#2 star movie reviews

[marlinspirkhall]

Sometimes I read/hear a genuinely insightful critique which widens my appreciation for the original work, introduces me to several related topics I wouldn't have stumbled across otherwise, genuinely brightens my day, lifts my mood, inspires me in twelve different ways; I can feel my brain expanding in real time. Hand shaking, I foolishly search for other essays on the topic:

"Top ten reasons Protagonist is a Mary Sue", seven billion views, and a Guardian review giving it two and a half stars because they found it "too ambiguous".

[smallville2k]

If Todd Phillips really is done with DC Universe after Joker 2... what a disappointment of a film. Where will this Joker character go from here? A cliffhanger like The Sopranos. That's it, you just sopranos joker. But shitier.

[starlene]

Wicked, as reviewed by Finland's leading newspaper

The musical, Finnish production, 2010: the music is bland, the politics are confusing and dumb, the moral of the story is muddled

The movie, part 1, 2024: the best thing about this movie is that they don't burst into song all the time

The movie, part 2, 2025 (my prediction): it's confusing how Glinda did bad things and Elphaba did good things, and also, all songs should have been replaced with wordless silence

[hannahwatcheshorror]

INSIDIOUS (2010) + REWATCH

An underwhelming horror movie that relies heavily on jumpscares and musical stings for its frights. What can I say? It’s just not for me. Sure it has a lot of good elements to it, spooky characters, good pacing, great actors, but this film just falls short of my standards. Above all else, it was boring. Nothing really memorable happened and that is why I think I have to stick with my guns and keep this at a 2 star rating.

⭐⭐

Hot dad from The Conjuring series is forced to go into the upside down when his loser kid goes into "not a coma." The reactions to the horrors are believable but the horrors themselves flip from demons to creepy old lady's to an old time-y horror picture show… For a movie with so much build up I was expecting something much more exceptional. The pace of the movie was pretty good, starting with spooks pretty much off the bat but… I'll watch the others in the series I just can't say that I'm excited to.

REWATCH REVIEW

A child of the house falls into what is certainly not a coma but is a very long sleep and the mom is very quick to blame ghosts which, I mean, good for her, but also, damn, she’s crazy. A psychic comes in to inform us that this little kid is a terrific astral projector so much so that he went into a different dimension of sorts (bring back Gabbie while you are there, why don’t ya) and left his body to be possessed by any number of demons… Seems wack. Because they buried the lead that the dad also is “a traveler” so his mom had to go through this same demon spiel with him when he was a kid. They do some automatic writing which I think is pretty neat but that makes more ghosties come. Finally it is decided that the dad has to astral project to save the boy (who didn’t see that coming?).

The astral projection is BORING. It is a black empty space, the two houses, or a dungeon. That is it. Nothing fresh, new or exciting. Nothing “Astral.” Anyway, hot dad gets his kid and makes it out, or does he? I don’t know that I believe a child is strong enough to fend off a demon that is basically Satan but a grown man isn’t able to beat an old woman. I get she was his nemesis or whatever but wow did they just throw that in at the very end. You would think Elise would notice sooner given that she is a psychic… She didn’t actually use her “abilities” she just was there and saw things everyone else who was a non-psychic could see. I guess she did talk to the son for them but that just invited more chaos into the home. Whatever, all's well that ends up setting us up for the sequel, I guess.

----------------------HANNAH WATCHES HORROR---------------------

[theflixdiaryproject]

"I want to be a proper dragon like the dragons in all the story" - Firedrake

Firedrake, a young silver dragon (voiced by Thomas Brodie-Sangster), embarks on an adventurous journey to find the fabled Rim of Heaven to save his dragon clan. along the way, he teams up with a boy named Ben (Freddie Highmore) and a quirky forest brownie named Sorrel (Felicity Jones), facing both friends and foes on their quest.

