The Two Popes

POSITIVES…

  • While this film is mostly inspired by, than just being a work that’s purely historically nonfiction, the topics it covers are very much a conversation about this real world. You don’t have to be religious to appreciate this.

  • The whole movie are mostly just sequences of two characters having a conversation, and wow was it all very engaging to watch.

  • Insightful, provocative, and emotionally moving.

  • Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce are phenomenal in their roles of Cardinal Ratzinger / Pope Benedict and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio / Pope Francis, respectively. Both are simply amazing.

  • Has a well written script, that is able to pull off some really clever lines of dialogue.

  • For a relatively serious film with important subject matters, it’s not above having a sense of humor.

  • Several of those clever lines I mentioned this movie having, are of the humorous variety. Expect some running jokes.

  • There’s a joke regarding how many people don’t know latin anymore that pays off in a way that I found hilarious.

  • Just for the fact this movie has a scene that introduces the uninitiated to “Kommissar Rex” gets a whole lot of kudos from me.

  • The bonus sequence that plays during the end credits is just perfect.

NEGATIVES…

  • While this film focuses on real life people, it does have a story that’s more fiction than nonfiction which might perturbed some people.

  • It’s a talking heads movie, which is a type of film that isn’t for everybody.

  • Sometimes it feels like it’s holding back with certain subject matters, and sometimes it feels like it’s saying too much.

P.S….

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Watch It Now On Netflix

Klaus

POSITIVES…

  • An impressive showcase at why 2D animation should not be completely replaced by CG animation. Wow, what a visual treat this is.

  • The character designs are also quite charming, and fit perfectly well to this kind of story.

  • While there are many alternative origin stories of Santa Claus, this one felt really special, and had something to say that we can all relate with today.

  • I love the idea that this origin story involves a Postman as the main character, since a lot of us nowadays order gifts online that need to be delivered via mail.

  • There are some touching and emotional moments in this, and goes to show that Pixar doesn’t have ownership of making animated movies that make people cry.

  • The comedic scenes. Gotta love it’s sense of humor.

  • Fantastic voice performance by Jason Schwartzman as Jesper the postman. He absolutely brings his character to life, and is the perfect audience surrogate in this tale.

  • Other voice actors are also great, from J.K. Simmons, Joan Cusack, Norm MacDonald, Will Sasso, and Rashida Jones.

  • This is a new instant classic of a Christmas animated movie. You might just be better off watching it.

NEGATIVES…

  • It’s not necessarily an unpredictable story.

  • Does have some familiar plot tropes.

  • One plot point involving a particular character seemed so unnecessary. So very unnecessary.

P.S….

LOVED IT enjoyeditlikedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Watch It Now On Netflix

Bombshell

POSITIVES…

  • An “info-tainment” movie about the sexual harassment that occurred in FOX News, is a premise that deserves a look for sure.

  • Some cleverly directed scenes and interesting narrative choices throughout.

  • Charlize Theron is amazing as Megyn Kelly, and there’s a lot of intrigue in what she does in this movie.

  • Nicole Kidman is good as Gretchen Carlson, and has some good scenes to play in.

  • Margot Robbie shines as Kayla Pospisil, and is arguably the most fascinating character here.

  • John Lithgow as Roger Ailes. Simply phenomenal in the role.

  • This story itself is captivating, but it’s the actors who make this movie worth checking out.

NEGATIVES…

  • How enjoyable can a movie really be, that covers such a sensitive and serious subject such as sexual harassment? Turns out, not that enjoyable.

  • Oddly seems to want us to do the real world research about certain characters and situations, because the movie doesn’t really fully give us that information within the movie itself.

  • The narrative can feel disjointed at times, and that feeling of missing gaps can’t be ignored.

  • Some of those makeup work to make the actors look similar to the real life counterparts can look pretty rough.

  • Seemed a little incomplete in the story telling overall.

P.S….

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

Star Wars : The Rise Of Skywalker

POSITIVES…

  • If you’re a fan of Star Wars, then go see it. It’s the finale to the Skywalker saga, so go see it.

  • Visually looks great.

  • The designs of the creatures, characters, and locations, are all top notch here.

  • The lightsaber stuff are good in this movie. Pretty good.

  • The use of the Force were pretty cool in this movie.

