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The Long Game (2023)
Hits All The Boxes, But Leaves Something To Be Desired
Overall it's a decent watch. It provides everything that you would hope for and expect from a movie that tries to display racism and underdogs trying to overcome it to achieve success. The acting is passable and doesn't detract from the story , but neither does it really elevate it. The characters are likeable , but not enough is really shared about them to give them enough depth. They try to include the coach's war story , which is a nice addition to build from, it just feels like it needs a little more to really make it hit home, like a flashback. The love story with Joe also feels a bit forced and added on for the sake of it.
In conclusion, it's a fine addition to the sports genre and tells a story that I wouldn't have otherwise known about, but at the same time feels a bit cookie cutter with not much to really make it stand out or differentiate it from other films like it.
Child's Play (1988)
Classic , Iconic Horror
While I find the start of the movie with the whole occult voodoo chant thing to be a bit clunky and corny I suppose they had to find a way to explain how this evil doll comes to life. After the movie gets going the majority of it is spent wondering when this terrifying doll will pop up and try and kill someone. It's very successful in this and certainly does a better job of modern killer doll movies. For this being the first of its kind , it's exceptionally well done and Im surprised the reviews of it aren't quite higher.
It's certainly a must watch movie for horror fans and should probably still be reviewed by horror producers. Instead of useless background stories often used today with dreadful acting and dialogue, Chucky gets right to the hunt so to speak, and no time is wasted.
Speak No Evil (2024)
Brilliant Work Start To Finish
This is a film I almost did not attend as the trailer that was shown so often leading up to it I found somewhat annoying and made me think it might be some sort of movie about demonic possession for which I have grown tired of. It certainly is not that at all and I would classify it much more as an intense psychological thriller than a horror. Thankfully my colleague talked me into seeing it with him.
The greatest strength of this film is that each scene is cut with this thick sense of uneasiness. This is achieved with brilliant camera shots, superb acting, and subtle sounds. Each scene connects to the next and has you itching to see what is to come.
Immediately you can feel something off from the first words out of James McAvoy's character Paddy's mouth. From that moment on it is just a roller coaster and you wonder how and when things are going to get seriously messed up. The movie teases you often making you think the craziness is going to begin only to hold off a little longer. There are many great scenes foreshadowing the events to come.
Furthermore, for what is classified as a horror film the script is really quite solid and not clunky as many in this genre are. Some nice camera shots are included as well.
The film also provides an excellent non-tacky ending. Right up until the end it is a real nail biter and you really don't know how it will end. I will go as far to say that James McAvoy's
performance as Paddy is right up there with Jack Nicholsons performance as Jack Torrance in the Shining.
This is a must see 2024 movie. One of my favourite films of the year and perhaps one of my favourite horrors if you want to call it that in a very very long time.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Familiar But It Works Well Enough
In many ways this film is a return to the roots of the franchise, and for that reason I would say it was a success. While there are many parts of it that aren't explained quite well enough and the setting in general at the start is very poorly developed, it does hit on the parts it needs to in order to provide the excitement you expect going into it. You could certainly describe it as a slow burn, in other words you have to stick with it to reap the rewards. The story does eventually use all it built up throughout to produce a somewhat exciting ending.
Still, although it is better than some of the other installments , the acting is fairly average, and there are no particular scenes that will stick with you for more than a few days to a week later. For me at least , this makes it more in the acceptable class of movies as opposed to a good or even great movie. However , as mentioned at the start , the movie does not bomb and in many ways probably achieves what it set out to.
Up (2009)
Pixar At Its Peak
One of those very special movies that can hit you in your feelings just the right way. From the very start you become attached to the characters very quickly and feel invested in their story. The beauty of this movie is that everyone can understand its messages and while it can make you want to tear up at times it is also so sweet that it ends up making you smile just as much. The bonds that form between the characters are unique and while the movie itself isn't long you feel an understanding and connection to each persons story.
