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Challengers (2024)
9/10
Thrilling to the end
28 April 2024
What an intriguing story. So (expectedly) perfectly acted and directed. Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor make up an unstoppable trio of destruction and lust. Constantly evolving yet always enthralling, the story weaves in and out of different periods of these people's lives, with a particular focus on the main tennis match serving as the hook. Luca Guadagnino has mastered the art of cinema. I don't know how else to explain his incredible achievements, one after another. The soundtrack, I think, was too loud in some parts, yet I also believe it ultimately *served* a purpose. I hope all three actors get nominated for Oscars next year, and I hope this movie is watched and adored by every movie lover out there. This was an unforgettable cinematic experience.
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9/10
I don't understand
7 March 2024
Sometimes you watch something and expect it to be amazing. This was me with this movie. The action is heightened and much more prominent than in the first film. The acting is still just as great, except now Zendaya gets a lot more screen time, so that's always a plus. Timothee Chalamet is always great, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin commit to their roles perfectly, and the new additions worked extremely well too. I didn't even realise that was Austin Butler until the end credits, tbh. I want to give particular praise to Rebecca Ferguson, who is amazing in every single role I have ever seen her in. Dave Bautista's character was, unfortunately, a huge letdown. He is such a good actor that I feel he deserves more of a spotlight. Lastly, I want to mention just how insane this man, Denis Villeneuve, is. I have seen almost all of his films, and I just don't understand how someone can make one huge masterpiece of a blockbuster after another. Blade Runner 2049 is such a perfect film with the perfect serious tone and action set pieces, and the funny thing is that I may as well have been describing Dune Part Two with those words. Just incredible, I look forward to a rewatch when I might give this film the perfect score.
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Suncoast (2024)
7/10
What is grief if not love persevering?
10 February 2024
Beautiful film. Grief is always an emotional topic to write about and portray in any form of media. There's so much that goes with it, and only those who have personally dealt with it can truly paint the right picture. The acting is all great, especially the main actor, Nico Parker, who does a great job. I saw her in The Last of Us last year, and she gets even more of a chance to prove her artistry here. It's at times difficult to get through, but there are those more lighthearted moments that delve into what it's like to be a teenager. I'm reminded of the Andrew Garfield interview he did with Stephen Colbert, where he talked about the grief he felt about his recently deceased mother. Grief is powerful, yet it is a representation of love and all that it encompasses.
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Barbie (I) (2023)
8/10
You are Kenough
20 July 2023
This movie is so much fun. It starts off really strong although the story does move away from "Barbieland" sooner than I would have liked. Nonetheless, it regains its footing with the final act in particular and I could not stop laughing at Ryan Gosling's portrayal of Ken. That song will forever be stuck in my head.

There are also plenty of good messages to be taken away from this experience, that is if you're not an insecure middle-aged male terrified of women. I loved everything the movie had to say about the patriarchy and barbies and growing up and consumerism and so much more.

I am excited to watch it again soon. The pacing is not perfect and its huge potential is not fully matched, but purely as a cinematic experience I will never forget this movie.
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9/10
Of course it's good. What else would you expect?
13 July 2023
I loved this film all the way through. Very intense from the first sequence to the last with outstanding action just as we've come to expect. Tom Cruise never disappoints.

All the locations are used incredibly well, the dialogue is more interesting than in any action film in recent memory, and the music is excellent. The car chase scene around the second act is absolutely wild in the best way possible. Some of the new characters were amazingly used, in particular I loved Pom Klementieff as Paris.

My two issues are that the most badass character Ilsa is not shining as she usually is and that I just can't tell the 'power differences' between characters. It's kind of difficult to tell who is stronger than whom and who is better at fighting, as the script sort of seems to shift that based on how the story should go.

See it in a big screen near you, you already know you won't regret it. Can't wait for Part Two.
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White Noise (I) (2022)
4/10
An Excruciating Nightmare
7 January 2023
I am a huge Noah Baumbach fan ergo I was quite excited for White Noise. His movies has always ignited some emotional spark within me, in particular I thought 'Marriage Story' was one of the best movies of 2019.

His newest film is quite interesting in all the worst ways. I was shocked at how excruciating it was to get through this nightmare of a movie. Through not-so-subtle attempts at asking some big questions about life and death and what it all means, the movie did help me with my own fear of death. If only for a moment, I certainly wished I was "experiencing" the eternal void that awaits us all because at least then I wouldn't be watching this film.

