What did you watch this week eh? (06/05-06/11)

Moshi moshi and good evening.

The Batman (2022): I was fine with the slow burn detective story and didn't mind most of the preposterous creative decisions like the ones you mentioned. My main dig was that Batman still solves riddles like he extensively reads Highlights magazine. Most of the solutions rely on elementary wordplay. Still a fun step in a distinct new direction for the comic series. Colin Farrell is a laugh riot as a Dick Tracy villain. 8

The Game plan (2007): I saw this movie the year it came out, but I remember very little beyond the setup. Such were the dark times of The Rock's movie career. 5.5 sounds about right. 5.5

Black Panther (2018): There's a lot here that bucks the Marvel formula, and yet a lot of its technical aspects are so bland in the sense that it follows a corporate mandated pattern. Come on, look at that final fight scene. I've seen from more than a few sources that the various VFX teams had a real short turnaround because of the production schedule, though. One of the best Disney Marvel movies regardless. 8/10


Selections from this week:

Hidden Palms (2007 TV series) - What an odd microcosm of prime time teenage soaps stuffed into eight episodes. Think of if The OC moved 90 minutes eastward and had a more even emphasis on the parental drama alongside the "teens". There are a lot of alcoholic traits spread across most of the characters, which is spot on for Palm Springs. The fact that this has all the elements of a successful series yet lasted only eight episodes is something I attribute to the lead actor's casting. Kind of a death knell to rest the entire series on the shoulders of someone who is both whiny and doughy. Still, a solid watch available in full on Tubi. 6.5

Side Out (1990) - This comfort viewing of familiar locales was just what I needed after a particularly stressful week. Nothing like a sun-drenched coke-fueled movie centering around volleyball culture (is that even a thing?). C. Thomas Howell thanklessly pilots the lead role while Peter Horton steals the show as the scruffy veteran beach volleyball athlete. With some fine supporting work from Courtney Thorne-Smith and Terry Kiser, this provides some middling amusement leading up to a very engaging finale. 6

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) - If you've seen the Jean-Claude Van Johnson series, you might have an idea how this goes down. Even so, I found the sheer amount of punches and weird choices to be immensely satisfying. I'm still in awe of what was pulled off here. 8

Almost Summer (1978) - Look at this glorious piece of art. Here we have a shoddily produced late '70s hang-out movie that still manages to thread several cohesive stories however thin they may be. 7

Decoy (1946) - Saw this on a whim. A saucy and visually engaging potboiler. 7.5

Yay!!!

Yours
Black Panther 8/10

My week was mostly rewatches again.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010) 7/10
I'm sorry, but I don't hate this movie. I used to play this, and Aladdin on Sega when I was a younger. The obvious white washing/British accent issues aside, for a movie based on an old video game, it's silly and it's fun. That's all I really ask from this type of movie. Just to be entertained. And I was. Plus, I really need to say how fantastic the men in this movie looked with black eyeliner.

Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021) 6/10
So I'm watching this after watching all the other PA movies, and I still feel pretty much the same as I did the first time I watched this. I think that making this a PA movie was completely unnecessary. While I don't dislike the concept of this film, PA was about Toby. For me this is just another FF movie that includes a demon possession. This was a slightly above average FF movie, but it did little to build tension in the first 3/4s.

The Dare (2019) 5.75/10
Over all this wasn't a bad revenge movie. There was some gore, and the idea was okay, but it just felt lacking. I didn't really care about any of the characters. Like none of them. Hated the end.

A Necessary Death (2008) 7/10
I think this was really well done. It does touch on the morality of documentary film making, although I thought it could have gone even deeper there. Although perhaps that might a topic for an actual documentary? I felt it did lose the narrative slightly, and there were parts where I felt my interest wane a little. I did expect the ending, so I wasn't shocked, nor did I feel anything about it. It was well acted, and well put together. I'm glad I watched it.

My Own Private Idaho (1991) 8/10
Although I hadn't seen this in years, I still really liked it. I know that the Shakespearianesque dialogue can be off-putting for some, but I think it just adds to the quirkiness of this. This is a road trip movie, a love story, a story about heartbreak. I hate to be cliché and lament the loss of River Phoenix, but even seeing this before his passing, I still thought he was amazing in it. It's a visual treat, both for the cast and the cinematography.

