Longlegs - 6.5/10 I had some reservations about this on first watch, and somehow, a rewatch has both solidified my feelings on those reservations while also making them not stick out like a sore thumb. I stand by what I say about Perkins begin a far better director than a writer; visually, this is a gorgeously unsettling film with some exceptional shots and imagery. I still wish there wasn't nonsensical southern accents in Washington state or dialogue like, "He worships Satan, but in the United States of American, it's his right to do so," but as a whole, Longlegs is a fun thrill ride (more fun than you'd expect) that feels relatively unique, even if its reach often exceeds its grasp. I Saw the TV Glow - 10/10 ...And a rewatch of this has confirmed it to be my favorite film of the year, and it isn't particularly close. The word important used to get thrown out a lot ("This is important"), and maybe it still does, but I can't exaggerate how important this film feels, the way it's capable of connecting with anyone regardless of gender dysphoria or sexuality that built much of their identity upon niche media at an early age. I'm not sure what else I can highlight that I didn't already mention in my original review, but this horror-flavored coming of age story is plays more like profound love letter equal parts funny and harrowing. It's essential viewing.
Caught a showing of the new Seven Samurai 4k restoration, it rocked and looked great. Tightest 3.5hr movie ever, and every shot of Kambei and the boys laughing together gave me spirit healing
Jason X - 4/10 On rewatch, I get it more. It's camp and satire to an extent, but also not enough of either to make it as fun as it should be. A lot of the dialogue, humor, and the digital effects in particular have aged like milk, making this look like a SyFy Original. There's a section in the middle that is literally just a collection of kill scenes that seemingly find Jason teleporting around the ship, which sounds great in theory, but feels disconnected in tandem with the rest of the movie's issues. Hell, even Manfedini's score sounds cheap. A fun premise in theory that is obviously in on the joke, but only delivers about half the time. Jason X is often laughable, but not in the ways you're hoping for. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors - 8/10 Very close to approaching the quality fo the original film. Not unlike the first sequel, Dream Warriors introduces some new rules and dream logic that don't always come together, and it starts to do a little too much in its final act, but the film takes so many swings with its inventive kills and ambitious visual effects that it's almost never boring. Add a young all-star cast and you've got one of the best horror sequels of the 80s. Lagenkamp is a star. Coma - 7.5/10 An unbelievably cozy medical chiller from Michael Crichton, featuring lead performances from Genevieve Bujold and Michael Douglas, both of whom are very young and very game. We don't get a lot of horror-thrillers set in medical spaces anymore, and while I wish we did, I simply know it could never approach the vibe of a time and place film like this. Bujold is on a wild goose chase for the truth, surrounded by men who don't believe her (often out of convenience). I never realized how capable of a director Crichton was. It's not a perfect film by any means, but the vibes alone make up for any minor gripes. I can't wait to rewatch this in the future. North By Northwest - 8.5/10 Another Hitchcock blind spot that is, for all intents and purposes, great. Screenwriter Lehman set out to write "the Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures" and he certainly succeeded. It's missing a bit of the usual weirdness we associate with Hitchcock, but is about as twisty and turny as anything in his filmography. Lehman might actually be the star here, delivering fun, proto-Spielbergian writing and dialogue that is filled with adventure (for lack of a better word), delivered expertly by Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint. It's a real movie's movie; the biplane scene is an obvious highlight, but so is the scene in the Mount Rushmore guest center. My jaw dropped at the closing train gag. Conner O'Malley: Stand Up Solutions - 8.5/10 After this year's Coreys, I was left wondering if Hollywood would ever be brave enough to give us a Conner O'Malley feature film. Would it be too much? Is the public ready? Am I ready? There's only one way to find out, cowards. Until then, I suppose this free hour-long comedy special on Youtube will have to tide us over. It's the best of the year, after all. He is chaos, he is grace.
dang, you watch like a dozen movies in the time it takes me to finish (re)watching a 24ep season of anime
Dark Waters - 9/10 as someone who claims West Virgina as the closest thing to a home state (thanks to being a military brat) this movie was tailor made to fuck my shit up
Tbf a lot of movies just build up in my phone for like a week and then I write about them all at once. I also was driving myself insane by forcing myself to write about everything I watched, even rewatches, but I finally stopped doing that because I got too swamped. Hence, no reviews for WNUF Halloween Special, Out There Halloween Mega Tape, or Day of the Dead, all 8.5-9/10s.
I've seen both Sicaros and while I think 2 is deeply flawed, I can see someone appreciating it; can't say I remotely agree with it being better than 1 tho
I liked the plot more in the second. Them trying to start a war by kidnapping the daughter of Mexico’s president, only to end up protecting her and trying to get past the border is a simple, but great story. The story in the first is great as well, but Benicio getting revenge for his family wasn’t as cathartic for me as Josh showing up and denying orders to save Isabel (because he thought Benicio was dead and wanted to do right for his friend) at the end of the second film. Wish they’d hurry up with the third film.
Greenland (2020) Pleasantly surprised. Some questionable acting and VFX, but overall worth the watch. Liked how it stayed mostly grounded and wasn’t just disaster porn.
Life (2017) - put this on while I was working, was pleasantly surprised at how bleak the ending went, and always happy to see Hiroyuki Sanada show up in something. Otherwise everything else about it was totally fine, completely mid sci-fi. Actually if you’ve never seen Alien, you might love it lol
Ok So The Killer's Game was obviously written by AI. I never make that joke, but this obviously is a test for studios. How is the audience score so high?
The Substance 9/10 Had to turn my head away multiple times in this one, the irony is my partner who hates body horror picked this.
Transformers ONE - 8.5/10 I went into this knowing almost nothing about Transformers lore. It’s a prequel showing the origin of Optimus Prime and Megatron on Cybertron, so no humans. Amazing animation and just a good ole sci-fi story. I never got into the cartoon and live action movies, but this ruled.
I thought about seeing it because I like Bautista and Boutella but...yeah that's gonna wait for streaming.
Genuinely don't understand how it got made. It's the most generic bullshit ever. I'm saying this for your sake. Don't watch it. It's not even good or funny bad, it's just bad.