The only complaint I have about it was that the dogs that are the villains can become a bit annoying and maybe get too much airtime for what they offer. On the other hand, I'm sure a 5 year old would laugh every time a dog said "squirrel" and got scared. The movie of course is meant for children and this would definitely provide comedic relief for them. However, with that being said , despite my love for this movie, I haven't felt the need to watch any of the Doug spinoffs movies/shorts.
All in all it is simply one of the greatest animated films made in my view . An absolute must watch.
Angels in the Outfield (1994)
Quality Kids Sports Movie, A Tad Silly At Times
This very much fits under a 90's kid nostalgic sports movie. It likely felt like a way "cooler" and "'magical" movie back in the day but upon rewatching it , it has aged reasonably well. Although the baseball scenes themselves are a bit silly. Real life angels essentially cheat for the LA angels and get a bit repetitive and annoying as a good chunk of the plot is based off of this as the movie title indicates. Although the actual baseball scenes aren't of as high quality as comparable movie "Rookie of the Year" the messages in this movie are quite deep and powerful. The young actors are also really good and have fantastic chemistry. You really can feel a bond between Roger and J. P.
The ending is also very touching and leaves you with a happy feeling inside. What the movie lacks in realism , its underlying messages certainly make up for.
As a bonus it includes a young Josep Gordon Levitt, who is fantastic as Roger, Christopher Lloyd who is perfect as the head angel, and a young Matthew McConaughey as a baseball player.
Rookie of the Year (1993)
What a Kids Sports Movie should be
Rewatching the movie now as an adult after watching it long ago as a child provided some new perspective. Overall , it is perfectly acceptable for all audiences, it's fun , provides good messages, and all in all the plot really isn't that awful.
In summary , a young Cubs fan is injured while slipping trying to make a catch to impress a girl he likes. He lands on his arm badly and when his arm heals abnormally he can throw like an MLB player. From here the movie taps into themes of what happens when fame gets to your head, the forms of exploitation others will use if they can profit off of your talents, and ultimately truly discovering who cares about you and remaining loyal to your friends and family.
Overall a good movie for young baseball fans.
Despicable Me 4 (2024)
Much More of The Same, Just Passable
The fourth entry of Despicable Me, not including the other minion spinoffs, sticks with what it knows and takes little risk in staying on script and not taking any risks. As usual, the minions are pretty cute with some clever laughable jokes regardless of the viewers age. Agnes is also so sweet that her scenes always help hold the movie together. As for the plot here it is pretty sub standard. The villain, Maxime Le Mal , is just ok and you re just supposed to accept his obsession with cockroaches. Instead of interesting or funny at times it can just feel a tad odd.
Overall the minions by themselves will make it worth the watch for fans of the franchise, but you've got to wonder how many times they can keep going to the well here and keep people coming.
Deo Eiteu Syo (2024)
Good Ideas Weakly Delivered
Not sure what the other reviews saying it's not similar to Squid Game are referring to. It's definitely not similar in quality , but its message and theme are identical. The game makers have essentially preyed upon people in difficult life circumstances to play a game for their amusement. Just like Squid Game it was inevitable that would involve strategic deception between the characters and violence.
Many of the ideas used with the games within the show are interesting , but ultimately end up feeling underwhelming. Further, while you do end up feeling some connection to the characters by the end of the series it pales in comparison to those in Squid Game.
If another season was made I'd probably still watch it, but also won't be spending any time hoping for a season 2.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Best Tale Ever Told On Your Screen
If perfection is possible for a fantasy film then this is it. It is hard to imagine a better cast selection than this will ever be made. Most movies these days struggle to develop their lead character and it is an even larger ask to have a secondary character adequately developed. In the first movie of the trilogy Jackson manages to builds an attachment to all 9 members of the fellowship and captures the dynamics between them beautifully. A perfect example of just how wonderfully this is done is that Boromir is revered for dying a hero's death and yet for much of the film has struggled to resist the ring and the evil that comes with it. Boromirs actions could be viewed as potentially villainous at many points but Jackson does such a good job with this character that the audience is able to understand Boromirs intentions beyond his weakness to the rings power.