  • Some fun action adventure sequences here.

  • Loved just about every scene Rey and Kylo Ren are together on screen. Easily my favorite parts of the movie.

  • Among the cast, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaac, are especially excellent in this.

  • Shout out to Anthony Daniels as C-3PO though, as he provided some good humor to the story.

  • Pace and narrative moves at a breakneck speed. You should not get bored watching this movie.

  • Expands and concludes ideas found in previous Star Wars entrees.

  • The fanservice is strong in this one, prepare to get your nostalgia fed to the brim.

NEGATIVES…

  • The fanservice is indeed strong in this one, to the point that it feels like it’s pandering to the audience.

  • There are a handful of very eye-rolling moments for me.

  • Felt like two movies crammed into one movie. Very plot heavy, and exposition heavy, that I hope you don’t get crushed by how dense everything is that’s being thrown at you.

  • The narrative can get pretty unwieldy.

  • Goes for the obvious plot directions and tropes, which felt a bit way too predictably conventional for my taste.

  • Can be easily accused of having spectacle just for spectacle sake.

  • Some of the things that happens just seemed stupid.

  • There is exactly one scene between Rey and Kylo Ren that I absolutely disagree with. Absolutely!

  • Betrays continuity on some of the ideas that were set up from the Prequels, Clone Wars, Rebels, and The Last Jedi.

P.S….

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

The Report

POSITIVES…

  • Adam Driver continues to demonstrate how he is one of the best actors today. Gives the needed gravitas and importance to the role of Daniel Jones.

  • Annette Bening shows us a restrained but powerful performance here us Senator Dianne Feinstein.

  • Supporting strong ensemble cast helps carry this movie as well.

  • As an investigative political thriller about the attempted cover-up of the CIA’s use of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (AKA torture), this is a fascinating movie to watch.

  • The themes about government oversight, accountability, misguided patriotisms, corruption, and political maneuverings, are important lessons that are rightfully brought up in this movie.

  • Some lines of dialogue here are just bitingly and insightfully well written. Just one of the high points of watching this film.

  • Senator John McCain.

NEGATIVES…

  • It’s a bit of a slow burn.

  • This is a political story that mostly consists of talking heads. Not exactly action-packed, which means this isn’t going to be for everybody (although it should be).

P.S….

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Watch It Now On Prime Video

6 Underground

POSITIVES…

  • I actually like the general premise.

  • The stunt work is solid.

  • Locations are visually beautiful to look at.

  • The meta and pop culture references entertained me.

  • There are moments of visually fun creativity put on some of the death scenes at least. Can be pretty violent if you like that kinda thing.

  • Magnets.

  • I admire the attempt at making some cool action set pieces.

NEGATIVES…

  • It’s not exactly fresh new material here.

  • Story is nothing worth remembering.

  • Dialogue is atrocious.

  • Thinks it’s really edgy, but it’s really just obnoxious.

  • There’s outrageous fun and there’s outrageous dumb. This is the latter.

  • Absurd and unbelievable.

  • The editing is annoying.

  • Feels like the cast is just phoning it in.

  • Its attempt at humor and comedy falls flat most of the time.

  • Its attempt at seriousness and drama is kinda pretentious and eye roll worthy.

  • Tonally all over the place.

  • Pacing is terrible.

  • It’s way too indulgent Michael Bay.

  • Overall narrative needs some work. “Some” work? How about A LOT of work.

  • If this is Netflix’s attempt to make a franchise, then it failed. Try again.

P.S….

loveditenjoyeditlikedititsokay IT’S MEH itsterrible

(Don’t) Watch It Now On Netflix

Jumanji : The Next Level

POSITIVES…

  • If you’re a fan of Jumanji : Welcome To The Jungle, then there’s no reason why you wouldn’t like this.

  • The cast is once again amazing. Gillan, Johnson, Hart, and Black. What a team they make.

  • Karen Gillan continues to impress with the physicality she is able to display in this movie.

  • Jack Black once again shows us what a fantastic actor he is with the character he plays here.

  • Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart were amazing acting like old men in younger bodies. A lot of the enjoyment with this movie was because of this premise.

  • A running gag about old men who don’t seem to have a full grasp of what’s happening to them in this video game world is also pretty entertaining.