Adam Driver is expectedly great, and there most definitely was a little intrigue at the beginning of the film. I was unfortunately excited for what's next in this barren plot of stupidity. I haven't read the book this story is based upon, but if I were to read some of the dialogue I head in here in a book, I'd probably want to burn that book immediately and maybe also gouge my eyes out. I might watch some SpongeBob so I can get back to actually feeling something for the the characters on screen.
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The Walking Dead: Rest in Peace (2022)
Season 11, Episode 24
10/10
On a Final Note
23 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I want to write this review because I started watching The Walking Dead back in 2014 and since then I've watched pretty much every episode on its immediate release.

I didn't really know what to expect with this finale. Going into the last couple of episodes there were certain characters who I thought were for sure going to die any time now. When those predictions didn't come true I was a bit worried this final episode would be filled with death. I have missed Luke and I am glad he got a proper ending, though I'd have preferred he lived of course.

I was also very worried about Judith's situation, but I was hopeful that the moment of her reuniting with Rick is coming up soon. Now, I'm hoping that in the spin-off they finally get to meet after so long, along with the ever-quiet RJ. Now about Rosita. A character who seemed like her only purpose was to exist for the male gaze at first, she became one of my all-time favorites by the end. I was shocked when she fell into the walkers but then I was most definitely not expecting her being bitten after she got out of that situation. It absolutely shattered me, and her send-off was so beautifully heartbreaking too. Eugene has become a vital character and I can't believe thinking back to Seasons 4 and 5 and the positions these two were in.

The whole Commonwealth storyline has been only so-so. I think Season 9 is probably the best of the entire show. The 10th was still good but this last one with all the split-up eight episode sections sort of lost momentum a little. Nonetheless, The Walking Dead is one of my all-time favorite shows and I am so glad I never wavered in my loyalty to it.

Another thing I've noticed in this show's long run is that the community of fans who also remained loyal and kept watching after Season 7, feel like such a tight-knit community of people who just love these characters. I will look back fondly on every moment I spent watching this wonderful show. Thank you to everyone who worked on it.
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She Said (2022)
9/10
Unfathomable Bravery
21 December 2022
A few years ago a female friend of mine casually mentioned that one day when she was twelve and biking around the neighborhood, a grown man made sexually explicit comments to her. This kind of came as a shock to me at first but she didn't even seem phased by it. This encounter came up randomly as part of an everyday conversation we were having and, looking back at it, the most shocking part of the story was my reaction to it. Because now I have fully opened my eyes to the horrors of unwanted sexual comments and actions that women face from a very, very, young age.

While watching She Said, I had this passing thought about what the world would be like if Harvey Weinstein was the only one of his kind. If what happened here was the only instance of anything of this sort happening. Not just the abuse of power aspect of it all, but the constant degradation and use of women as objects to fulfill some devious need. Perhaps in that world, there wouldn't be so many people immediately rating movies like this with the lowest score possible because they feel personally offended in some way. What is it about discussing the experience of women that offends men so much? What is it about the patriarchy that rubs off on some women and pushes them to call other women liars at once?

She Said is a wonderfully directed film that delves deep into some of the ins and outs of the 'Me Too' movement at its conception. The wonderful work of all journalists, namely Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor is to be complimented to no end. They helped bring forth a much-needed shift in attitude, though unfortunately, some mindsets will never truly change. One of my favorite films of the year and I sure hope more people actually watch it and take it seriously rather than ignore it and hate it for speaking truth to power.
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8/10
Not only fun, but heartfelt too.
13 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This is genuinely one of my favorite films of the year. I hope it gets real recognition and people don't dismiss it as "just an animated film".

I've always liked DreamWorks films, with my favorite being How to Train Your Dragon 2, but after rewatching the first Puss in Boots movie, I wasn't expecting much for this sequel, eleven years after. I like the first installment for sure but it's certainly a lot simpler in story than I'd prefer. This one however, has such a rich emotional aspect to it that I truly felt something during it.

There were also certain scenes involving a wolf character that were quite creepy. I think kids will have a lot of fun with this movie, but at the core this is a story about family and understanding the value of things and/or people who are in front of you already. And that's a message that every person of any age can get something out of. The voice acting is top-notch and the animation is such a ridiculous step-up from the last time. This is such a cool direction to take this sequel into and I dug it all the way through.

There's really not much negative to say other than the ending feels like it should have been slightly more concise, but that's it. I loved it and I'll rewatch it as soon as it releases on VOD.
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4/10
I don't get it
3 December 2022
Look, I fully understand that the story of A Christmas Carol is very popular and just genuinely a great book of the time. Charles Dickens was quite the writer, which is so strange that every single person who ever thought about making a movie of any sort seems to want to try their hand at making an adaptation.

