Reviews

I would give "X" a 6.5 if I could, as I do think it's above average, but not good enough to warrant a 7 or above. This is not a bad film at all, it's just simply not up my alley.

The characters, while excellently acted, are rather bland and we don't learn much about them before they are killed off. The main antagonists weirdly enough have more substance than the main group we're supposed to care about. The film is also slightly annoying in that it pretends to be deeper than what it really is, which again, wouldn't be an issue if the leads had some more meat. The characters are not bad, just lacking.

Other than that, the film gets almost everything right. The cinematography is as excellent as we've come to expect from an A24 production. The atmosphere of the film is extremely well done. The pacing is masterful. This film is only roughly 1hr40min, yet it still manages to build up to the action much more satisfyingly than big budget action flicks. Due to the great pacing and great special effects, the kills have excellent payoff even in their at-times campy brutality. The wardrobe was eye-catching and period accurate. Lastly, the acting is great. Everyone gave a stellar performance and worked well with what they were given.

So overall do I think "X" is a good film? Yes. Is it a film I will be returning to? No. This isn't the kind of horror I am tantalized by, but I do recommend it for people who are into the slasher genre and want to see it take on a more arthouse vibe.

I will be giving "Pearl" a watch though!

This is an enemies-to-lovers/rivals-to-lovers rom-com mixed with a pretend-relationship. It had potential, as this sort of red-lover-blue-lover thing has been done before, but this film severely missed the mark. Enemies-to-lovers and pretend-relationship are two of my favorite tropes.

Part of what makes enemies-to-lovers intriguing is two people from opposite ends learning about each other and growing. Enemies-to-lovers is frequently done poorly because writers think they can just have two attractive leads snarl at each other laced with sexual tension for two-hours and that's it. But no, part of what is great about E-to-L is the character development.

At the beginning of this movie Luke is a conservative-republican type military man. Cassie is supposed to be an ultra-progressive leftist type. By the end of the movie, neither one of these characters have fundamentally changed in any great way. They find things to like about each other and just simply ignore what they don't like about each other. Part of the pretend-relationship trope that is appealing is the couple gradually developing real feelings for each other. Luke and Cassie falling in legitimate love came out of left field.

And then there's other aspects of the film that just don't sit right with me. One character is a stone racist and misogynist, who is called out once, and the person doing the calling-out is made to be the one in the wrong... because being racist and sexist are totally acceptable I guess? Also Frankie, the only character that is actually likable in this film, gets an ending that I don't appreciate at all.

I get why most people are highly critical of Cassie's singing. However there was so much already wrong with the film, that the singing was far from a major flaw.

I gave this film a 5 because while I overall don't like it, there are some things that benefit it, making it an average film. The acting is perfectly fine. The portrayal of diabetes was better than I expected. The subject of the faults within the American healthcare system is treated with the seriousness it needs.

Overall, "Purple Hearts" is a film that doesn't live up to its potential. Story-wise, this film feels more like an outline than an actual finished project. A deeper understanding of what makes the relationship tropes it wants to depict would have greatly benefitted this film.

I had absolutely no positive expectations for "Eternals" other than some good performances from the cast. I expected this to be a throw-away MCU movie used to introduce a new high-power gang of superheroes that would ultimately lack in style and substance, even with Chloe Zhao behind the wheel.

What I got was a truly good movie, and one of the best Phase 4 has got to offer. I don't mean that in a snarky "Phase 4 has been bad, therefore it's one of the best by default." The movie is legitimately good.

There is so much heart and care put into all of these characters. You really believe their bond. Yes, it is a bit silly to show beings who've been around for multiple millennia over the course of a couple of hours, but they truly do make you believe that they love and care for each other as family. In a movie like this: that matters. When they split up, argue and betray each other, you feel it.