read my review below (may contain spoilers):

watched Feb 11th, 2024 on netflix

I really wanted to love Dragon Rider (a.k.a Firedrake the Silver Dragon). dragons are one of my favourite mythical creatures, so I had high hopes for this movie. unfortunately, it falls short of being memorable. it isn’t bad, but it doesn’t blow me away either. the story is solid and ticks all the right boxes, but at the same time, it feels very basic. I find it predictable, and that makes it less exciting to watch. the animation is fine, but it’s not breathtaking. Firedrake himself looks cool, and I think his design is one of the highlights. however, the villainous dragon feels very disappointing. for something that is supposed to be evil and scary, it looks more funny and comical. I don't think my cat would even care much about it! it’s hard to take the villain seriously when it’s presented this way. the characters are decent, though none of them really stand out. Firedrake is likeable, and I enjoy some of the antics with his companions, Ben and Sorrel. they bring some energy to the movie, which keeps it from being completely boring. however, their personalities are nothing special. I’ve seen characters like them in many other movies, so they don’t leave a lasting impression.

the journey itself follows a very familiar formula. it’s a typical quest story with a beginning, middle, and end that you can predict from the start. I don’t mind if the idea is not fresh, but I wish they added something new or exciting to make it more engaging. my attention slips several times while watching, and honestly, I don’t fully focus until the climax. the movie just doesn’t grab my attention as much as I hoped it would. this movie is light and doesn’t require much brainpower, which is fine if that’s what you’re looking for. it feels more like a movie for kids, and I think they might enjoy it more than I do. if you need something simple to put on for children or while babysitting, this could work. but for older audiences or anyone expecting a deep or emotional story, it will feel lacking. in the end, Dragon Rider is a middle-of-the-road movie. it has its moments, but it’s not something I’ll remember for a long time. it’s not terrible, but it’s not great either.

final verdict: I have mixed feelings about it

maturity rating: 7+ genre: animation, adventure duration: 1h 31m (91 mins) countries of origin: Germany, Belgium, Spain, UK language: English screenplay: Cornelia Funke, Johnny Smith major cast: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Felicity Jones, Freddie Highmore, Patrick Stewart

[vegan-nom-noms]

Movie Night Ideas

Star Wars Wookie Cookies and Baby Yoda Mini Donuts

Inside Out "Joy" Lemonade and "Sadness" Blue Raspberry Cheesecake

The Good Dinosaur Dinosaur Birthday Cake and Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies

[valyrianfilm]

films i've watched in january 2025

i'm going to do a monthly "films i've watched" post this year! i did not manage to watch one movie a day, but i hope my summer break will allow me to catch up with some highlights i've missed over the years. for completion purposes, rewatches will be included in this list :)

i'm using the letterboxd 5 stars rating system here

letterboxd

Nosferatu (2024) – dir. Robert Eggers (4.5 stars) (watched twice)

You can so easily draw me in with a gothic aesthetic and vampires, so of course, I was hyped for this movie. It lived up to almost all the expectations I had and blew me away with its wonderful cinematography and great performances. Bill Skarsgård is rocking his role as Orlok and the make-up is sooo well done. I thought the movie dragged on a little towards the end, so I couldn't give it five stars, but it was just such a joy to start the year with.

BlacKkKlansman (2018) – dir. Spike Lee (4 stars)

This movie has been sitting on my watchlist for years and I finally got to it. Such a terrifying yet somehow fascinating watch at times.

The Killer (2023) – dir. David Fincher (3.5 stars)

I have no idea if this is a controversial opinion, but I didn't enjoy it as much as others did. I didn't vibe with the pacing at all, but the cinematography and camera work was amazing. As was the soundtrack!!

Se7en (1995) – dir. David Fincher (4.5 stars)

Another Fincher movie on this list. I had never watched this one, but my local cinema was offering a screening of it, so I went there with some friends and I loved it! I think Zodiac still remains my favourite Fincher movie, but this one is phenomenal too. What's in the box?

Barbarian (2022) – dir. Zach Cregger (4 stars)

It's probably better if I don't say too much about this movie beforehand, but at no point was it what I expected. Just watch and enjoy. Side note: Bill Skarsgård is so hot.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) – dir. J.J. Abrams (3 stars) (REWATCH)

I'm a huge Star Wars nerd. No surprise to anyone. To be honest, I am not a huge hater of the Sequel trilogy as some people are, but I still believe the Force Awakens is pretty mid, but enjoyable. Almost a carbon copy of what A New Hope was, but I do not have any strong feelings towards it. HOWEVER, it is the base for one of my favourite Star Wars movies...