Why is it so hard to just let this go? We have so many great adaptations, with in my opinion the very underrated Disney's A Christmas Carol being one of the best. We just had 'Spirited' come out and that was a boring slugfest, but at least that movie tried to do something different with this same original story. This is so incredibly dull. The animation looks outdated already which is so strange.

The voice acting is the only decent thing about this to be honest. It's also, I suppose, not entirely dreadful. It's not so bad it's offensive to your eyes but also most definitely not worth your time. By the second-half of the movie I couldn't wait for it to be over.
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Aftersun (II) (2022)
9/10
Filmed memories
22 November 2022
One of the main reasons why I adore movies so much is the fact that these visualized stories can make me relate to situations I have never dealt with in my own life. I've cried for robots and aliens and human situations that I can only daydream about. All that to say; I've not lost anyone close to my heart yet. I am well aware of just how lucky I've been to not have to hang on to memories and old videos of people who mean so much to me.

However, Aftersun made me feel so much despite my experiences or lack thereof. The ability to put the audience in the shoes of a character fully should never be underestimated. This is a film that is not only deeply touching but so smart in the way it goes about telling its intimate story. Some people, like director Charlotte Wells, are so inherently talented that when they can put even a little of that talent in display it's a wonder to witness. Every shot feels personal, whether she went through this experience herself or not, her directing complements her writing so beautifully. The story reveals itself bit by bit. The heartache only grows stronger as the runtime goes on. And the ending in particular is so powerful that it's kinda mind-blowing to realize just how much is achieved in such a low-budget film. Perhaps the fact that the movie feels grander than it actually is speaks to just how similar human beings are to one another. The fact that no matter where we're from or what we've gone through personally at some level deep down we can all relate somehow. There's just something so utterly heartbreaking when you realize that the more attached you're growing to these characters the more everything hurts.

I can't imagine a better film than this will come out for the remainder of 2022, but who knows really. Another thing to mention is that Aftersun will likely grow on me even more on subsequent watches, which I am so looking forward to. Nearly perfect piece of art.
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5/10
Exhaustive
30 October 2022
World War films seemingly will never stop being made and remade. This is yet another attempt at putting the audience in the shoes of the soldiers who went through hell during that unfortunate time.

However, at some point somebody needs to put an end to this boring madness. All Quiet on the Western Front is exhaustive to get through. The entirety of the two-and-a-half hours is just bleak.

There is absolutely nothing new offered here. Naturally, people will eat it up because the cinematography looks cool and the soldiers in the field of war once again talk about their families and wives back home to create some cheap emotional connection with the watcher, but it's all been done before.

The acting is good, the movie looks good, the battle scenes are decent, but at what point do people realize that we're just watching the same story over and over? There have been plenty of better iterations of WW. I simply don't care to see people getting crushed by tanks yet again, it doesn't hit me emotionally at all anymore. I've seen enough heads get torn up by bullets in literally hundreds of other war films. Let's move on.
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The Stranger (II) (2022)
7/10
A Very Competent Film
19 October 2022
I've recently watched a bunch of low budget horror and thriller films due to the fact that we're in October right now, but one slugfest after another brought me to The Stranger.

I had planned to watch this as soon as it released on Netflix as I trust Joel Edgerton's film choices more than most others, but I wasn't expecting it to be this dark. It really is a dreadful ride of two depressing hours with zero light in sight. Perfectly acted, Sean Harris does a wonderful job and as more and more of his character is revealed; his acting becomes all that more intriguing.

A really good film but not one I will rewatch a lot. Great ending in particular though.
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Blonde (2022)
3/10
Disjointed nightmare
29 September 2022
The whole movie feels like a nightmare that you can't wait to forget about. Who on earth thought it was a good idea to devote so much time to Marilyn having literal conversations with fetuses? What disgusting writing.

The entire film is deeply exploitative and there's barely anything good here. The set designs are nice and the acting is serviceable, but my goodness, had Hollywood actually judged male directors based on performance; Andrew Dominik would never work on another film in his life.

What an insult to anyone who has ever cared about the legendary Marilyn Monroe. Let's hope one day someone will finally get her story right and not just turn her into an object like the media did during her lifetime. Not much has changed apparently.
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4/10
First three episodes
28 July 2022
*Insert movie reference* This show is clearly written by people who have no idea how kids talk or act. Shocking I know, yet another teen show written by out-of-touch adults.

*Insert movie reference* The "relationships" are all so incredibly dull that every second spent on these hollow boyfriends is a waste or life.

*Insert movie reference* None of the main characters are interesting either. There's so little worth paying attention to here. The killer is neither scary nor intriguing.

