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Salem's Lot (2024)
Should have been a mini series/ lacks character development
I have t read the book so I can't compare it to that. I loved the look of the vampires. There was definitely good creepy atmosphere. Good action scenes. It had the makings of a good horror movie, I just think it would have fared better as a mini series. We needed more time to get to know these characters better. More time to develop these relationships. I think Lewis does a really good acting job with what he's given but his character needs more development. His backstory doesn't play into the story in any way, except for a vague "only the outsiders win" kind of way. Like I thought him being a writer (besides being the obvious Stephen King stand in) would serve a purpose, like maybe he's the one to do research, but no. The only other thing we know about him is that his parents died when he was a kid and that serves no purpose either. He's kind of nothing character. Again, at least Lewis does a good job with what little is given to him. But as said, I think a mini series would have been better to give more time for the characters.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
Too many subplots, otherwise fun
It was a decent enough movie. Its visually fun. Theres enough nice callbacks to the first film while also not be a total rehash either. It is its own thing. I liked the addition of Jenna Ortega. Theres a lot of fun gags in the movie. My main complaint though is that it felt like they were trying to do too much. They dont do enough with the villains. Beetlejuice himself as the exception. But they set up Deloris from the beginning to be the big bad, and it just ultimately goes nowhere. She never really gets the face off moment that theyve been setting up the whole movie. Theres also a "twist" villain that gets revealed about half way through. And I actually really liked this subplot, but ultimately he too gets defeated rather quickly after his secret is revealed. And then on top of that the film is also trying to explore the themes of grief. And even though Jeffrey Jones is not in the movie, they still need to show the character Charles, so you're also following him around the afterlife. I think it would have been a more succint movie if they perhaps cut one or two things out. Out of all the things, I would maybe cut out Deloris because it ultimately did not change the trajectory of the movie at all.
So not a perfrvt film by any means, but I still think you'll get enjoyment out of it if youre a fan of the first film.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
I was disappointed.
I feel crazy because so many people are hyping this up but I was pretty disappointed with this. I think Anya Taylor-Joy was the highlight. There was even a couple of times I was convinced Charlize was dubbing her lines. She was a good match for a younger Furiosa. But she doesnt even appear in the movie until half way. The story is just too long and convoluted and there is no sense of time. Like there is a scene where the Furiosa warns the citadel is going to be attacked next, but theres no sense of urgency. Furiosa has time to not only heal from an injury, but to craft and shave her head etc and still catches back up to the bad guys? Theres also a scene before that when shes returning back to the citadel and it pans up the mountain and it looks like (or is implied) that its Mad Max at the beginning of Fury Road. So is this supposed to be taking place around the same time? It was just confusing. Also is her character motivated to return home or for revenge? It feels like it wants to be both but they contradict each other at times. I didnt even really like Chris Hemsworth in this. He wasnt very menacing. Immortan Joe was more memorable. Chris Hemsworth was a tad campy for my liking. Not sure why he needed a fake nose. I also didnt like the editing at times. It felt like they had background actors sped up while other things moved a normal pace and so it kind of gave the style of claymation at times but it just looked really janky and out of place. Fury Road felt so real because the majority of the movie was practical but theres numerous scenes in this movie where it feels like theyre in front of green screen. Theres also CGI dogs in this movie that look like CGI dogs. And I get thats becoming more frequent in the industry to not put any animals in harms way but...it just looks distracting.
Again the best part for me was Anya Taylor-Joy. There is also some good action scenes. I think the production design looked good. Its not a "bad" film just was a step down from the last.
