It had jaw dropping moments, gruesome kills, and even some comedic relief, all balanced around the main drama of Maxine's drive to become famous. I think the biggest problem I have with it is the "Ha! Gotcha!" moment in the third act where the main antagonist is finally revealed. It felt weak, especially considering the lead had two films worth of development that never included this antagonist that were supposed to figure out is close to Maxine. It left me feeling unsatisfied. But again, this was still a fun time. It definitely has replayability too. 7/10.
Longlegs (2024)
This movie was really cool but had a lot of holes
This movie was really cool but had a lot of holes for me.
The acting by Monroe and Cage was captivating and unsettling, keeping me on the edge of my seat whenever either was on screen. But where the leads shined the rest fell short, as the other roles in the film (aside from Agent Carter) felt lacking in depth and complexity.
I very much enjoyed the first two acts of the movie, but the direction of the writing in the third act threw me off and left a sour taste in my mouth when leaving the theater. I feel as though they had a great vision when creating this film but missed the mark a bit with its execution. The idea of combining themes of murder-mystery with satanic/paranormal horror is interesting, but the latter elements felt almost too forced. It was like the writers wanted an easy out as to what the motives of the antagonists were. Why are they killing people? Easy, because Satan. That is a trope that is both overused in horror as well as mystery/thriller media. Instead, I would have liked to have just seen Cage having been a purely deranged psychopath who had his own manifesto and beliefs on society. That would have been so much more interesting than "we're killing these families because Satan wants us to."
Also, the name of the film doesn't hold much weight as there's no real reason why Cage even goes by this moniker. To my knowledge we never get an explanation in the film as to why he chose to go by that name in the letters he leaves.
The suspense was palpable and had me on the edge of my seat in most of the movie. The atmosphere they created was very unique and unsettling. I felt very weird through most of this movie, which is something I want modern horror to do to me. My heart was pounding during a few scenes too, which is why the payoff at the end is so disappointing, as I wasn't feeling nearly the same way in the last 15 minutes of the film.
Bottom line is this movie is good. It's not amazing and it's not terrible either. It's just good. Definitely not the scariest movie of the year. Definitely not the worst horror movie of the year. Just a good horror movie with a little rewatchability. I think everyone should see it once, but I'm not running to go see it again. 6/10.
The Acolyte (2024)
Doesn't deserve all the hate, don't love it though
I desperately wanted to love this show. When it got announced that we were getting both a murder mystery in Star Wars AND it was from an era we hadn't seen in live action before my hopes skyrocketed. However, when we were about 3 episodes into the show I realized it wouldn't quite be the smash hit I anticipated. Although this show is nothing to rave about people need to cool it with the immense load of trash talking they're doing against this show. There were a lot of really cool things about this show, and it opens doors for more boundary-pushing content in the future for Star Wars. For example, some of the lightsaber battles were some of the best I've seen in the franchise. I thought the acting/roles from certain characters were very compelling and very well executed. I'd say the biggest flaws of this show were the pacing and execution on the vision of the narrative. Now that I've seen all of it I can grasp the larger concept of the story, but I feel as though the creators fell short with putting the story to the screen. I hope we get a second season, or at least a follow up series/film of some kind to this show, as I am wanting to see what happens in this era after the finale. I think it's worth watching, and the haters aren't to be listened to. 6/10.
The Iron Claw (2023)
Amazing storytelling, greatly surpassed expectations
This was one of the best films I've seen all year. I regret not giving it the chance it deserved when it was in theaters, because now I crave the feeling of seeing it for the first time on the big screen with friends. Nonetheless, this movie fully captivated me and took me on an emotional roller coaster. Normally I don't like period pieces set prior to the 80s or sports films. But this film combined both of those genres and more to make this cinematic titan. In my opinion, it's one of the strongest releases of the year, rivaling the likes of Monkey Man, Furiosa, and Dune Part Two. The characters were compelling and relatable, and the story has had similar themes to many peoples' lives from that time period and even now. Masterful storytelling, 9/10.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
Not worth your time unless you really just want to see monster fights
I don't know what I expected with this movie. I know nothing in this franchise of films compares to that first Godzilla film in 2014. But this was just ridiculous. There was barely a plot. The acting was alright but came off as forced in most of the scenes between human characters. I feel like they just wanted an excuse to throw two big name characters in a movie again and just have monsters fight a bunch. It felt very American popcorn flick, especially compared to the masterpiece that is Minus One. I was bored for most of it and it just flat out not engaged. Bland and clearly made just to sell toys. Not worth watching, 4/10.