Oh and almost forgot, let me *insert movie reference* here so I can do the show justice. The character of Tabitha is one of the worst written teenagers ever put to screen.
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The Gray Man (2022)
6/10
Bland
22 July 2022
The Gray Man isn't terrible by any means, it's just very bland, and that's somehow worse. The Russo brothers have failed continuously to show that they can make a good movie outside the MCU.

There's nothing to hold on to here. Everyone will forget this movie came out at all a few months from now. Chalk this up as one more failure from a company that has no idea how to run its business as the subscription numbers keep sinking.
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7/10
Good but better in theory
7 May 2022
This movie has some ideas that sound great when you think about them but execution here is not great. I really liked the new character America Chavez and Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda / Scarlet Witch is always perfect, but on the other hand the visual effects were really lacking. It's like whatever great this movie did there was something almost as equally not. Ultimately, I enjoyed the experience and am looking forward to see what's next for these characters.
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My Fiona (2021)
8/10
Heartbreaking
26 November 2021
I watched this on my birthday, and it broke my heart all throughout. I was not expecting it to be so hard hitting emotionally, and it's all in the incredible performances.

By the end I could barely see the screen through my tears. And to add to the hurt, I had no idea that this was Jaenette Maus' last role before she died. Great movie, but I don't know if I can watch it again.
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9/10
Stories transcend everything
26 May 2021
It's hard to put emotion into words sometimes, and this movie made it even harder for me. Just brilliant all throughout. It's fascinating how stories can make us feel like we're going through scenarios that we may have never been or might never go through personally. I hard tears by the end.

Amazing directing, dialogue and especially terrific acting. Patti Harrison has my heart now.
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Mare of Easttown: Poor Sisyphus (2021)
Season 1, Episode 4
9/10
I'm obsessed.
10 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
What great writing. For someone like me who adores slow detective mystery dramas, this show is legit paradise.

The acting is absolutely incredible. This show single handedly is making Kate Winslet one of my fave actors ever. I've been following Angourie Rice's career ever since 'The Nice Guys', and I'm so amazed of how far she's come.

I wish I could speed up time till next Sunday just to watch the next episode. Got a few theories of my own as to who is what. Excited to see if they pan out.
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Generation: Gays and Confused (2021)
Season 1, Episode 5
10/10
Out of nowhere
19 March 2021
Wow this episode sort of came out of nowhere. Why was it so good and why were the previous four episodes so mediocre? To me, this episode works so well purely because it only concentrates on the three best characters on the show by far. Chester, Riley and Greta are easily the most interesting of the bunch. Sorry to say but, Naomi and Arianna have ZERO redeeming qualities to them. Every second spent on them feels like such a waste. On the other hand I like Nathan but the writers have not done him justice at all so far. Looking forward to the next few episodes now that I am actually enjoying it.
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9/10
Never thought we'd be here
18 March 2021
After many-a-struggles, we finally have the only version of Justice League even worth spending a second thinking about as far as I'm concerned. Can't believe that I just experienced 4 hours of pure joy. Although to be fair, considering how much I love Man of Steel and BvS UE, Zack Snyder could have released anything and I would have appreciated it. Thankfully though, this also happens to be really good. I love that now I have a trilogy of epic superhero-ness within the DC Universe that I can watch and enjoy anytime. My only wish is that Zack gets another movie to conclude all the little plot points that he set up here by the end. Either way I am happy now. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.
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The Walking Dead: One More (2021)
Season 10, Episode 19
9/10
I don't take this for granted
16 March 2021
With TWD ending soon and the whole pandemic going on, I don't take these special episodes for granted at all. The acting in this one especially was absolutely incredible. I am glad these two overlooked characters got to shine more. Can't wait for the next three episodes.
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I Care a Lot (2020)
8/10
Rosamund Pike you've done it again.
19 February 2021
This movie is absolutely incredible to me, and the story kept me invested all throughout. I'm not sure what the general opinion of people on this movie is as of yet, but personally I loved it. Rosamund Pike gives yet another great performance which we've all come to expect at this point. It's a very entertaining movie with great performances from everyone, that's also going to piss off a lot of incels. I couldn't ask for anything more.
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Come Away (2020)
5/10
My first time in a cinema in almost a year
7 January 2021
Sort of hard to believe that I've survived this long without going to a cinema but finally I decided to catch this film on its opening day where I live. Thankfully for my health though, I was literally the only person in the cinema. Now, the movie itself is very cute, I like the actors and they try to include a couple of already-known and intersect them with each other, it only works so-so. I find it hard to believe anyone could hate on this film, it's definitely not that good but also it's just meh and I am sure kids younger than me will enjoy it.
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