Civil War (2024)
Good not great
A bit of a mixed bag. I do think it would help if the film provided more context as to why the war started. And who is on what side. It can be a little confusing at times as they encounter new people to know where they politically lie. Though I understand that the director probably wanted to keep things ambiguous a)to not draw any real life parallells/backlash and b)draw similarities to the journalists were following who are morally ambiguous. Also towards the end they make it out like there whole trip to DC has been for nothing and they were too late, and the next scene is literally them in the middle of a battle in DC and it was so jarring. I dont know if that was a problem with the story or if something was cut out during editing. There are also a couple of other weird tonal shifts. Like where they introduce new characters Tony and Bohai randomly in the middle of the movie. Like not only did they not really add anything to the movie (and also exit the movie pretty quickly) but it felt odd to have such a serious tone throughout the movie and then go into this "Ha ha were so crazy" goofing off scene. But overall I still quite enjoyed the film and felt it was impactful. I think it does a good job of plopping you in the middle of action and give you a sense of what a war would actually be like. It definitely doesnt pull any punches when it comes to the brutality. And Kirsten Dunst is amazing in the film. A very subtle but effective performance.
Anyone But You (2023)
No chemistry
For a movie where the rumour mills were swirling about the two leads having an affair on set you'd think there would be chemistry shown on screen but sadly there is none. It doesn't help either that Sydney Sweeney is not a very good actress. And the script wasn't any better either. I know it's meant to be a modern re-telling of Much ado about nothing, but outside of the names Bea and Ben and the very basic premise of 2 people who hate each other falling in love, it barely resembles the original work. Bea and Ben constantly talk out loud about their plans to fool everyone. Like your friends and family are 5 feet away from you, I'm sure they can hear you talking/arguing about who should place a hand on who's behind and what not. There's also just inconsistencies like Ben is revealed to not be that great of a swimmer cause he doesn't do cardio but then later doesn't have that much of a problem when theyre in the harbour. I don't know it wasn't like the worst movie I've ever seen. But it's not a rom com I'll keep in rotation.
Saltburn (2023)
Unhinged madness
Completely unhinged in all the right ways. Emerald Fennell delivers a masterful film that will subvert your expectations.
It's also beautifully shot. I also loved some of the symbolism and clues. Like Venetia spilling wine all over herself not only was a callback to an earlier scene where she gets something red all over herself but it also sets up a scene later on.
The whole cast is great. I know Jacob Elordi is getting a lot of attention for the film and he is good but I think Barry Keoghan is fantastic in this. There's such a wide array he has to display. Rosamund Pike is also a highlight in the small role she has.
If you're looking for a movie on the evils of wealth and what you would do for it, I think this a great film to watch. It's not always an easy watch, there are moments where things get uncomfortable. The film is kind of wild and really goes there. But, it's just a really well told story. A bit of a dark comedy with a little mystery/thriller thrown in. I think the best film of 2023 so far, honestly.
The Marvels (2023)
It could have been such a great fun team up movie
I just watched the film last night and I felt pretty mixed on it. I did like certain elements like the interactions between Monica and Carol. I liked exploring the morals and ethics behind being a superhero and sometimes you dont always get it right. I felt like they gave good motivations for Dar Benn. I thought Kamala was great. But otherwise, storywise it felt kind of rushed. Plus I really didnt like the Valkyrie cameo. It felt like it was thrown in to queerbait audiences. Im not against them being a couple potentially but weve never seen those 2 characters directly interact with each other at all so it just felt kind of random and forced. And as someone who loves musicals and was actually looking forward to that element going in, the whole singing planet scene was super cringey. I dont think its the worst MCU project this year. But it was just so meh. Which is so disappointing because I was looking forward to this one probably the most as someone who really enjoyed the first Captain Marvel, Wandavision and Ms Marvel a lot.
Plus the CGI in the post credit scene - AWFUL.
