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natashafitzsimons
Reviews
Speak No Evil (2024)
Incredibly strong
I have never seen the original, in a sense that makes it easier as I have nothing to compare this film to. I saw the trailer, and it intrigued me, plus I love James McAvoy so it was an easy sell.
I really enjoyed it. The tension was almost too bearable at times, awkward, uncomfortable and just chilling. It had a really good character development, with characters that were flawed but very believable. The kid actors were great, as were the adults. However, James McAy stole the show, easily. His performance puts this film into an 8/10 category. He was intimidating, and at times absolutely terrifying. One of my absolute top thriller/horrors that I've seen in recent years.
The Substance (2024)
Incredible
I was expecting good things, but even so I was very surprised.
I will preface it by saying that I felt this film impacted me stronger as a woman - because I think as women, the fear of being invisible, overlooked, forgotten are very strong drivers - in no small part due to the daily misogyny experienced.
Elizabeth sparkle is so easy to identify with, and it's really commendable for Demi Moore to open up herself to a role like this - it's very exposing - both literally and metaphorically.
The casting and cinematography is first rate, and I was engaged at every moment. I loved the story - I thought it was really original, and unsettling.
The body horror is phenomenally done, and it is one of the only films where I have felt genuinely uncomfortable. I was engaged the whole way through, and it didn't feel long at all.
It's destined to be a cult classic, but will have a lot of people who won't understand it, or won't want to.
The ending is absolutely insane, and really makes the film a lot different than anything I've previously seen.
I have to say, it feels like essential viewing.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
The best since aliens
An incredibly strong entry. After the last few disappointments, the alien franchise felt dead in the water. But thankfully, this breathes a lot of fresh air into a much beloved franchise. I love the alien movies - they are the pinnacle of horror and I firmly believe that the Xenomorph is the pinnacle of a horror creature. This movie manages to pay homage to the original, while injecting enough fresh monstrousness to keep the movie exciting and surprising. Finally also the characters are very interesting, and I really rooted for Rain - the actress playing her does an amazing job. Very tense in parts, very scary overall. A really refreshingly fantastic entry. And no spoilers, but the final 30 minutes - INSANE and so memorable.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
INCREDIBLE
Feels like such a welcome return to Marvel's glory days. An absolutely incredible entry. The most fantastic casting, and so incredible to see Wolverine back in true flying form. The story is very fleshed out, and put together, and really fits into the wider marvel universe. It's laugh out loud funny? And such a rip roaringly good time. The cameos are fantastic - and feel like real fan service. I've waited a long time for this, and it feels like exactly what I wanted. You can see how much this character and franchise means to Ryan Reynolds - and that makes his the safest hands. I hope to see a fourth entry, in the meantime, I will go rewatch this a few times. Fantastic.
Madame Web (2024)
It's FINE
Look, I just saw it and it's absolutely not as bad as reviews are making it out to be. It's a good time - and I didn't notice the time passing. I enjoyed the relationships, and actually really enjoyed Dakota in the role. It's far better than Morbius in my opinion. Is it as good as peak Marvel? Of course not. However, it's a very passable film - and certainly not a difficult watch. Is it cheesy? Sure, but that's not the biggest crime. I will always believe that it struggles with the same issues as Captain Marvel did the MINUTE it was announced. People who hate a superhero movie that's led by women, and has no man to hang their hopes on. It's fine, it's absolutely not the worst. But, it ain't the best either. Falling on the right side of mediocrity for me.
Argylle (2024)
Critics are pretentious snobs.
This film was a BLAST. Three of us went to see it - and we all had such a good time. Came out in such a good mood, and enjoyed every minute. The performances are great - and such a phenomenal cast. Loved seeing all of them, especially on slightly different roles than usual. Bryce Dallas Howard was a very pleasing leading lady. It is ridiculous, almost overwhelmingly so - but no more ridiculous than James Bond. However, unlike James Bond, it doesn't take itself seriously and it makes it such a relief. The escapes, the action sequences are just as far fetched, but at least here the tongues are firmly in cheek. A real fun time, with so many twists and turns - and I despise this movement of critics shooting down films that are just enjoyable. I don't want "all of us strangers" every day. Sometimes I just want to escape for a few hours.