Despite its length the film never drags out and is always building the plot, its characters, and its themes. The shots in New Zealand are absolutely stunning and Jackson took no shortcuts to capture them. It's hard to imagine a director going to such lengths today. The musical score is epic and, yet again perfect. The film has aged like Bilbo with the ring, hardly at all.
Truly the start of the one trilogy to rule them all.
Sing Sing (2023)
Oscar Candidate
Going into this, it wasn't a movie I thought I would enjoy very much based on the trailer. However, I was interested to see Colman Domingo act, and he certainly delivered and then some. He's simply brilliant. While there are several moments that I would consider to be a bit boring, there are many more scenes that do more than make up for it. While watching I thought it was possible they took a true story and made it way more flowery than it actually was considering it was a high security prison. However, when I learned that most of the actors were actually the real people themselves it blew my mind. Not only did they do an incredible job in supporting roles that even Hollywood professionals often fail at, the fact they played themselves made the story so much more powerful.
This is a movie that is hard to dislike and doesn't seem to be getting the attention it deserves with several regional theatres in Canada not even showing it. I do believe that at the end of the day once this movie is viewed by more that it will age well and that it will contend at the Oscar's.
Immaculate (2024)
Passable Horror
Overall there's nothing special about it and certainly won't be too memorable. However, it's interesting enough to not make you want to shut it off and try some other movie. Enough suspense is built about what is going on at the facility to keep you until the end. Sweeney also helps in playing the lead role well enough to carry the momentum.
The supporting actors are ok, but their characters don't get developed really beyond the goals they are trying to accomplish.
Overall, in conclusion it's not horrible. There isn't much of a jump scare factor, but the tone , music, and sets are quite eery. It also doesn't over extend its stay with a short enough run time.
Touch (2024)
Home Run Or Strikeout Depending On Audience
When entering the theatre I noticed the audience was almost solely boomers and seniors. I don't say this in a negative way at all. In fact, not enough modern movies are made for this demographic in my view.
I can see how this film would have strong resonance and appeal with a population that has years to look back on and consider how things may have happened in their own lives if something were done differently. Humans tend to be intrigued by the thought of their lives being altered from its current state in some way.
However, from my perspective, beyond the conceptual framework of the film, I found it to be rather dull and the delivery poor. I saw little believable connection between the two younger actors. For me , for a romance to work I need to really believe the acting. Furthermore , I wanted to at least see Kristofer become more enmeshed in the family. Sure, I get that learning to cook traditional foods is a sign of that welcome, but I didn't feel his character bond with the family beyond this other than a brief scene or two.
In conclusion, not a movie for me, but I can see how it works for some others. Several were in tears at the movies conclusion. For it to have this kind of impact on more than one person in the theatre means it must have done something well that I didn't necessarily observe myself.
Despicable Me 3 (2017)
It's Still Enjoyable, But Needs More
If you re a fan of Despicable Me and Minions it is difficult to review it without bias, but I shall attempt to do so.
The feeling I get while watching it is that they want to give the audience time with the characters they've grown to love , but don't have much of a story to tell. In other words, to cynics it was made to make money. They know they can get away with it too as if you're showing up for movies in the Despicable Me universe by now they know what you like and that you probably won't all the sudden dislike whatever they show you as long as the minions are giggling doing silly things.
Balthazar Bratt is a below average villain and Gru's brother Dru is just an OK addition. Essentially speaking, im not sure he should be a permanent addition to the crew going forward.
Of course the movie makers almost know the movies shortcomings and they fill the rest of the screen time with cute moments involving Gru's daughters and the Minions up to their usual antics.