No Hard Feelings (2023)
Jennifer Lawrence - nuff said
Jennifer Lawrence definitely shines in this. She gets to do a lot of great physical comedy but she can reel it in for the more quieter moments too. If you're going to see the movie for one reason, it should be her. There is a lot of good jokes in there, again elevated by Jennifer's performance, and also surprisingly heartfelt too. Sometimes, it did cross over and become a little too over the top and would pull me out of the film. Like, I get Percy is supposed to be awkward (and I'm not sure whether intentional- maybe on the autism spectrum) but their first interaction for example he just straight up doesn't seemed interested in her at all, it just feels a little weird that he like suddenly switches and is like "Date tomorrow?". I also just didn't think Laura Benanti or Matthew Broderick were funny. They were the weak links.
Overall though I thought it was pretty good. I didn't have the biggest expectations going in and I had a pretty good time watching it.
Theater Camp (2023)
Characters are annoying, obnoxious, pretentious
Sorry, it wasnt for me. I just found the characters incredibly annoying. Im sure that was the point. They're meant to be overly obnoxious about their craft, but it just made it hard to care about them. Ben Platt and Molly Gordon by far are the worst examples of this. The only likable people in the cast are the kids. And the humor never landed for me either with treating Joan (played by Amy Sedaris) like she was dead the whole time. Which again, really comes down to Ben Platt and Molly Gordon (as they're the ones communing with her spirit and writing a biographical musical about her life). It was just odd and not in a good way.
Autumn in New York (2000)
Richard Gere is G-R-O-S-S in this
It was so hard to enjoy the movie with the gross predatory vibes. My problem wasnt so much the age difference. I think there is a way they could have made that work well. But why did she have to be the daughter of one if his former girlfriend's? It felt really icky especially when he say stuff like "Your mom used to do that" or have the grandmother remark about how much they look alike. Plus I hated the way he talked down on her for being "juvenile". Like, shes 20. If you wanted a mature woman, dont date someone who is 20. And he was awful. Not only does he cheat, but he goes behind her back to see a surgeon for her heart when she expressed how she didnt want surgery. And what's worse is that she changes her mind and agrees to it specifically because she doesn't want to lose him.
An absolutely awful unromantic movie. I can't rate it a 1, because fine Winona is good, and I loved the setting and scenery but OMG, not a cute romantic movie to watch. A cautionary tale more like.
Oppenheimer (2023)
One of the best films of the year
If you're going in expecting an action heavy film filled with explosions, then this probably isnt for you. The film is centered around a trial against Oppenheimer and is mostly told through flashbacks. One through the biased POV of Strauss (Robert Downey Jr) and through Oppenheimer himself (Cillian Murphy). The film is long - and also feels very long. So you definitely have to be in the right mindset to sit down and watch. But I really enjoyed watching this exploration of this man and his psyche. The film poses a lot of questions about whether one should have this power. And it actually made me want to read a biography about him.
There was headlines before the film came out about the sex scenes. Florence is topless but otherwise nothing else is explicitly shown. There is one scene where they are both sitting naked across from each other that felt unnecessary, mainly as it just felt random, that they could have cut out. But otherwise, kind of tame. I don't know why it was hyped up as much it was.
The film also has a ton of cameos. Almost to the point where it becomes a bit distracting. And not all of them are necessary. Does Jack Quaid really do anything in this movie for instance? But none of them are bad. Definitely Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr and Emily Blunt are the highlights of the film though and would also be deserving of Oscar nominations.
One of the best films of the year.
Secret Invasion (2023)
Forgettable
This show was just average. Not the worst out of all the Disney Plus MCU shows, but far from great. I honestly just found it mostly forgettable. I never really dwelled on the show or wondered what would happen episode to episode. And I didnt mind that it wasnt an action-forward show. I actually really liked the idea of havng a more grounded spy heavy show, I just didnt find the storyline that compelling. Plus, the twists werent that shocking. I know that they obviously didnt have the budget to get a bunch of MCU actors in the show, but Im pretty sure everyone and their mother already guessed that Rhodey and Everett Ross would be skrulls.
