Thoughts on Encanto

 Encanto is a sweet and beautiful Disney movie. A solid story of colorful characters with powers that could easily be metaphors for personality traits. The characters are great and the story is very sweet with a positive message. It’s worth seeing for any Disney fan.

Thoughts on Don’t Look Up

 Don’t Look Up is a biting satire that hits really close to home. The story is clever and the cast is really solid. It would be a lot more funny if it wasn’t so close to reality and sad. It’s an enjoyable movie with decent acting and a witty script.

Thoughts on Dark Star

 Dark Star is a John Carpenter student film that was made feature length. Some scenes are fun or interesting. Others feel like filler and are fairly dull. The effects are silly and the tone is muddled. Still, if you want to see all the Carpenter movies you should catch it. It is sort if fun to see how he progresses as a filmmaker.

Thoughts on Starman

 Starman is a PG movie by John Carpenter. It’s a really good movie. The acting is great. The story is interesting and well-paced. It’s a lot of fun and the effects are even great for the time. The movie is thoroughly enjoyable. Catch it if you would enjoy a sweet, sci-fi, road-trip movie.

Thoughts on Home Sweet Home Alone

 Home Sweet Home Alone is a new Home Alone movie that seems to be more for older people who have nostalgia for the original movies. The charming aspects comes from the appearance of Buzz. There is a ton of product placement and the story is ludicrous. The child is a spoiled turd and I wanted the criminals to win. It is also a stupid misunderstanding that could have been solved in an instant. The heartwarming bits feel forced. All in all, the movie doesn’t need to exist, but it does. Watch or don’t, your life will continue regardless.

Thoughts on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

 Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings is a martial arts, fantasy movie, centered in the MCU. The characters are charismatic and charming. The story and the effects are fine but not remarkable. Check it out if you want to see where the MCU goes. 

Thoughts on Halloween Kills

 Halloween Kills is fine for a Halloween sequel. Halloween movies are notorious for being messy and not very great, so the bar is fairly low. I enjoyed the continuing of the night from the previous movie. The acting is good and the kills are entertaining. The hamfisted social commentary is weak. Still, it is not the worst of the franchise. See it if you enjoyed the previous film or you are a fan of the Halloween franchise. 

Thoughts on Dune

 Dune is an epic movie. The sets and the cinematography create a very unique environment for the story to take place. The acting is good and the story itself is entertaining. The only problem I have is that you can sometimes feel the movies runtime. Plus, because it’s only part 1 the story feels incomplete. See it if you like your sci-fi slow and atmospheric.

Thoughts on Black Widow

 Black Widow is a fine super hero movie. The story itself and the acting is fine. The action sequences are a bit phony looking and make the threats seem a lot tamer than if the hits and explosions had any impact on the character. It is not bad but it is also not very memorable. See it if you are curious about a lost chapter in the MCU.

Thoughts on Sonic the Hedgehog

 Sonic the Hedgehog is a trite childrens film. Sonic looks better than he did in the first previews but it doesn’t help that he is annoying. Jim Carrey mugs for the camera and acts like a jackass for the running time. The only redeeming quality was James Marsden who has too much charisma for this movie. I am not a child, so I get that I am not the audience for this. However, when I can guess the lines of dialogue because the script is so predictable, you might need a rewrite. It’s not the worst movie, but it’s also not so bad that it’s entertaining.

Thoughts on The Suicide Squad

 The Suicide Squad is an okay super hero movie. It’s better than the previous. The visuals are really good but the script was not as fun as I expected from James Gunn. It’s long and a bit dull at times. Still, if you like DC comics it’s worth a see on HBO Max. Otherwise forget it.

Thoughts on Bill and Ted Face the Music

 Bill and Ted Face the Music is a fun movie. The characters are fine. The story is cute and some gags hit in the perfect way. The robot character was particularly funny. The effects aren’t amazing but it really doesn’t matter. It’s an entertaining movie. Definitely catch it if you enjoy the other films. 

Thoughts on The Wind

 The Wind is a slow-burn psychological thriller. The acting is great as is the concept and set-up. I might have liked it a bit more if the narrative was linear. But that is a minor nitpick. It is very slow and atmospheric. I temd to think the horror elements were all in the protagonist’s head. Check it out if you like subtle, psychological horror.

Thoughts on Space Jam: A New Legacy

 Space Jam: A New Legacy is a movie that wants to be loved. It reeks of desperation. It is choked with product placement and movie references that are baffling in a kids movie. The extras that are supposed to be these licensed characters in the crowd look like they were given costumes from Spirit Halloween. The acting is bad and the movie is a pointless money grab cynically clutching to nostalgia. Don’t waste your time unless you are a huge fan of the original.

Thoughts on Fear Street part one 1994

 Fear Street part one 1994 is the first part of a trilogy based on a series of books. It’s a hackneyed story with characters that suck. Nobody makes a logical decision. It feels too juvenile for adults and too grown up for teens. It’s not really worth seeing unless you loved the books or really want to see how the trilogy pans out.

Thoughts on In The Tall Grass

 In The Tall Grass is an interesting story from the minds of Joe Hill and Stephen King. The acting is good and the plot is interesting. It is certainly a creepy concept, to be lost in tall grass. It has moments of schlock but it is a fun movie that takes the time loop scenario in another direction. It’s worth checking out. 