Overall, it's fine, but it's riding of the coattails of its predecessors.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Achieves Exactly What Was Needed
Finally Marvel has admitted quite directly that the multiverse saga has been a train wreck. Deadpool was the perfect character to do this. In putting Deadpool with Wolverine , Marvel has essentially been able to start the tare down and rebuild in the same movie. I was worried bringing back Wolverine was out of desperation, and it probably was, but it paid off. It was nice having Wolverine's seriousness to offset when Deadpool does in fact get annoying at times. Wolverines world also reminds you that some good superhero movies have been made and maybe it's possible again.
As for the actual plot of this movie it's not really all that interesting. However, making the TVA a key feature of the movie was also clever. One thing from this saga most enjoyed was Loki. By including the TVA, Marvel has set up the potential for a nice conclusion to the saga instead of dragging us through more money making clutter.
One thing that I will also add is that aside from Endgame , having watched lots of previous content will make the film much more rewarding. There are a lot of nice easter eggs along the way in this one. The soundtrack is probably also second best to Guardians.
In conclusion, as a stand alone , the movie would probably be average with some funny moments you'd forget by the end of the ride home from the theatre. However , in setting up a promising future in just one movie, I say well done to a franchise that has not done much but let down for years now.
Twisters (2024)
Good For 30 Minutes
This movie starts off quite good despite the teenaged actors being very average. The movie certainly doesn't ease you in to the chaos but throws you right into it.
The movie continues to build interest as the main character joins a new storm chasing team with one of her former friends. Here they are met with a rag tag team that is chasing storms as well but doesn't appear to have all the fancy gadgets that Addy, the main characters team has. But what they do have is Tyler Owens, a dazzling YouTuber (I think) "storm wrangler".
From this point the movie goes south really quick . For some reason the movie starts to paint Tyler Owens and his crew , who are stereotyped with the simpleton southern stereotype , as villains. They try to make it seem like they have no business chasing the storm like the elite team of hunters with fancy educational degrees.
For what seems like an eternity we watch them chase what feels like the same storm over and over. All the while the film just keeps simping more and more for Glen Powell. I'm a Glen Powell fan even and it just seemed way overboard. In fact , they should have just done away with Glen Powell playing Tyler Owens and just straight up called him Glen Powell. He very much just plays himself.
Somewhat of a weird romance develops between the main character and of course Powell, but also not fully which leaves things in a really awkward position. Her former friend also seems jealous of it but nothing happens there either.
The ending is obviously very predictable, but feels like it takes a very long time to get to. The movie tries to use several effects with limited impact in my opinion. Not sure the camera had to create a tornado like spin while experimenting in the main characters basement.
By the time the movie ends you re ready. In conclusion, despite a promising start, the rest fell way below standard. It's a mindless summer flick, but even those need a be a little more interesting for a passing score.
Trap (2024)
Holds the Attention, Hartnett Shines
Most of this movie was exactly what I was hoping for. It is successful when it keeps it simple. Just watching the Butcher try to escape the concert is extremely entertaining for something so simple. You re always wondering what the next trick or step will be. You are able to get past the weak dialogue because you are so focused on whether he will escape or not.
On a side note, still a little confused on the role of his daughters friends mother who keeps running into him at the concert. Just don't see how these run-ins advanced the story .
The movie goes a bit sour when it tries adding all of these elaborate explanations for things that did not need to be explained. There was really no need to explain how the FBI knew he would be at that event. Some of the escapes are skipped over too quickly in the closing acts. What made the movie fun at the start was seeing how he dodged being caught and the steps he took to achieve that.
It would have been better to use runtime on the last escapes by the Butcher ( the tunnel under the house to the limo and escaping from the limo ) than spending a good bulk of time singing and dancing at the concert. Clearly M Night Shyamalan was using the time to promote his daughter who plays Lady Raven.
Overall , the movie does a great job of keeping you interested. Josh Hartnett delivers an absolute "killer" of a performance. Certainly don't regret watching in theatres . With a better conclusion it could have been an 8 or 9/10 for its genre.
If there is a sequel, I'll certainly be attending it when the time comes.