The Voyeurs (2021) 7/10
They really don't make too many erotic thrillers anymore, do they? I did enjoy it. It was very twisty, but I wish it would have been a little more sleazy. The social commentary didn't quite work for me, nor did all the twists. But I also did like the twists, just because I didn't see them all coming. That's not common, so bonus points for that.

Love in Store 2020 (6/10)
Watched this for Alexandra Breckenridge, and Robert Buckley, as I find their Hallmark movies less disappointing than some of the others. The plot here was very, very paint by numbers, but I did feel the chemistry between the those two, so really, that's what I want from a Hallmark romance.

Corporate Animals (2019) 5/10
"If women can't be as horrible as men, then what's fucking feminism for?"

I think I prefer Patrick Brice directed movies which Patrick Brice wrote. I didn't hate this. I just didn't really like it either. The comedy was mostly a miss for me. I think it could have been a lot of fun as a short, but at 86 minutes, it just dragged too much for me.

The Running Man (1987) 8/10
Full disclosure, on it's merits, this movie doesn't deserve this rating. It gets this rating because I have fun watching it, and I keep returning to watch it every few years or so. It's cheesy, schlocky, corny, and even has some cringey moments, but what can I say? I really like it.

Thanks to Kowaski, I watched not only the Running Man, but also today Total Recall, and Predator.

I saw Nightmare Allley (2021): great film, dark and sad for the main character of the film. I never saw the original but I think this is a pretty great film. My rating is 7.5-8 and can't wait for the next Del Toro project.
And another movie that I watched was Life (2017): pretty good flick that went straight to the point which is don't trust or mess up with alien forms that you don't know. My rating is also a 7.5.
That's all I saw, I might watch some more movies next week and a couple of them I have in mind are: The Northman (2022), The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), The Last Duel (2021) and Dune (2021). If anyone in here wants me another suggestion let me know and also if any of these movie deserve more privilege over the other. Thanks!

Eh there!

The Batman 8/10
The Game plan 7/10
Black Panther 8/10


I watched:

Sing 2 2021 8/10 Cute, colourful and fun.

Fire Island 2022 6/10 We need more LGBTQ rom coms, so I appreciate what they are going for here, but I found this a little underwhelming and disappointing. The narration didn't work for me, the screenplay wasn't great, and I found several of the characters annoying and not very likeable. There are a couple fun moments, but it isn't very funny. I did like the ending though.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent 2022 8/10 This was a lot of fun. Nicolas Cage is fantastic here in this entertaining, funny and witty wild ride.

Hustle 2022 6/10 Sandler is good and the film is fine, but it is a pretty predictable and basic sports drama.

Heathers 1989 6/10 Winona Ryder is great, but for me the film is just alright. I don't think this is as smart or witty as it is trying to be.

Crimes of the Future 2022 8/10 This was weird. I am also weird, so I liked it. I thought the screenplay was smart and well written. Performances were good, especially Viggo Mortensen and Kristen Stewart. I would rank this as David Cronenberg's 8th best film and rate it an 8/10. If you are a weirdo who enjoys weird movies (like me), you should check it out.

Being Two Isn’t Easy 1962 7/10 A sweet film with an adorable protagonist.

Daughters of Darkness 1971 7/10 Some good fun moments.

Babes in Arms 1939 6/10 This is pretty uneven. There are some good moments, but also some parts that fall flat. There are some sequences that did not age well at all and are pretty cringe worthy (to say the least).

Girl Crazy 1943 6/10 I didn't find the story very interesting and the film wasn't as entertaining as it could have been. There were a couple fun scenes though.

The Exorcist Season 2 on Hulu - very good but not as good as Season 1 in my opinion.

Hannibal Season 1 - very interesting and intense!

The Batman was better than expected 7.5/10

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974) - Campy Hammer film at its best. With that said I can still only give it a 6.5/10.

River of No Return (1954) - Robert Mitchum saves this movies. Preminger's only western and it misses the mark. The storyline is stupid. Also watch it for the very beautiful Marilyn Monroe. 6.5/10

The Stepford Wives (1975) - First time seeing this. You can cut up the plot but I loved the premise. I can understand the controversy this generated back in the day. Good ending and some good performances. 7/10

I thought I had already posted!

Movies

-The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
A silly movie with a very silly Leonardo DiCaprio, but still watchable.

TV Series.

-The Cosby Mysteries - Episodes 12+13

-Monk - marathon

-The Bold and the Beautiful - marathon of very old episodes