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The Devil's Arithmetic (1999)
Anachronistic
Fine enough I guess but it really pulled me out of it when these people in WWII hadn't heard of Wizard of Oz. The book was very famous and had already been out four decades by then. Not to mention the very famous movie that had also been out a few years at that point. The characters even make a point to mention earlier in the film that they enjoy going to the movies. I find it behind credibility that none of them had even heard of this story.
Beyond that, this movie was fine. Not great acting. Simplistic storyline. I think for kids it'd probably be a pretty good first introduction to the Holocaust. I was kinda bored though. Didn't feel super connected to the characters. It gave me tv movie vibes, which maybe it was. Not a terrible movie though. It's probably worth watching if you haven't already seen it.
Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)
Great movie!
I've never played the game and I loved this. Don't listen to the haters. This was a wonderful story with superb acting. I was riveted the entire time. Nothing about this movie was what I expected and I'm completely fine with that. It was honestly way better than I expected.
It was giving me retro, although I'm not sure it ever said when this movie took place. If I had to guess, I'd say probably early 2000's. Great atmosphere overall.
I'd recommend for older kids and up. It's not really a kid's movie but r here's nothing super duper scary. It's got some jump scares and a spooky vibe. Kinda gave me Gremlins vibes, just less scary than that. I'd definitely watch this again.
Prom Night (2008)
Great teen slasher!
I really enjoyed this one. If you like the teen slasher genre but don't like a lot of gore, this movie is perfect. Decent acting. Decent plot. I was pretty riveted the whole time. More of a thriller than a horror, but I'd watch it again. I found all the characters mostly likable. Makes you root for the final girl.
Don't believe the low ratings. Honestly. It's a good little thriller. A lot of good actors in it too, including Idris Elba as the cop. I couldn't remember if I'd seen this before so I caught it on Netflix. I vaguely think I might've seen it when it first came out I do think it holds up.
Thought the time period was so nostalgic too. The last grad class before iPhones came out. Ahh the memories of a simpler time. Loved seeing the purity of high school society before everyone got so wrapped up in cancel culture and social media.
65 (2023)
Loved it
Don't believe the naysayers, this movie was great. It held my interest and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
This is a fantastic film about the love of a father. Part survival movie, part Jurassic Park. I would recommend this movie to all ages. There's some medically squeamish scenes and a few swears, but other than that there's nothing age inappropriate in it.
If you're looking for a fun adventure movie, I highly recommend this one. Very well acted. Beautiful scenery. Riveting plot.
We saw this on Netflix but I'll be watching for an iTunes sale because I want to keep this one.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
Near perfect movie
Yesss. I hadn't watched this in probably twenty years and it still holds up. Honestly I'd forgotten what genius this plot was. This time around it didn't confuse me as much as it did when I was a teenager, but it still makes you pay attention to follow it. They don't write movies like this anymore.
It's such a chef's kiss. I was never bored for a second. Excellent mystery that needs you to pay attention. I love that. Excellent acting. And funny! I'd forgotten about that. This movie manages to be both quiet and explosive, keeping a nice pace. It does well at maintaining suspense, especially in the quiet moments.
I highly recommend this movie.
Sound of Metal (2019)
Weird but interesting.
This is a strange slow movie but also kinda fascinating. It reminds me of a French film in how it tells the story so slowly. I don't know, maybe it is a French film.
Anyway, I did like feeling what it must feel like to go deaf suddenly. To have to figure out how to feel about that. How to deal with it. I can't even imagine. This movie did a good job allowing the audience to feel what that must feel like.
Overall though, it was just too long. Too slow. Too angsty. I found myself fidgeting, wondering if it was near over yet. I think there probably could've been a more interesting way to tell this kind of story. It's more of an emotionally-driven meander than a plot-driven movie.
I also didn't love how the characters treated implants like anyone who got them were letting the Deaf community down. People choose what they need to choose in their lives. Some people choose not to get them. Others choose to. It should be fine either way and from what I know of the Deaf community, they do seem to be fine with it either way. It seemed odd to me that the movie seemed to be pushing an agenda that a "real" Deaf person wouldn't get them. There may well be some people with that prejudice, but it did surprise me to see it portrayed that way here.