This movie also does well with exploring morality and responsibility in a way that doesn't just make it "Civil War" 2.0. Every character's stance on the issue at hand is treated seriously. It isn't just one side vs the other, there's room for contemplation. Of course, in the end, humanity is saved, but it's not a cut-and-dry issue and even after the fact their is consideration of what the right thing is.

And lastly, this is one of the most gorgeous MCU films to date. Stylistically, this is miles ahead of most MCU films. The sheer amount of scale in some scenes was enough to make my jaw drop. Color is important, but it doesn't beat you over the head with candy-colored overload, which as it's place, but not in a movie like this.

This isn't a movie for everyone, especially in terms of MCU superhero films. The movie handles some heavy themes in a way that is not very palatable to kids. There is not a lot of humor, and it really does up the drama in exchange for the lighthearted nature of MCU films. This is not a typical MCU film, it breaks the formula. If you come into this expecting something along the same lines of "Thor: Ragnarok" or "Guardian of the Galaxy" you will be very disappointed.

My main issue is the character of Sprite. Some aspects of Sprite are well handled, and then some aren't. The emotions behind her actions make sense, and are very well conveyed, but the actions in and of themselves are not fully justified enough to make sense.

Overall, I'm looking forward to more "Eternals" content.

Based off initial reviews I was expecting to walk out of the theater demanding my money back from Marvel and Disney, but that was far from the case! "Love and Thunder" isn't on the same level as "Ragnarok" but it is far from the MCUs worst. While the plot could have used more work, and the rise of Jane could have been developed more, this was still a fun and humorous viewing experience with great visuals, especially in the costume department. All of the actors do a good job, and it's especially fun to see Natalie Portman in a superhero roll.

Everything about this show was excellent in concept and execution. Writing, casting, acting, directing, cinematography ect... were great. A true tour de force of visual media. The show contains such sensible and intellectual ideas about grief and family that makes it so hopeful in the end, despite being gut-wrenching and terrifying. Although this is supernatural horror, it is well grounded in reality, even more than some "realistic" horror films.

I have re-watched this show about 4 times, and I will be watching it many more times in the future. I can't recommend "The Haunting of Hill House" enough.

This movie wants to be "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "Risky Business" and "American Pie" but it misses the mark severely and just doesn't have what made those other films good or even great. It's shock-value for the sake of shock-value and gross for the sake of being gross. There is no real heart or soul in this film. The characters are stereotypical for the sake of being stereotypical with no real cleverness or subversion happening. This film could have also really benefitted greatly from a script doctor, because so much of this comes off as low-budget fodder that a production company shoots out to fill their yearly quota. I do not blame the author of the novel this is based off of for disavowing this film.

Also I'm so sick of this "blaming a teenager for a grown adult perusing them sexually" trope. It is udder nonsense. It sends a horrid message that absolves any responsibility from the adults at hand who should know better than to actively seek out to be with a minor.

Overall, "Behaving Badly" had potential, but the creators behind the scenes clearly didn't care about fulfilling any of it.

When I first saw the premise and promos for "Nocturne" I expected a "Black Swan" inspired film with some cool stylistic choices, gorgeous classical music and at a good performance from Sydney Sweeney.

Needless to say, it has all of those things.

It's not a spectacular masterpiece or anything. And Sweeney has acted in more challenging roles than this one, but it's not by any means horrendous. The movie is quite watchable and well paced. The only major grievance I have with it is the ending, which is vague and confusing and not in a good way. Overall, a decent watch I don't regret.

Not going to lie, I really felt like season 2 had been slugging along, however this marks the true turning point. One of the best "Euphoria" episodes to date. Every emotional and visual beat is hit expertly. The acting in this episode is especially good, with Zendaya at the forefront displaying once again that her acting chops are not to be questioned.

"Black Widow" is one of the most well thought-out movies to come out of Marvel, and also one of the darkest. A great throwback to the espionage themes in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" was a good choice given Natasha's spy-roots.