I think the show started off strong. Especially with the ending with Maria Hill dying. But it definitely tapered off. I felt the last episode was especially disappointing. Again Im not all surprised that Gi'ah was posing as Fury to get to Gravik, but I felt it really robbed Fury of having that final face off with the villain. It didnt feel satisfying to his character. Plus, that great speech he has with him, is then techincally all fake and has no meaning. Plus, the CGI just looked rush in that fight scene.
I did think Gravik was a good villain and Kingsley Ben-Adir played him great. Really good believable motivation. Perfectly threatening. I think he's the one highlight of the show. And even though I didnt find the storyline super compelling, at least it was coherent and had through-line. It didnt feel like there was too many cooks in the kitchen (ahem She-Hulk).
Should you watch it? I guess it depends on how much into the MCU you are. It reportedly will play into The Marvels, so I suppose its an important watch for that reason otherwise if you're a more casual watcher, you can probably skip.
Barbie (2023)
Life in plastic, it's fantastic!
It's an incredibly fun movie. Lots of laughs. Very campy over the top humour. But also surprisingly touching. My favourite scene of the movie is just rather a small quiet moment where Barbie is observing every day life and tells an old woman how beautiful she is. Margot Robbie shines in the lead role. Ryan Gosling clearly was having a lot of fun with the role, but don't sleep on Michael Cera as Allan. I know a lot of people say that Ryan Gosling is a scene stealer, but personally I thought Michael was.
The soundtrack also works really within the film. I don't know how many of them I would listen to separately. I also wouldnt be suprised if either "Im just Ken" or "What was I made for?" or both was nominated for an oscar. Speaking of oscars, I think this is also has a good chance of being nominated for production design, costumes, hair and makeup - because visually this movie is such a treat.
Now I dont think all aspects worked for me. I don't think the Mattel/CEO subplot was needed. There could have been another way for her to go back to Barbieland organically. I felt like the film was already tackling a lot with themes of patriarchy and feminism and having this "chase scene" didnt add much. Also, Gloria's (America Ferrera) monologue. Now, dont get me wrong I think there is a lot truth to it. But I just found it somewhat one-note. It didn't exactly blow me away as it has for others. And lastly, I undertstand the importance of having Ruth Handler featured in the movie....just a little weird that it was represented as her being a ghost that lives in Mattel headquarters.
Overall, I would definitely recommend the film. You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll have fun. This isn't just a movie, it is the moment.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Hayley Atwell really saves the film for me.
Personally out of all the MI movies I would rank this towards the bottom. Like maybe the 3rd from the bottom.
What did work for me? I loved the addition of Hayley Atwell in the film. She's badass yet also feels like she represents the "every woman". I feel like I could relate to her if I were thrown into a spy mission and being completely out of my element. And she's charismatic and funny too. There are great action set pieces too. The train derailment is instantly an iconic moment from the franchise.
What didn't work? Mainly for me, the villain. He's touted as being this important figure from Ethan's past. The man who essentially made Ethan who he is. But it's a completely new character to us. So the tension was just never there for me. It felt unearned. And as much as I liked Hayley Atwell, I didn't love it at the expense of Ilsa. Plus, I feel like the plot is a little convoluted.
It wasn't a bad film per se. It's not like I wouldn't recommend it. Just a tad disappointing.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
A Great conclusion to the franchise
Easily the best MCU movie post Endgame. I was kind of nervous going into it as I really didnt like The Holiday Special, but I think he hit the right tone with it still being funny yet serious. Even the ending was perfectly bittersweet. Incredibly touching and poignant. I definitely cried more than once. The film deals with themes of eugenics and animal cruelty and while it definitely be hard to watch at times, I think James Gunn did a good job with it.