The New Mutants (2020)
Dollar Store Goosebumps / Children's Horror
There are a lot of problems here. The first problem is with casting. We spend most of the movie trying to give the new mutants time to build chemistry together, none of which is really ever created. It all feels terribly forced. Charlie Heaton should most certainly stick with Stranger Things. I couldn't buy his forced accent and even the emotions of his character for one second.
Dani played by Blu Hunt lacks a bit of charisma as the lead character. Even Anya Taylor Joy who is normally able to elevate any film can't seem to invigorate this group.
Worse than the casting even is the plot. It takes the idea from "Logan" with a corporation raising Mutants for nefarious purposes. We never learn how Dani or any of the others really get to this facility. Furthermore , even at the big reveal we don't truly get told why Dani's power is beyond control. Lastly it is unclear whether or not Dani has managed to control her power beyond just her demon bear. All we know is that it won't be hunting her anymore, but we don't know the impacts this will have on her mirage/ terror producing images she creates for her friends.
Overall the movie leaves you with more questions than answers.
It concludes with an inspirational dialogue on feeding the good side of you rather than the side of fear , but leaves all other character arcs incomplete.
Beyond all the issues above it's simply just not very entertaining. Maybe it would be something a 6 year old might find exciting as an intro to horror?
Nevertheless , the worst X-men based movie made.
Widow Clicquot (2023)
Acceptable Inspirational Cinema
Haley Bennett performs the role of Cliquot quite admirably. The supporting cast is fine but aside from her performance no other actor or actress is memorable. There is a lot of dead time in this movie which is likely because the only real point of the movie is to show that she had to overcome the politics of the time with Napoleonic laws and men believing she wasn't cut out to run the vineyard. I would have liked to see more scenes showing how hard she had to work aside from just constantly watching her mix ingredients in vials. There are some parts of her facing men who doubted her, but I wanted more so you could really root for her.
The court scene at the end I thought had so much potential to be used to tell her story of what she had to go through in greater detail, but instead it was decided to just be an exclamation point for her story.
As a side note, all of the accents are very British which is confusing to me considering they're supposed to be French.
Overall, it's not a bad film, and shows that individuals have the ability to overcome their political surroundings. However, it certainly isn't one that will wow you either.
The Game (1997)
Solid In All Areas
Everything about this movie is good. The film gives you a proper introduction, middle, climax , and conclusion. The lead character is played brilliantly by Michael Douglas. One of my favourite actors no doubt. He has you believing he is actually the character he is playing. It sounds obvious as that is the goal of any actor or actress but few are capable of doing it with such brilliance as Douglas. He delivers yet again as a prototypical investment banker in this movie.
The films greatest strength is that from start to finish it has you on your toes trying to figure out what's coming next and what exactly the game is. You are just as clueless as the lead character and feel like you are trying to solve it with him.
Right down to the the final scene you are still waiting to see if there's more. The runtime goes very quickly in this movie as you end up so invested.
Highly recommend.
Longlegs (2024)
Good Movie, Worst Ending Possible ?
There was so much to like about this film. Excellent camera shots and time setting as well as excellent performances from Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage. It has a slow burn to it but I was fully engaged, looking for hints as to what might come next. I'll admit that I love movies with a senior investigator/detective and an up and coming new recruit they take under their wing who displays special skills. For most of the film this is the feel it had. It felt in some ways like what I was hoping for with a Zodiac,
Silence of the Lambs type feel.
But then came a point where they decided to flip the film entirely from an investigative thriller to a horror movie and this just about threw everything that was good about it out the window. The ending was not scary, but really just silly. They even tried to add some lines that almost were along the lines of a comedy.
I'm not sure what made them go this direction , but it's absolutely in my top 5 movies for worst endings.
Otherwise , the rest of the film was quite good. Opportunity missed no doubt.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Satisfactory, But Not Its Predecessor
The overall plot of this movie is just simply not as interesting as its predecessor. The movie takes place years after the 'simian flu' has spread and eliminated what appears to be most of the human race. Trouble starts when Caesars clan of Apes comes across a group of humans seeking to rebuild and use a hydro facility in the area occupied by the Apes. Most of the movie is spent waiting on which group will attack which first and observing the power struggles that develop within the groups that lead to this seemingly inevitable outcome.