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) – dir. Rian Johnson (4.5 stars) (REWATCH)

Ohh, The Last Jedi how much I love you. I will die on this hill, but it is not a bad movie and no, it isn't a bad Star Wars movie either. From the cinematography, to the daring decisions, to the acting (especially from Adam Driver and Mark Hamill), this movie rocks. It's embodying so much love for the franchise and yet dares to take it down a different road for once. I really hope Rian Johnson gets to make his trilogy of Star Wars movies.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) – dir. Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan (4 stars)

Somehow I am still in the minority with my 4 stars rating, but I did not like certain parts of the movie or rather characters in it. However, I pretty much started bawling every time Ke Huy Quan delivered his lines to Evelyn and their relationship was just so well done. One ride of a movie, to be sure.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – dir. J. J. Abrams (1.5 stars) (REWATCH)

I just hate this movie. I would have loved a Ben Solo redemption arc, but not this way. Also, I love Reylo, but not even their kiss can make up for this mess of a movie.

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special (2022) – dir. James Gunn (3 stars)

Such a cozy movie. A comfort for me but nowhere close to the main ones.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – dir. Steven Spielberg (5 stars)

I only watched this movie as a child, so I didn't remember a lot of it. Decided to "rewatch" the Indiana Jones movies and this is definitely a classic. So much fun, Harrison Ford is lovely (and hot) and I just wish they would make movies like this again.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (2017) – dir. James Gunn (4 stars) (REWATCH)

While I still love this movie with all my heart (and especially some of the characters in it), I didn't enjoy it as much as I did when I first watched it. The Guardians are just amazing, but I think the plot went a little all over the place. But it's still one of the most charming superhero movies ever made, no doubt.

My Neighbour Totoro (1988) – dir. Hayao Miyazaki (5 stars)

Another classic I watched as a child and couldn't remember, so I had to watch it again. I ended up using this movie as my new homescreen theme on my phone and I love it!! Cozy, funny and heartwarming movie that managed to make me cry even though nothing bad really happened in it.

I want a Totoro for myself.

Mufasa: The Lion King (2024) – dir. Barry Jenkinks (1.5 stars)

I am probably not the target audience of this movie. I'm above twenty, I never connected with the Lion King movie as a child and I haven't watched any of the other movies since I last saw them as a kid. However, this still didn't manage to capture my attention at all and I can only give a few stars for the effort of the animation. Which still looked a little strange sometimes. Also, the german voices were awful.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – dir. Gareth Edwards (5 stars) (REWATCH)

My favourite movie. Nothing more to say about this.

The Last Duel (2021) – dir. Ridley Scott (4 stars)

In a way, this movie was part of my personal challenge to watch all of Adam Driver's movies (I love him) and this one had been on my watchlist for a while. I loved the structure of this and the acting was phenomenal by everyone. I definitely wish we had more medieval dramas like this.

[vanilla-voyeur]

I'm absolutely obsessed with all the one star Nimona reviews that say it was a great movie except for one single scene that ruined it by shoving their politics down our throats

[horrorhodgepodge]

Arcadian [31 Days of Horror: Day 3]

🦇Summary Tonight, we’re diving into the harrowing depths of Arcadian, a chilling post-apocalyptic horror film that explores the fight for survival against unimaginable odds. 🌌 Starring Nicolas Cage as Paul, a desperate father navigating a world ravaged by a devastating pandemic, this tale unfolds as he and his twin sons face nightmarish creatures that hunt in the dark. 🏚️ 📚Themes & Topics:…

[emgot]

unofficial review of juror #2 (2024)

a movie like this should not have an ending like that

good premise but lacked emotional depth

very little internal conflict for a film that is about internal conflict

Nicholas Hoult is an amazing actor

the only black characters were portrayed stereotypically

[panosatthemovies]