Things I specifically liked - Rocket. Easily the heart and soul of the film. He doesnt have much action in this film. Most of his scenes are flashbacks. But completely integral to the plot and adding dimension to his character. He'll break your heart for sure. The High Evolutionary was honestly one of the best villains we have got so far. Has to be one of the most evil, most heartless villains. Nebula was great as well. I loved how far her character has come and how much she has grown. Despite being mostly robotic at this point, she is the most human here. I also really did like Will Poulter as Adam Warlock, though he doesnt get much to do in this film. I dont think he was necessary to this specific film so it feels kind of wasted. Though Im excited to see what else they can do with him, if they decide to bring him back.
Speaking of things being a waste, the f bomb. I had heard before going into the movie that this would be the MCU's first f bomb, and so when I heard it in the movie, I was like "This is the moment you used it on?". Could of have been cooler and more significant. But I mean, thats such a small thing to gripe about. Even though I did love getting more of Rocket's backstory, I did think a lot of the interactions with Lila, Teefs and Floor were cheesy and a little too on the nose. I also dont think Gamora was really needed in this movie either. I mean...she was kind of integral in a way to help Peter move on and accept his loss - but as a character herself she didnt really add anything and I was a bit disappointed with that. I didnt find the Nathan Fillion cameo all that funny either.
But other than that, I really loved the film and again...I think probably the best MCU film post Endgame. (Although I did also really love Shang Chi so I would maybe have to re-watch that).
The Time Traveler's Wife (2022)
A bit disappointed.
Ive read the book and have seen the movie (both a long time ago), so Im familiar enough with the story. And I still believe its such a interesting concept to explore. This couple is who is always destined to be together because in a sense they have always been together. The theology around predestination. But I dont know if its partly the lack of chemistry with Rose and Theo or if its the writing or a combination of both....but I never really got the sense that these two were actually in love. Most of the time they just seem to be miserable and like they only together because "they have to be". I just found it utterly depressing and sad. I know they state there is nothing to be done, but I dont know I just feel like if I was Claire I would challenge things more. Oh this is the house we buy in the future? Well Im not signing any papers. Or at least the TV show could have done a better job at showcasing why they're so happy to just accept their life the way it is. Like with the example above, maybe on the tour she's a great space for an art studio and immediately falls in love and is like "Your'e right, this place is amazing. Its my dream home, we have to have it". I know its such a small thing but I think it would help with the narrative that their lives are a certain way and they have no real say in it.
Theres a few other oddball choices - I didnt necessarily care for the "selfcest" joke they like to reference every other episode, theres some cringy dialogue here and there. But other than that I feel like its fairly true to the source material and is at least worth a watch as it brings up interesting discussions. I just was kind of disappointed because for a show thats touted as a romance - again I found it kind of depressing. Though its also kind of too bad that the show didnt get renewed. It would have been nice to at least give it a proper ending.
65 (2023)
Maybe not the best sci-fi movie ever made but pretty entertaining
I don't get a lot of the bad reviews for this film. Sure, some of the daddy-daughter elements can be a little hokey. I also think the last act of the movie was fairly predictable. But I still was happily entertained the whole movie. I still found it to be quite thrilling and intense. Adam Driver is fantastic in the film. He really sells it as a man who is on the verge of breaking and doing everything to try and keep it together. The CGI is pretty good, although I wished they made the dinosaurs look more real (in the sense of like feathers). There's only part in the movie (towards the end when Mills is running away) where it looked very green-sceney. But overall, I think it worked. It's a pretty simple story, but I think it's effective. This movie may not be remembered as a sci fi classic, but it's wholly entertaining. Loved the survival element. I'd still would recommend a watch. Plus, it's an original movie and we should support those more often.
The Fabelmans (2022)
Well made, just boring
Its not the worst movie ever. Its really well acted and I think if youre a big film nerd you might get a kick in seeing what inspired one of the greatest directors to become a director. And also seeing old school techniques of editing and what not. But story wise....did this have to be made? I dont feel there was anything extraordinary about his life. Like ok, he had a parent who engaged in an affair. He had some bullies. Ok, so do lots of people. I was just kind of bored throughout the movie. Although the family had its problems I liked the family dynamics and it seemed like a great family to grow up with. I think Michelle Williams is the standout of the film. She is the one who I felt the most for.