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Not perfect, but a masterpiece nonetheless
I absolutely adore this film. While many view the camp littered throughout the film as dull and off-putting, I find it endearing and nostalgic of a time where movies had whimsical magic to them.
I watched this with my mom today, who had never seen it before, and even she said it was the best of all 6 of the original Star Wars films. She is not into sci-fi or fantasy of any kind, but she still enjoyed aspects of this film, and I think that stands for something.
In my opinion, there are only a couple things I find off about this film. The pacing is one of my biggest discrepancies, as the last act of the movie feels very drawn out in the epilogue portion. I don't mind it because I love the narrative and the characters, but I could tell it was grating on my mother how many times it kept jumping between planets in sometimes a matter of seconds over and over again.
The other thing I would say is something I think could've been done better was portraying Anakin's fall to Palpatine's will in the movie. I understand that we have a lot of the timeline filled in the clone wars that sprinkle bread crumbs of his descent to Sith. But for someone just watching the movies without that context I can see why it would seem rushed in this movie.
I love pretty much everything else about this film. The score, the performances, the twists, the deaths, the fight choreography, the shots, the metaphors and clear references to other artistry. It's all beautiful cinema and I would not change any of it.
I am quite biased because I have been a lifelong fan of the franchise, but I believe this to be the best film in the series. It will never be topped, and it is the pinnacle, the climax, THE moment that all of Star Wars centers around. It's not perfect, but that's alright, because in my eyes it's a masterpiece. 9.5/10.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
This movie was okay, nothing to rave about
This movie was okay, nothing to rave about. I was already skeptical about how this would go after having so much marketing shoved down our throats for most of this year. It delivered on it being a thrilling movie based in the AQP franchise but it definitely does not surpass either of the other films. They did a good job with the scenes where the creatures were very close to characters, sometimes inches away. And the scenes where the herds would race through the streets carried a weight not felt in the other AQP films. However, the narrative of the film felt very basic and the plot was kind of predictable. I was expecting more out of an actor with as much notoriety as Lupita Nyong'o (which is not to say she didn't still do a great job in this role). I loved the subway sequence, as well as the moments where characters realized something bad was about to happen. The ending felt a little anticlimactic and, again, predictable. 6/10.
Akira (1988)
A little confusing but worth the watch for the artistry
I have heard about this film in passing for years and years so I finally decided to check it out. It feels all over the place at the beginning, but by the end it seems to come together in a cohesive narrative. It reminds me a lot of how Evangelion is written, and it is similarly animated and from the same era of anime, so this makes sense. The motivation behind the characters is a bit lost on me, though I loved the concept of children wielding an unfathomable telekinetic power that the government is attempting to control. This story also held back no punches in terms of the scale and gravity of the situation that is presented. Characters are killed in an instant all throughout the movie in an almost cold fashion, but it is the most realistic outcome in this massively tragic scenario they find themselves in. The movie didn't quite hit me like I hoped it would but I can see why people rave about this as being a staple of early anime. 8/10.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)
Love it, still bottom of the list out of og 6
I love this movie. As much as it's extremely campy, has pacing issues, has a slew of poorly executed lines, and moments of bad acting, it still holds a special place in my heart.
It marks the beginning of my favorite era in all of the Star Wars timeline: the Clone Wars. I love the characters of this era, the idea of the war, the shady political dealings behind both sides. It just all hits for me. That being said, this film, even though it's one of my favorites, is definitely at the bottom of the totem pole out of the original 6 movies.