We get the chance to see one of the biggest splotches of red in Natasha's ledger, and how she attempts to wipe it clean. The deep-dive into her past is also extremely well done, and twists and turns that occur are not at all forced. The action, especially the fight-choreography is some of the best to come out of a Marvel film. As expected, it's very "show-y" but very practical, brutal and extremely well acted. I could easily see some people seeing/enjoying this film strictly for the well crafted fighting.

While it would be easy to make a film about an aloof spy very cold and void of emotion, "Black Widow" carries much heart with laments on family, and how overwhelming and shocking it can be to confront ones past. The acting is especially well at conveying this; I would argue all of the mains are worthy of awards.

Overall "Black Widow" is a great espionage-acting film that has a lot of heart in the miss, and definitely worth the watch. My only major regret is that this wasn't released sooner.

"Euphoria" takes a twisted reality and makes it euphoric...or as Euphoric as it can be. In truth, it is a show about the darkest aspects of life, especially while being a teenager.

It is hyper-realistic. A lot of it is the TV-version of things, but what keeps it from going into "absolutely ridiculous" territory is that it stays grounded. By no means is it Saturday Morning Cartoons PSA, but then again I'm pretty sure that's not what the show was aiming for. It's aiming for a deep-dive into the mentality of several teens and giving insight into who they are, and why they are that way. Euphoria is able to achieve this with really great writing and excellent actors. I especially appreciate the story of a teenage drug addict free of cliches, because that is rarely an arc that is treated properly. The gritty is gritty and the innocence is long gone.

A large criticism is the sex in the show - to which I say, I can't remember a time when sex has ever been accurately portrayed in any media. So singling out Euphoria alone isn't really fair. My personal criticism of the show is that at times it feels like every other TV-MA show out there: it plays on negative emotions; and when a good moment does happen, it is painfully obvious that it won't happen because something terrible will undercut it.

Other than that, "Euphoria" is pretty great. I can't praise the actors enough. The cinematography and styling makes for highly aesthetically pleasing and unique color palette.

Like all Marvel movies, "Captain Marvel" does not short-hand on the fun nature that is natural to superhero films. All of the action scenes and special affects are done very well, and the mix with practical affects keeps them grounded.

The story of the main protagonist is entertaining, though confusing at times and could have used a bit of polishing. Brie Larson's performance is perfectly fine given the character's history within the established universe. The performances from the supporting cast of Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Menedelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Jude Law, and the rest are all great and believable. The de-aging done on Jackson and Clark Gregg is pretty much seamless.

The core messages of the films were well done. The first being about the use of war, and reflecting on how we often dehumanize those we view as threats during it. The secondary message, and more obvious, is the one of getting back up no matter how many times you fall in life, no matter your background. The messages were sentimental, but tastefully done and not at all out of step for a Marvel film.

I went into "The Last Jedi" expecting one of two things: a "repeat" of "The Empire Strikes Back" or something completely new for "Star Wars." I would have been satisfied with either, but what I got was a surprising mix of the two, and honestly I couldn't be happier.

While I loved "The Force Awakens" and thought it was a stellar film, a lot of the criticism towards it was that it was on "repeat" a lot of the time. I understand, I mean a lot of people don't want extra "Star Wars" films to begin with (especially after the prequels) so to see "A New Hope" resurrected was probably bizarre and unwarranted for many.

I am not an Original Trilogy Purist, so I'm always open to new "Star Wars" movies where new ideas can be flourished and "The Last Jedi" doesn't disappoint. It doesn't lean to heavy on "The Empire Strikes Back" like everyone thought it would, I'd say it borrows a lot more from "Return of the Jedi" with the themes of such things as master vs apprentice but there are scenes that rhyme from "The Empire Strikes Back" in there as well. Those were all great, but what "The Last Jedi" great is that it extends the knowledge of what we know about the "Star Wars" universe even more, we explore more about the history of the Jedi, the limitations (or lack there of) of the force, as well as seeing old characters come back with much broader and nuanced beliefs. I found myself truly fascinated at some points of the film.