Its a well made film...just kind of boring and not really needed. I preferred Belfast (which was another director doing an based off own childhood movie).
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Wouldnt call it rotten, but it could be better.
I definitely dont think its as bad as the critics are making it out to be. I wouldnt say its rotten. But its definitely not a top favourite of mine either. Im not sure where I would rank it out of the whole MCU, but in terms of the other Ant-Man films, I still like the first one the best, and Id probably put this above the second one. My biggest gripe with this movie is the ending. Without giving too much away, I wish it had mirrored what Janet had done earlier during a flashback. And I didnt feel it was a satisfying end for Kang. I felt like it took him a peg down on being a badass villain. Which is a shame because I think Jonathan Majors was great in the role. Also, I wouldnt say the CGI is bad but there were a number of moments where it really looked like a bunch of actors standing in front of a green screen. Which I guess is a problem when 95% of your movie takes place in an entirely CGI world. So it kind of took me out a bit as I wasnt fully immersed as I should be. Although CGI wise I think M. O. D. O. K could have looked better. I know hes a weird looking guy to begin with. But it was definitely very uncanny valley in a bad way. Now I dont care that the last Cassie actor got replaced....but I dont think Kathryn Newton was a good replacement. I just didnt feel like she matched the previous Cassie's and I didnt feel like she had a lot of chemistry with the rest of the cast. And my other gripe, for a movie called Ant-Man and the Wasp you'd think they would both be the main characters but Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) didnt have a lot to do in this movie. I mean she also spends a good chunk of the movie separated from Ant-Man (Paul Rudd). Unless the title refers to Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer) because she definitely plays a more important role in the film.
All that being said though, I had fun with the film. It still has some of that silly Ant-Man humour. I loved the beginning and ending framing device with the voice-over. But the film also has plenty of serious moments that work too. Even though I griped about the ending, I liked where it was heading. Kang just absolutely brutalizing Ant-Man was great. I think the Quantum Realm and getting to explore a different realm was fun and interesting (although a lot of -production and costume wise) did remind me of Star Wars. And I loved the family dynamics in the movie.
I rated the film a 7, but I would say its probably more of a 7.5 for me.
Disenchanted (2022)
Not as good as the original but still lots of fun.
Was it as good as the original? No, but it was still highly entertaining. I liked that they actually did something new with the story. So many sequels just basically end up doing the same story as the first. And Amy Adams was clearly eating it up as a villain. She was **wicked** fun. Plot wise, I loved the focus on the mother-daughter dynamic, although I could foresee how the spell would be broken from a mile away. And although Patrick Dempsey gets to have a bit more fun by partaking in the singing and dancing I feel like he has a kind of useless B plot. He definitely isn't as important as he was in the first. I thought they did a good job casting with Morgan. I seriously didn't even realize that it wasn't the original actress. A lot of the sets and costumes actually reminded me a lot of the Brandy Cinderella movie. They definitely didn't look cheap and they were full of whimsy but also didn't look fully cinematic either. The songs were very good too. I don't know if they will be as iconic as the original movies, probably not. But still overall good. I think my favourite might be Idina Menzel's memory song. Also just like the first, there's lots of fun Disney Easter eggs to look out for. It was a lot of fun and a pretty good sequel in my eyes.