The acting at times feels extremely cheesy, as it's supposed to be, but it takes you out of the story a little. I was watching it with my mom who's never seen it and she was getting annoyed by some of the deliveries of dialogue throughout the movie.
The pacing is also wonky on this one. There's a lot of long moments of action and then long moments of dialogue or character development. My mom, who's not a fan of action scenes, felt like these dragged on far too long. I will agree it does make the film have weird flux between fast and slow scenes.
The story is fantastic. I will never say that the narrative is lacking in this film. It perfectly bridges Phantom and Revenge in my opinion.
Again, love it, but definitely the "worst" of the og 6 movies. 6.5/10.
The Watchers (2024)
Great concepts, flat execution
In true Shyamalan fashion the concepts were far superior to the execution. I went into this film with tempered expectations, as I always do with Shyamalan films. But this one gripped me a bit more than the others I've seen in the past.
I loved the concept of Celtic mythology being the root of the horror mechanism for this story. Not many films in general ever touch Celtic or Celtic mythological themes unless it's for a period piece. So, in that respect, this movie was very refreshing for the thriller/horror genre.
Woods horror is something that always encapsulates the entirety of my focus whenever it's on screen. I believe this is due to my irrational fear of the woods. This project was akin to other woods horror movies that got my blood pumping and my anxiety levels rising, such as The Blair Witch Project and The Ritual. The shots in the woods were very well done, especially the scene where Mina and Madeline are hiding in the rotted tree looking back at the coop as the fae start to roll in to watch.
The movie had moments, especially in the beginning when Mina was talking to herself/the bird, that felt forced and fell really flat. Some of the acting from both Mina and Daniel took me out of the scene, making me think the delivery really could have been better, or the lines written to be stronger.
The pacing was also very off. By the end of act two, which I originally thought to be act three, we see our trio of survivors finally escaping the woods with the watchers stuck on the shoreline. But where most people, including myself, expect there to be a short, maybe 5-10 minute epilogue to cap off the movie, there was a whole other act. The third act felt dragged out and slow, other than the final standoff between Mina and Madeline, which I also had some issues with.
Summarily, I enjoyed the movie. I am willing to rewatch at some point in the future, as a lot of the movie and its concepts were something I found intriguing and heart-pounding. But it didn't hit like I wanted it to. I'll be giving it a score of 6/10.
Gojira -1.0 (2023)
THE Godzilla movie
This is THE Godzilla film. It had the perfect balance of suspense, action, heartbreak, hope, destruction, love, despair, and pure carnage.
The story of the main character interwoven into the decade-long battle with the infamous Godzilla was expert writing. The ups and downs of Koichi are truly felt by the audience with how they portray his emotions. I loved the addition of his little family to use as motivation and support in various moments throughout the film.
The destruction in this movie did not hold back. Specifically, the assault on Ginza had my jaw on the floor the entire time it was happening. Especially the use of the heat ray. Never in cinema have I seen an explosion of that magnitude executed on screen with cgi as perfectly as this one was. It truly felt like annihilation.
The design of Godzilla itself was just enough of an homage to the older, campy, original style mixed with the newer animation and small details of the modern era. I loved how slow it walked, similar to the original Japanese films. I also loved the way we could see its body move when it charged up its heat ray.
Lastly, the film was paced exactly how it needed to be. Start with action, set up act 1 to build the world a bit and give the second encounter. Act 2 gives us the build into the assault on Ginza, which delivers an emotional gut punch at the end. Act 3, the big finale, was done so well. I wouldn't change a thing about it. Each encounter felt unique and leveled-up from the last.
This film far and away exceeded my expectation and I now understand why so many people were raving about it and telling me to go see it. Unfortunately, I missed out on the theater experience. But I am so pleased I was able to watch it now. I have big hopes for a follow-up given the end credit scene. 10/10.