The concept of the movie is fine, but the lead characters are significantly less interesting than those in the first. The character of Caesar shows growth , but the humans are quite frankly boring. James Franco's character in the prior film was so much more interesting than the one played by Jason Clarke. The writing was a little bit more wooden and Clarke's acting does nothing to elevate that.
Overall the movie still doesn't dissuade from watching future installment's but on its own isn't particularly memorable.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
The Most Simplistic Origin Story Ever Made
I wouldn't be surprised if the story was written in under 10 minutes. This feels like it was written by a student in grade school who forgot about their assignment and on the bus on the way to school pulled out of their notebook and patched it together hoping the teacher, in this case the audience, wouldn't fully inspect it.
In a prequel on apocalyptic aliens you'd hope to learn something more than you did going in about how the aliens got there, how they evolved, how the humans learned the aliens strengths and weaknesses. None of this is shared .
Instead they give us a story about a woman who's ill and a man that's drawn to her. It's not a bad story, but it becomes very predictable. They simply dodge the aliens from building to building until it's about time to wrap it up.
My expectations for what a prequel for this series should be were just quite frankly unfulfilled.
A Quiet Place (2018)
It's Intriguing , But Lacks Some Originality
Overall there is a lot to like with this movie. It is well acted and avoids the goofiness of other sort of post apocalyptic type films. Krasinski and Blunt work well together and all of the child actors are strong. The sound and setting certainly create a suspenseful mood and have you watching at all times to see when they will inevitably mess up and have monsters coming after them. The movie really uses foreshadowing well. Instead of trying to drop surprises on you , they make it very clear that certain things will happen, and instead of spoiling it, make it even more interesting. For example, the nail sticking out and that the wife is about to have a baby (which is sure to make noise).
One major issues I have with it is that the monsters are strikingly similar to Stranger Things. If you told AI to make something as similar as possible to the demagorgan from Stranger Things this monster is probably what it would pump out. The flickering lights when it is around is exactly what happens in Stranger Things also.
Lastly, I started to have a bit of an issue on the subjectivity of when the monsters would show up. They seemed to react to some sounds when the movie writers needed them to and not when they didn't. The death of the father was also caused when a monster was basically waiting for him on a roof. The father (Krasinski) didnt even make a noise and yet was attacked. Obviously this needed to happen to tell the story they wanted to. However, at the very least to keep things consistent they could have made him make some sound at least that caused the initial attack on him. Yes, he did end up yelling to save his kids, but I am specifically referring to the monsters first slash on him.
Overall the movie was still very solid, just mostly minor issues.
Ambulance (2022)
More Frustrating Than Enjoyable
For a Michael Bay movie you are looking for something exhilarating as opposed to something that is necessarily realistic. The premise of the movie is intriguing in that Will joins his criminal brother in an attempt to raise money for his wife's medical treatment. The initial bank heist is entertaining, but then you look and see there's still 100 minutes left of screen time. A seemingly endless , repetitive chase scene ensues while character development is attempted. Despite this all we learn is that Danny is " a special breed" of criminal , whatever that means, and we learn bits about other characters that are supposed to get you to care about the characters more. We learn how Will was adopted into this crime family but never learn why and just see scenes of him playing with Danny when they're younger.
When the movie finally ends they try to justify horrific crimes based on people's reasons for committing them. They act like Will is actually some hero because he assisted in the make shift surgery to save the life of the cop that he himself shot. Also, ignoring the hundreds of deaths he's responsible for and the total destruction of LA. He was no hero at all, he went along with everything his brother did in the end.
Ultimately instead of being entertaining , it was just more frustrating than anything having to accept the character arcs. Not to mention the movie was at least an hour longer than the content required.