  • The action set pieces with the ostriches and the dune buggies, plus the monkeys and the bridge. Fun stuff!

  • Kudos to the writers for being able to integrate important thematic messages into a movie that doesn’t seem like it needs depth in it’s story.

NEGATIVES…

  • It’s easy to accuse this movie of being roughly the same thing as the previous installment.

  • Has some new ideas, but it’s not exactly pushing itself further than it’s comfortable with.

  • Was it a bit cliche, derivative, predictable, or too familiar? Sure.

  • Rory McCann as Jurgan The Brutal wasn’t all that great of a villain to this story.

  • Awkwafina also seemed a bit forgettable in what should have been a more significant role.

  • Somehow it felt like the movie lost its steam by the final act and concluding action set piece.

P.S….

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Waves

POSITIVES…

  • The camera work makes such a huge difference here. Really brings the viewers closer to what’s happening on screen, in an almost too invasive way.

  • Pacing and tone also helped enhance the drama, in what could have otherwise been a standard family drama story.

  • Story and themes itselves tackles some very sensitive but important subject matters, that are definitely worth discussing.

  • Amazing cast here overall, from Kelvin Harrison Jr, Sterling K Brown, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Taylor Russell and more.

  • A lot of the memorably powerful scenes were because of how the cast brought the story to life.

  • This narrative for a story like this is kinda unconventional, so that deserves some credit.

  • Amazing soundtrack too.

NEGATIVES…

  • Could be seen as “too artsy” for its own good?

  • There is a moment where you expect the movie to be over already, but then it continues on a little longer, then a little longer, then a little more longer. The movie was simply not over yet, but it was a bit disorienting for me.

  • While the filmmaking is somewhat unconventional for the premise, the story is in itself not that original.

  • Some of the plot turns do come off as a little cliche or too familiar.

P.S….

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Let It Snow

POSITIVES…

  • It’s charming, delightful, sweet, wholesome, and inherently positive over all. It’s very likeable if you let yourself embrace this holiday movie for what it is.

  • Perfectly captures that idealized and romanticized “regular” life of a teenager.

  • The ensemble cast here are pretty solid, with highlights by Isabela Merced, Odeya Rush, Liv Hewson, Mitchell Hope, and several more.

  • I like the different parallel storylines that expectedly converges into one.

  • The soundtrack is simply awesome!

  • On that note, there’s a song number that I thought was adorable.

  • It’s inclusive and has a positive thematic message worth rooting for.

NEGATIVES…

  • It’s very much a derivative and conventional romantic-comedy, that borrows many story cliches and plot tropes.

  • Very nonsensical and illogical in a lot of ways. Almost to a point where it challenges your suspension of disbelief.

  • Plot conveniences all around!

  • I get that the story is primarily about teenagers, but why are there a lack of adults?! Especially in places and situations where adults would be.

  • Speaking of teenagers… Parents beware. Underage drinking doesn’t seem to be much of an issue here.

  • Story concludes as predictably as you expect it to be. It’s all very safely convenient.

P.S….

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

Watch It Now On Netflix

Black Christmas (2019)

POSITIVES…

  • As a reimagination of the 1974 original, this remake pays honor by also including a social commentary aspect to the story.

  • Imogen Poots is reliably solid here as expected. She brings a lot of nuance to her character Riley, as being vulnerable but still more than capable of showing strength.

  • I appreciated that this movie tried to replicate one of the best jump scares from The Exorcist III.

  • Kudos to the movie for willing to be unapologetic about it’s topical feminist social commentaries.

NEGATIVES…

  • This movie really hits you over the head with it’s topical feminist social commentaries. Don’t get triggered now.

  • Besides Imogen Poots’ “Riley,” the other characters are pretty much forgettable.

  • Speaking of characters. So many stupid things done by the characters in this, that it really pushed my suspension of disbelief to the limit.

  • This movie is unfortunately not above having derivative plot turns and predictable characters.

  • The scares could have legitimately been scarier than they are.

  • Doesn’t help that they edited this down to a teenager friendly PG-13 rating. Really diffuses the horror aspects of the movie.

P.S….

loveditenjoyeditlikedititsokay IT’S MEH itsterrible

You Can Watch The 1974 Original “Black Christmas” on Tubi