Thoughts on False Positive

 False Positive is a very well-acted psychological thriller. The movie has a great build up. By the third act the movie has lept the rails. It is a mixed bag of great imagery, acting, and suspense mixed with a bizarre ending. It felt like a lot of themes could be compared to Rosemary’s Baby. But that movie had a satisfying conclusion.

Thoughts on Luca

 Luca is an adorable movie from Pixar. The characters are well-developed and sweet. The style is great and the setting is colorful and fun. Plus, the run-time is great for folks with little kids. Check it out if you enjoy Pixar’s quality films.

Thoughts on The Clovehitch Killer

 The Clovehitch Killer is a great horror movie. Dylan McDermott kills it. The story is told in a clever way. The acting is solid. The juxtaposition of the main character before and after this story is a bit of a downer. Still, it’s absolutely worth a watch.

Thoughts on The Apparition

 The Apparition is a dumb thriller. The dialogue is awful, the acting is dull, and the story is absurd. This movie is trash but the redeeming quality is that it is so bad that it is a bit entertaining. The editing choices are bizarre, and the ADR and poor line reads often come off awkward. There are occasional moments of decent effects to make it a bit interesting. The ending is a confused mess though.  It’s schlock, don’t go in with high expectations.

Thoughts on The New Mutants

 The New Mutants famously went through development hell. The movie is slow and a bit muddled. Some of the actors are trying hard given the bizarre material. I enjoyed the attempt at a thriller atmosphere. It was better than Dark Phoenix at least. 

Thoughts on Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight

Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight is a Polish horror movie. It has decent acting and an okay script. Some aspects come off a little silly in translation. It’s strange but fun. Not terribly scary but entertaining at the very least.

Thoughts on The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

 The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It is a great movie to watchnon HBO Max. That being said I wouldn’t have enjoyed it at all had I paid to see it in theaters. It’s trite, dumb, and not very scary. There are a few creepy parts but it gets lost amongst the inane dialogue and telegraphed jump scares. It is nothing impressive but it will kill an hour or two.

Thoughts on Kingdom of the Spiders

 Kingdom of the Spiders is an entertaining bit of schlock. The characters are not particularly well written, but it is played seriously and the effects are pretty good. It is worth seeing if you can enjoy good schlock with a dark ending.

Thoughts on Thunder Force

 Thunder Force is trash. I am not even sure if the casting was a joke. The movie has a trite and derivative plot. The acting is phoned in. It is a dumb movie doesn’t take chances and doesn’t seem as self aware as it would need to be at least entertaining. It is probably up some ones alley, but not me.

Thoughts on Godzilla vs Kong

Godzilla vs Kong is fine enough for HBO Max. It may leave you with some questions.  Why is there a sun underground? How would plants be there without it? Did Godzilla just smile? Why would giant apes build a big throne? It’s certainly a dumb movie, but not offensively bad. The characters aren’t given time to develop at all. So if the writers aren’t going to care, why should you. Just enjoy the giants pummeling each other.

Thoughts on Bad Trip

 Bad Trip is a fine distraction movie. It is like most other road trip movies. There are some fun Jackass style pranks. The actors do a great job sellling their pranks. The humor is crude and dumb. Sometimes those types of movies are a nice distraction. The plot is even hardly mentionable so you won’t feel guilty checking your phone.

Thoughts on Extra Ordinary

 Extra Ordinary is a cute novie. It’s a charming Irish movie. The actors are great and the humor is dark. It’s quirky and fun. Check it out if you want a change of pace. It was a nice change of pace.

Thoughts on Sex and the City 1&2

Sex and the City movies both suceed and fail in various ways.  The characters fall back into comfortable rolls and perform them pretty reflexively. The problem with the first is that it’s a bloated, extra long episode. The second takes the characters and puts them in a completely unrelatable location. It’s entertaining enough you enjoy the show. Just don’t expect any real substance.

Thoughts on Downhill

 Downhill is an entertaining movie  Julia Louie Dreyfus and Will Ferrell give good performances that showcase more acting skill, rather then buffoonery. It’s a dark comedy with subtlety. I recommend it to anyone else sick of the stale comedy schtick.

Thoughts on Coming 2 America

Coming 2 America is a pretty cute movie. It does go in a few odd directions like a action fight, musical numbers galore, or the cg lion test. It is still charming and keeps a fun pace. It respects the original enough and creates another fun modern fairy tale. Check it out if you enjoyed the original. Just remember that the tone has taken a more silly tone. Here is a postscript, the costumes and hair styles are fantastic

Thoughts on The Endless

The Endless is a really clever movie. It captures the spirit of Lovecraft and weaves it into a subtle tale about a UFO cult. The acting was great and the effects worked to suit the story. If you like Lovecraft or bizarre and original stories  this will be up your alley.

Thoughts on Eraserhead

 Eraserhead is a bizarre movie. The visuals do the bulk of the labor telling a story of a new father and the anxieties and stress that come with it. It is difficult to follow and perplexing. I can’t say I’d recommend this unless you are looking for more challenging cinema.

Thoughts on Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me

Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me is interesting. It is very bizarre but works with the television series. For a prequel it does it’s job. The acting is great and if you enjoyed the show you will likely enjoy this movie. It is missing a lot of the humor and silly charm. It still somehow works.