Halloween Ends (2022)
I actually liked it - It does something DIFFERENT and to me thats good
I went in with not a lot of expectation. Particularly because I didnt really like Halloween Kills and I had heard a lot of negative reviews for this.....but I actually really liked it. For starters, I liked that they actually did something different. It would have been so easy to just have Michael Myers go on a rampage, kill a bunch of people and surprise surprise is someone alive at the end. I dont know if Michael somehow transferred a part of his soul or if he just sensed the darkness already in, but I was totally on board for exploring the idea of evil never dying because anybody can become it. Im not syhaing the film was perfect. I did roll my eyes a bit at the romance sub plot. But I always find so unbelievable in any genre when someone knows someone for like 3 days and is like "Ermagerd, you're the love of my life. Lets run away together". They could have done more to expand that relationship. I also don t get why the town was against Laurie. I mean, to a certain extent I get the town needed a scapegoat. But, I just dont get the sentiment that its her fault because she taunted him and invited him in. Like sure, she was paranoid and built a death trap house. But its not like she was visiting him at the criminal hospital going "Ha ha sucker, you didnt get me" or something. Like, he came back and started killing people on his volition. Also, I dont get the criticism of the film being messy. I think it had a very clear idea in mind of where it wanted to go, whereas Halloween Kills seemed a lot more random and trying to cash in nostalgia rather than plot. And I also wanted to add that I really liked that they brought back the whole " Michael is just a man" mythos. Whereas again Halloween Kills seemed to ignore that and just went straight into "No hes a supernatural, unstoppable killer". And I thought Rohan Campbell was a good addition to the cast. He did a great job of conveying both creepy as well as sympathetic.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
Fun at times but overall an uneven season
Personally it was my least favourite show so far. Which isn't to say that I found it unwatchable. There was stuff I really liked (especially her breaking the 4th wall literally in the finale) but overall it was a messy show that didn't feel like it a consistent vision for the season. It seemed like they were gonna set up Titania to be the big bad initially and then dropped that like halfway through and we're like "oh no, it's actually intelligencia/hulk king" and then kind of dropped the ball on both of them. The first few episodes felt like they wanted to do more of a procedural type of show where each episode would focus on a new case, but then they kind of gave up on that too. I also think it didn't help that the writers admitted that they didn't know how to write courtroom scenes. It was a fun silly show but also a really messy one.
Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022)
This is horror?
If you're looking for horror, you're gonna be disappointed. It's not remotely scary at all. It's mostly a drama about a boy and his unlikely friendship with an older man. And when it does delve into the supernatural, it does so for maybe a minute and then goes back to being a drama movie. A rather boring one at that. And the allegory for the film is what, phones are bad? What an extremely unoriginal boomer take.
If you're looking for a movie about spooky phones from the King family this year, make it The Black Phone. You'll have a much better time, be more engaged and might actually get some scares.
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
Surprisingly better than expected
I surprisingly liked it more than I was expecting. Though admittedly those expectations were low since the trailer made it look like it was going to be an exact re-tread. And while they are definitely throwbacks to the first, I feel it does enough differently. I think if you like the first one and the campiness of it, then you'll this too. Although I personally think it has one pop song too many. The new trio of ladies are good, but lack the chemistry that Bette, Sarah and Kathy have. I however just really didn't care for the character of Gilbert in this. Not the actor's fault. I just don't see how we're supposed to root for this guy considering the actions he takes. Plus I don't feel like his motivations make sense. It's hard to explain without going into spoilers.
Overall it's a fun movie though. I don't know if it's one I'll put on every Halloween but I think it's worth checking out. At least if you already like the first one or are into camp.
The Woman King (2022)
For the most part a solid entertaining film....
Lets start off with the controversy surrounding this film. I will say it definitely doesnt shy away from the topic of slavery and Africa's own involvement in its history. But at the same time, it does also present the Dahomey Amazons as being against the slave trade and wishing to end it and the King coming around to that idea and thats not historically accurate as far as I can tell. It seems like this was thrown into the movie for modern audiences to have a reason to root for these warriors. Though the film also isnt trying to portray itself as historically accurate and merely just "inspired". So its a mixed bag.
That aside though, I do think its a well made movie. It is a compelling story although sometimes I think it ends up being too sentimental. I was also a bit put off between the "romance" between Nawi and Malik. It is a well acted film though and the production and costume designs are beautiful.