Dune: Part Two is an amazingly well-shot movie that transports you to another world and mesmerizes you with its sound and visuals. But the story just doesn't live up to the hype. Contrary to all the epic tales, this film wants to compare itself with, like Star Wars, Lawrence of Arabia, Avatar, or even The Man Who Would Be King, about men that were destined to rule a tribe living in the wilderness into rebellion, this film just isn't exciting enough while getting towards the goal, nor is it fulfilling in its third act. Simply put, we have no happy ending. In fact, we have no ending since Denis Villeneuve pulls another surprise at the very last moment, like he's done with Dune (later revealed to be "Part One" only on-screen and not in its marketing) and leaves audiences hanging for yet another two or three years, to find out if he'll get the next installment financed, and perhaps finally finish this story! By then, we'll all have forgotten the plot points of part two, as we did with part one. And all the hype about "the best sci-fi movie of all time" will also fade away. What will remain is an immensely crafted film with great visual storytelling and monumental work in cinematography, sound-design, editing, music, art direction, set decoration, costumes, and makeup. A feast for our eyes and ears for almost three hours but not much more. For most of the film, you'll find yourself amazed at the spectacle while trying to understand what's going on instead of being excited about where all this will lead. It's definitely worth a visit to the cinema, but don't expect much to stick, once the dust settles.

B+

Trailer: https://youtu.be/_YUzQa_1RCE

[sinnermannn]

[hannahwatcheshorror]

CONTRACTED (2013)

Girl gets the start of a demonic zombie virus? Interesting. A good view at how we treat lesbians/bisexuals differently. Not a very good movie though.

⭐⭐

(Trigger Warning Sexual Assault)

Bisexual/lesbian girl is being treated like shit by her girlfriend, Nikki. She hates her mom. She wants to be a botanist and take her Orchids to plant shows or whatever. She goes to a party and gets sort of raped by this dude who gives her a wicked STD. Bad shit is going down in her body. Nikki finds out from Alice, a friend who is in love with Protagonist, that she had sex with a man. Protagonist snaps and kills Nikki, then goes to find Alice. Alice is not surprised that Sam is grotesque and even lets a kiss happen. Sam vomits blood and Alice totally overreacts and gets murdered. Riley comes over dtf. They fuck. Car wreck and she bites the mom. (A plot movie that tries to be an indie film)

----------------------HANNAH WATCHES HORROR---------------------

[jayjay55655]

Me after watching Dune: part two

[theflixdiaryproject]

"there's only one thing I love almost as much as I love you, and that's being a cop. and you know what? this thing does not love me" - Tom Nichols

a real estate agent, is found murdered in a house she was selling. the case lands on Detective Tom Nichols (Benicio del Toro), a sharp investigator with a troubled past. the evidence points toward several suspects, including the ex-husband, Sam Gifford (Karl Glusman), but nothing is as simple as it seems. as Tom digs deeper, layers of deception and corruption start to unravel.

read my review below (may contains spoilers):

watched June 24, 2024 on netflix

I came across Reptile expecting an intense creature feature. from the title, I imagined snakes or monstrous creatures as villains, but to my surprise, there were no reptiles. I kept wondering about the title. who or what is the "reptile" here? the only clue was that one scene with a piece of snake skin. this is not the kind of movie you should watch after a long day. I made that mistake. I was tired and started watching this moody, slow-burn thriller late at night. by the halfway point, my focus was gone. I was half-asleep, my mind wandering in a dream-like trance. the dark and brooding atmosphere didn’t help either; it made me feel like the movie was dragging on forever. at over two hours long, it felt like six. I have to admit, I didn’t fully grasp what was going on in the movie. the plot is layered with twists, red herrings, and subplots. you need to be fully alert to catch all the details. but at the same time, the slow pace makes it hard to stay engaged. so I paused and resumed it later in the next morning.

that’s not to say the movie is bad. it has its moments of brilliance, especially in the way it creates a dark, suspenseful atmosphere. the neo-noir style is captivating, and the storyline has potential. it’s just that the execution feels too drawn out, and the mystery gets buried under the weight of its own complexity. I like movies that make me think, but this one made me overthink to the point of frustration and exhaustion. if you’re expecting a fast-paced thriller, this isn’t it. but if you enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a lot of moody silence, this might be for you. I can see why some people would appreciate its style and depth. it just didn’t click with me. the lack of closure left me unsatisfied. I finished the movie wide awake, but I don’t even remember how it ends.

final verdict: I have mixed feelings about it

maturity rating: R-rated genre: thriller, neo-noir duration: 2h 16m (134 mins) country of origin: USA screenplay: Grant Singer, Benjamin Brewer, Benicio del Toro major cast: Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Silverstone, Eric Bogosian, Karl Glusman, Michael Pitt