Glass Onion (2022)
Great plot, mediocre execution
I will say that I love Rían Johnson's intricate plots. He writes mysteries that Agatha Christie would be proud of. That said, this movie is nowhere near as good as Knives Out. It's just overall sillier and campier. So probably adjust your expectations going in.
There were more cameo appearances than actual main characters, also, which got old quickly, but I suppose that's a testament to everyone wanting to be in a Rían Johnson movie. That just added to the silliness factor though, which I thought was completely unnecessary.
I felt it had quite a slow start. For the first 45 minutes to an hour, I wondered what I'd gotten myself into. Then things picked up quick and I was hooked. That's where the intricate plotting really shone.
I hope if there are future movies in this franchise that they return to the more gothic feeling of the first one and not the over-the-top campy vibe that this one has.
Elvis (2022)
Meh
Kinda boring and way too long. Honestly it made me like Elvis less. Took the magic out of it. I'm too young to have been around when he was alive, but seeing this makes me realize how much of a gimmick he was made into. He's got a good voice, I'll give him that. But I don't care for all the flash and gimmick. I suppose those were different times then. If you're looking for a more heartfelt music biopic, I recommend Bohemian Rhapsody. You come away really feeling for Freddie and Queen. I can't say the same for Elvis in this movie, unfortunately. Watch this if you're curious but I wouldn't say it's especially good.
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
Delightful
Though a tad too 2020's for my taste (drag queens in a Disney movie? Really??) overall this was a wonderful take 2 for the great Sanderson Sisters. Good storyline. Great characters. I could've done with Sarah Jessica Parker's weird eyebrows (seriously, were they that dark and thick in the first one??) but overall the three witches reprised their roles wonderfully. I enjoyed the new cast, as well as seeing Billy Butcherson again. Would've been cool to have a Thora Birch cameo, but hey, I guess we can't have everything. I really hope Disney allows us to buy this cuz I'd love to have this in my collection next to the first movie!
The Purge: Election Year (2016)
Kinda more boring
Not as interesting as the Purge movies before it. I found myself checking my phone more through it, where normally I'm glued to the screen during these movies. I really enjoyed the first two, and think the purge is a fascinating premise for a movie series overall. Just something about this movie though didn't do it for me. I think I think I prefer seeing how every day people get through the purge, rather than the political machinations. That said it is still a pretty good movie. I'll be curious to see where this franchise goes in the future. It was nice to see the main cop guy again too, although he was better in the last movie I thought, lol. He's always a delight, though.
Do Revenge (2022)
Not horrible
Better than I expected. Both the lead women were excellent actors. I really enjoyed their friendship. I could've done without the soy boy cuck of a boyfriend who apparently the entire school loved. I didn't quite understand that one. He had less testosterone than any of the women in the movie. Also I honestly couldn't tell if this movie was trying to be woke or trying to mock woke, but either way, it was funny. Kinda long though, imo, but mostly interesting. Also Sophie Turner was hilarious. Great cameo. Not sure I would watch this movie again, but it wasn't an entire waste of time. Also makes me glad I'm not in high school in this decade. The social politics are insane.
Locke & Key: Irons in the Fire (2021)
Accents?
Awesome show but would colonial New Englanders really have modern standard American accents? They don't even have standard American accents in 2020. 🤣 I'm betting at that time they'd still have much closer to British accents. Other than that, I'm enjoying this season. Just wow... a little realism with the accents would help in those flashback scenes. It's jarring to hear such modern accents from people supposedly from 250 years ago. Awesome show but would colonial New Englanders really have modern standard American accents? They don't even have standard American accents in 2020. 🤣 I'm betting at that time they'd still have much closer to British accents. Other than that, I'm enjoying this season. Just wow... a little realism with the accents would help in those flashback scenes. It's jarring to hear such modern accents from people supposedly from 250 years ago.
The Lost City (2022)
Wayyyyy too many dick jokes
This had the potential to be a timeless classic. It's funny. Has good actors and a fun adventure storyline. However... sooooo many dick jokes. Omg. Can we not? You've just guaranteed that I'll never watch this again or recommend this to anyone. Great job. Slow clap.
Maggie (2015)
Super slow
This is essentially a quirky slow indie film that happens to have A-list actors in it. It's not bad, but it's not that interesting either. I recommend you be in the mood for a slow burn if you decide to watch this.