It has all of the things that makes "Star Wars" appealing: the lightsaber battles, the battle between good and evil and force usage. It's not lacking in those departments and they make good usage of them as well, keeping them exciting and clever.

There are some wasted opportunities, the side-plot with Finn and Rose could have been much better and they lost a lot of creative opportunities to really make that side plot stand out, as well as make it more cohesive, but the climax and ending to the side plot I found really entertaining; almost making up for it's less great parts.

Many people will claim the film is "too different" to be enjoyable, but for those I'd say, you should have payed attention. One of the very explicitly stated messages in this film, that even gets stated by a beloved character (won't spoil) is that it's time to move on, and create a world with new challenges and ideals. I for one am on board with it.

"I, Tonya" kept me entertained from the first second to the last. The acting in this film is brilliant; Alison Janney as LaVona Golden shines in one of her best roles yet. Margot Robbie is phenomenal, and Sebastian Stan pulls it off brilliantly. The movie overall is extremely well acted, even if you're not keen on the story line or Tonya Harding herself, I think most could agree the actors are well immersed in their roles.

The movie offers a different perspective on the notorious incident that happened in 1994 where Nancy Kerrigan was unfortunately assaulted by a hit man who based in her knee where she suffered severe bruising. The attack was then linked to Tonya, since it was her husband, Jeff Gilooly, who hired the hit man.. The movie explores what was going through her head at the time it all went down, as well as all of the layers that was going down that Tonya didn't even know about. In the end, it shows a fresher perspective on the issue, as well as, sees Tonya in a slightly more sympathetic light than other ways media presented her.

Aside from the incident, the movie deeply explores Tonya's past, her heated relationship with her mother and the physically abusive one she had with her now ex-husband. The film also exposes how people who didn't grow up conventional are treated in the world of figure skating, and how that put's people like Tonya at a disadvantage. It's a very griping and raw film, the dialogue, editing, and performances are all stellar; I highly recommend it.

Wonder Woman is great! When the first trailer was released I was quite pumped already. I've always liked Wonder Woman and it was great to finally see her in the silver screen with today's effects and all.

Wonder Woman is a great hero. She's strong, intuitive, and tough while still being both compassionate and kind which was essential to her original character; and this movie keeps true to that. Diana in this movie has those same characters and Gal Dadot's performance was very believable.

The movie is essentially an origin story which can be hit or miss. The DC Extended Universe movies have not been well received at all, but more on this later. The movie's color scheme is quite clever, showing the island Diana grew up on as a very bright and beautiful with everything outside of it being dark and dreary. It captures the intensity and grit of war, especially the time it takes place in, World War I. There's even a scene where they go into the trenches and it's quite authentic. There isn't a single filler character, even the side characters of the group of soldiers she links up with are entertaining and add a lot of flavor to the movie. My only nitpick is that the music seemed all over the place.

This is also a great return for DC movies. As I mentioned before recent DC movies, such as "Man of Steel", "Batman V Superman" and "Suicide Squad" (a movie I actually liked for just how fun it was) weren't greatly reciprocated and for good reasons. But "Wonder Woman" nails everything that DC movies in the past were great: balancing comedy and intensity. The movie doesn't have that many comedic moments towards the end but it does have that balance very well in the beginning and the movie benefits because of it.

In the end, I highly recommend this film. I feel that it's one most people should enjoy, especially those who have been disappointed by DC movies over the past couple of movies.

When I first saw Twilight I was around eleven or twelve, and I loved it and didn't see what everyone else has problems with. Now that I'm 19, I'm a lot less in love with it however I still find it enjoyable despite it's issues.

For starters the cinematography is one of my favorite aspects of this film. The way it depicts each location is very well thought through, I especially like how there is this grayish blue tint to everything up in Washington state.