Mean Girls (2024)
MUCH better than original
I grew up with the original mean girls - and never got the hype despite having seen it many times. I was cautious of the remake - and held off on seeing it for a good while. However, I was completely proven wrong. It is a huge improvement on the original. Far more inclusive - and diverse which is a huge reason it's getting hate. It feels natural and representative of a high school in this day. Script updates work - and it's far, far funnier than the original. I love the fact that's it's a musical - makes it far more dynamic and entertaining. Some real bops too! The actors are incredible - and more believable as teens. Huge improvement. Can't wait to watch it again.
Thanksgiving (2023)
Mind numbingly STUPID
Look, I love slashers. Despite their low numbers they are my favorite subgenre of horror. I don't ask for much, a coherent story and a surprising villain. However - I draw the line at being insulted. I don't even know how this film got the funding - it is just an insult to audiences. The gore, great, and sure there are some laughs. However the story is beyond stupid, and fine I could forget that if the film was fun like "Freaky". However, the cast are awful, 30 year olds mascarading as high schoolers? Ok, I'll get over it. A killer who simply can't be the killer cause you just showed them in TWO places at once? I draw the line. It's insulting, and it made me so mad. All it took was a small rewrite to make something timeless. Instead an absolutely horrible film. So disappointing. More disappointing is people with no brain cells giving it 8 and 9 out of 10.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
Amazing return to one of my favourite worlds
The hunger games are by far my favourite YA series. Incredibly brutal and grim, yet full of such hope and optimism for the future. Always so well written, and with an incredible cast. Also luckily, very faithful adaptations too. This one is no exception. Very close to the book, and thematically quite different to the 4 sequels. Far darker in tone, and absolutely lacking the hope or optimism. This is the rise of a truly impressive villain. It is fascinating to see the progress of Snow, his origin story as the most formidable villain I've seen on the screen in a long time. Incredibly cast, with a breathtaking performance but thankfully not a character they decided to humanize. Just because someone has humanity, doesn't make them a saint. Really enjoyable film, so glad I got to experience this world again.
A Haunting in Venice (2023)
By far the best of the three
I am a huge Agatha Christie fan. I have read each book, at least twice. So I was very excited to see adaptations for the big screen, and especially with the corresponding big budgets and A list cast. The first two adaptations left me like warm, despite the brilliance of the cast - the small changes to the story didn't help, and I found them both lackluster. However, here, I really felt Kenneth Branagh come into his own. An adaptation that's original, and very clever - taking all of the mystery and intrigue of a typical Agatha Christie novel, but twisting it, changing the roles of the characters and the set up. This makes the movie more unpredictable, and hence more unique. The writing was brilliant, and by far my favourite cast of the series. Really, really good. Highly recommended.
The Killing Kind (2023)
Great performances, AWFUL story
The cast is brilliant, cannot fault them at all. However, as a woman, I categorically could not possibly play the main character of Ingrid. She is the worst of all women. Lying, manipulative, using people as soon as they're possibly useful to her and then abandoning them. Putting people in danger, knowing that they could end up dead. She is coke, and dismissive, and yo yos constantly. Not to mention the way she does her job is despicable. The story is ok, but the MOST predictable thriller I've ever seen which is disappointing. Saw exactly where it was all going, and couldn't roll my eyes any harder. All in all, a real waste of time. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
The Flash (2023)
Beat DC fill outside of Nolan's trilogy
I went into this apprehensive - and with lots of reasons to doubt Ezra's casting, very very problematic actor, however despite that - they are an incredible Flash and really give the character and role justice. Highly entertaining film - with some of the most incredible visuals seen in recent films. The cameos are incredible, and the sense of humour is spot on - and not over used. I enjoyed every single moment - and really loved the action packed, story driven but yet emotional story. DC films can be very hit and miss - but this is a very. Very valid entry and a film that I'm already looking forward to rewatching. This is the direction DC needs to take , here's hoping.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Incredible end
The guardians have always been my favourite and this entry fulfilled all my expectations. Incredibly hard to watch at time, so sad, and uplifting with all the usual humour I'd come to expect. Huge amounts of character development, and a truly seated table villain which doesn't happen often in Marvel. Amazing performances, the music is spot on and giving Rocket his feature moments felt very apt, and he is a fascinatingly strong character. His origin story is truest heartbreaking, and a very brave inclusion. It's a film that really made me feel, and that's very rare from films, and marvel often manages to hit that spot. I feel an empty spot in my life now that the guardians are finished.