Safety (2020)
Good family movie
Pretty good. I was distracted throughout it though about why his brother couldn't even be seen on campus. It's not like kids are verboten on college campuses. I've been to college. I know things. Lol. Not sure if that was dramatic license bc they thought it'd make for a more interesting movie, or if this guy really is that dumb to think people would blow a gasket to see a kid on campus.
Senior Year (2022)
Not that funny
This movie had potential but somehow Rebel Wilson's acting was more immature than the actress' who played her younger self. If she'd played it more sincerely, it really could've worked. Also it really didn't need to include the R rated humor. The movie would've worked better without that. All the d*ck jokes just felt shoehorned in there.
Cheaper by the Dozen (2022)
Boring and woke
Same your time and watch the previous versions. There's not much of a storyline here and what is there is frequently interrupted to woke-splain to us. Yawn.
The Mummy (2017)
What did I just watch?
I don't even understand this movie. It started out okay but got more and more convoluted to the point where I couldn't even follow what was happening by the end. Whoever wrote this movie needs to find a new job.
Are You Afraid of the Dark? (2019)
Great spooky storytelling
Season 1 was great. Season 2 was way too drawn out. It definitely works better then the story is tight and contained. Overall the acting is decent/good and even as an adult, the story spooked me. I do hope they keep going, but I'd prefer they stick to 3 or 4 episodes per story so it doesn't feel so slow in parts like season 2 did.
Bunheads (2012)
Gilmore Girls is better
Meh. This show is fine. Nothing great. Nothing terrible. I can see why it got cancelled, but it's entertaining enough. It's got too much adult content to really be appropriate for teens and too many teen storylines to really be interesting to adults. The best part is Kelly Bishop's acting, which is stellar of course. The writing is the same quippy fast-paced writing as Gilmore Girls, but it feels like it has more of an edge to it, not in a good way, but like it's trying really hard to be shocking or something. I think this show just didn't know what it was trying to be.
A Quiet Place Part II (2020)
Decent sequel
Not as interesting as the first one, but fine enough for a sequel. I liked learning a bit more about the origins of the creatures. The plot was a tad confusing near the end though, but overall not a bad movie. Seems like they left it open for part 3.
Candace Owens (2021)
Not her best work
Look, I've followed Candace for awhile and loved her last show. I can't stand this new format though. It feels like she's attention-seeking with the live audience and now this latest episode is ridiculous where she won't even let Nicole Arbour speak. Good grief, woman. I miss the days when she had calm, respectful one-on-one conversations with people. That's where she really shines.
Ad Astra (2019)
Weird and boring
Not sure what I was expecting but this movie wasn't it. It was super slow and mostly boring. Brad Pitt is beautiful as always. That's probably the best thing about this movie. I wouldn't waste your time on this one.
Stowaway (2021)
Sloooooow
It's got excellent acting. I'll give it that. But wow was this movie slow. I went in expecting a thriller and that definitely wasn't this. Still, in a way, it was a very soothing and ethereal type of movie. I'm not sure I'd recommend it. It was beautiful. Very well acted. Emotionally moving. Just really freaking slow.
Little Women (2019)
Super disjointed
Aye yi yi. This is the worst adaptation of this story that I've seen, and I've seen quite a few. Gerwig's disjointed, non-linear storytelling is extremely confusing to follow, even for someone like me who knows this story really well. I can't imagine trying to watch and understand it if you didn't already know the story.
A few good points. The music and cinematography were beautiful. The acting was fine. That's about the extent of what I can say good about it.
I thought most of the casting was off. Saoirsa Ronan and Emma Watson couldn't seem to hold their American accents, and Florence Pugh seemed way too old for her part. Whoever the guy was who played Professor Baer, he seemed way too young. Laura Dern felt too 21st century somehow. Meryl Streep was awesome though - no complaints there. And the gal who played Beth channeled Claire Danes in the 90's version, so that felt perfect. I actually didn't mind Timothee Chalamet, even though I usually find him too childish - in this role he seemed to fit well.
Overall this movie wasn't awful, I suppose, just really strangely put together. I didn't feel like there was a natural story arc due to the constant time jumps, which just left me feeling really uneasy. Considering this story in other adaptations tends to emit feelings of warmth and love, that's a problem.