The fashion is also nicely done. The teenagers aren't dressed too trashy and more like how actual teenagers back in the late 2000s dressed. The more high class Cullens aren't dipped head to toe in obvious glam, but more understated while still looking more on the wealthy side. The nomads are dressed in a way that makes sense. A mixture of stuff that looks like it was taken from both poor and rich people; their outfits are very "a piece from here and a piece from there" which works given their status as not powerful but still frightening. The makeup is also not too heavy but not too light. The visual aspects of the film are all pretty great. It's a good looking movie.

Another good thing is that the scripts isn't bad, it's not an exceptionally great script but it's decent given that, as someone whose read all the books, the dialogue in the books was semi-awkward (nothing compared to it's adult-centered failure "Fifty Shades of Grey") and that's toned down a bit in the film even though the deliveries can get either so HAM it's hilarious or so bland that you have to wonder are the actors even interested.

Speaking of the actor's, that's what's all over the place. Kristen Stewart's acting in this film is notorious for her glazed over expressions, excessive breathing, and overuse of a monotone voice. In the books, Bella wasn't the most charismatic person however she did have personality. Kristen Stewart doesn't do a great job of portraying her more. I feel like if she had better direction or researched further then she could have been a lot better and more well received.

Another actor is Robert Pattinson. He shined a lot as Cedric Diggery in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" but here, he's almost as awkward as Kristen Stewart. He's better at conveying emotions here but that's about the only difference. In the books Edward was a bit on the bland side but not to this extreme. Again, I feel as if the director tried their hardest to make the two leads as unremarkable as possible.

The other actor's vary. Anna Kendrick is HAMist of HAMs at some points but it has that Hermione in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" effect. It's delightful in that goofy way. Christian Serratos portrays Jessica as a fine side character, Justin Chon as Eric is good comedic relief, Michael Welch as Mike works with what he's got as the person whose affections for Bella goes unnoticed, Gregory Boyce as Tyler is also pretty fun. The Cullens all work pretty well and their acting is a lot more put together than most. The best is probably Peter Facinelli as Carlisle and Nikki Reed as Rosalie. Carlisle like Charlie is a funny, and calm yet worried father but he's a lot more collected and less hang-wired than Charlie. Rosalie is Edward's very worried "adopted" older sister who holds resentment to Bella for reasons I won't say because of spoilers. Alice is a wonderful lighthearted character and Ashley Greene does well with the character.

The actors as the Nomads were pretty fantastic. James is actually scary I legit still find Victoria pretty threatening. Edi Gathegi does a great job as the calm but feared Laurant.

Props to Billy Burke whose excellent as Charlie Swan and does a good job at being both a funny and calm yet worried father.

One thing I find is most overlooked in all Twilight movies is the music, the score and soundtrack are both great and do good jobs setting the moods for the movie. I highly recommend a checking out. Every song from the opening song to the closing song- they're all stellar and perfect on their own.

But the major issue with Twilight are the acting of the two leads and the fact that the romance is so jaded. You really don't understand what Bella sees in Edward other than the fact that he's a well, vampire. That's pretty much it. That don't share any real connection beyond something that most people would consider at a platonic level. It's just not that well progressed and would need a lot more work put into it beyond "You're human, I'm a vampire, our love is forbidden but I don't care because you're so mysterious." That doesn't equate to love and for a lot of people, this spoiled the movie and the main reason why Twilight has a lot of anti-fans. It's not just with the films, in the books it's also not that well drawn and overall just falls flat as a romance.

The target audience for them film, while it is PG-13, is mostly for people between 11-15 and it works. It's visually pleasing and still able to get by those who have a very impressionable and idealistic views on love and most between 11-15 do have impressionable and idealistic views on love. It also works for the parents to an extent because it's one of those PG-13 films that you wont feel bad for showing an eleven or twelve year old if you're really hung on ratings.

So overall, while I enjoy "Twilight" I doc it marks just for the fact that the romance is a big part of the story but not explored beyond the surface.