Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two

POSITIVES…

  • If you've seen Part One, you're going to want to see how this story concludes. 

  • Opens immediately with raised stakes for the plot, and carries throughout the rest of the movie. Thrilling stuff. 

  • Twists and turns and surprises should keep you engaged. 

  • Action beats are solid enough. 

  • Art and animation style is still excellent to look at. I still love the simple but beautiful character designs. 

  • Jensen Ackles continues to provide a fantastic voice for Batman. 

  • Josh Duhamel as Harvey Dent / Two-Face is great here. 

  • Catwoman / Selina Kyle. From her plot involvement here, to the awesome voice work by Naya Rivera. 

  • Fans of Batman's rogues gallery should have some fun watching this. 

  • That after credits scene. 

  • Arguably fixes a perceived plot hole from the original graphic novel story that this movie has adapted.

NEGATIVES…

  • To be honest. I was a little underwhelmed by the overall direction. 

  • Narrative felt a little too rushed. 

  • Certain plot threads were either nonsensical or just had unsatisfying conclusions. 

  • Batman's character is a little less capable in this than some may like. 

  • Certain characters were given inadequate development. 

  • Some characters were just annoying. 

  • They showed the Batman origin story again?! Talk about derivatives.

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Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two - watched it on VIDEO ON DEMAND

Stillwater

POSITIVES…

  • This hearbreaking premise is less of a murder mystery and more about how far a Father would go to save his Daughter from a horrible existence. 

  • There’s also that foreigner in a foreign land trope that can be entertaining to watch. 

  • Contains some powerful scenes and sequences, like a dialogue with a particular bar owner, that cautionary advice given by Allison, to that inquiry about a basement and the results of that.  

  • Tense build ups and moments. 

  • Fantastic cast includes Matt Damon as Bill Baker, Camille Cottin as Virginie, Lilou Siauvaud as Maya, and Abigail Breslin as Allison Baker. 

  • One of the best things about this movie is the connection that Bill Baker has with Virginie and Maya. 

  • All the scenes with Allison also resonate really well. 

  • Great visuals capturing Marseille, France. 

  • I can only hope that the conclusion and the plot-reveals in this movie will encourage many to be introspective about how they look at people and culture. 

  • Not without some levity. Like that toy robot scene, or that “Did you vote for Trump” question. 

  • Appreciated the fact that there’s an underlying theme and social political commentary about Americans and the American way, that is done from a global cultural perspective.

NEGATIVES…

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Stillwater - watched it IN THEATERS

Jungle Cruise

POSITIVES…

  • Action adventuring in the jungle. If you’re looking for your fix for this familiar premise, well here you go! 

  • Big thrilling and exciting set pieces are entertaining to watch. 

  • I especially appreciated seeing the thrilling Buster Keaton inspired stunts. 

  • All the scenes, moments, and mentions, that pays homage to the Jungle Cruise ride experience at Disneyland. Puns and all. I actually didn't hate it. 

  • Speaking of puns and all. I generally had fun with the overall lighthearted comedic nature and tone. 

  • Drinking game idea. If you hear a pun. Take a shot. 

  • The whole chemistry, dialogue, and interactions between Lily and Frank is one of the main highlights in seeing this movie. 

  • Emily Blunt is a trooper in this as Lily. Your strong willed and oh so capable adventurer. 

  • Dwayne Johnson is as charming as you expect him to be here as Frank. 

  • Jesse Plemons is awesome at chewing the scenery as Prince Joachim. 

  • That CG leopard. 

  • Metallica's Nothing Else Matters.

NEGATIVES…

  • All the familiar derivative plot tropes you expect from this are here.  

  • Some baffling plot points that might annoy you. 

  • Sophomoric humor and physical slapstick comedy can fall flat on its face or just be cringe worthy. 

  • If you don't like puns. Well, you'll be hearing a lot of it in this movie. 

  • Have ophidiophobia? Probably shouldn’t watch this. 

  • Honestly, this plot really did not need the brother character for comedic relief. 

  • Yes, men back then were really misogynistic. We get it!

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Jungle Cruise - watched it on DISNEY+

The Green Knight

POSITIVES…

  • Looking for a unique, adventurous, artistic, and captivating story in the realm of Arthurian Legends? This one's for you. 

  • This off-kilter narrative might be unwieldy for some to grasp, but it’s got some indispensable themes and lessons to say. 

  • Cinematography, camera sweeps, and lighting effects, such fantastic visuals! 

  • Excellent soundtrack that is perfectly atmospheric and equally haunting. 

  • Dev Patel as Gawain. Such a magnificent actor tackling this role that consists of his character getting put through the wringer in unsuspecting ways. 

  • Alicia Vikander playing two different characters here? Of course. She’s just that talented! 

  • Ralph Ineson as the Green Knight himself is awesome. What a voice on him. 

  • Sean Harris as the King. Great presence, and he too has quite the unique voice. 

  • Joel Edgerton is also in this, and he is as good as ever. 

  • Shout out to the fox! 

  • As the story moves along, the unexpectedly bizarre encounters, and the characters Gawain meets, should keep you thoroughly engaged to see where things are going to go next. 

  • I particularly really enjoyed the sequence involving Erin Kellyman. “Do not touch me!” 

  • That ending. That ending could be its own movie, or TV series! Amazing. 

  • David Lowery is a visionary filmmaker, and he really puts his stamp into this tale. What an experience!

NEGATIVES…

  • Some might not be into the methodically slow pacing and lingering meandering moments. 

  • Narrative can feel too disjointed at times.

  • That font for the title cards, and the old timey prose. I could have used some closed captioning. 

  • That ending. I mean, should it be considered a negative that I kinda guessed what was going to happen? It’s the only true familiar plot trope that this film has. 

  • Not exactly a movie that spells things out for you, and in some cases it really just doesn’t bother giving you an explanation to a question you really want answers to. 

  • Maybe it’s too artsy for a summer movie release?

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The Green Knight - watched it IN THEATERS

Joe Bell

POSITIVES…

  • As an earnest drama that's based on a true story, about the dangers of bullying, this is a truly admirable film. 

  • This is a heartbreaking tragic story that is absolutely worth being aware of. 

  • Narrative handles the big plot-reveals well, by nicely taking advantage of the three act structure. 

  • Effective emotional scenes and tear jerker moments. 

  • I know he wouldn’t be the first choice for many, but I thought Mark Wahlberg actually did a spectacular job in the role of Joe Bell. He captured the essence of his character well. 

  • Reid Miller as Jadin Bell. Makes every scene he is in greater because of his amazing stand-out performance. 

  • One of the best things about this movie are the interactions between Joe Bell and Jadin. 

  • Story. Very strong supporting cast by Connie Britton, Maxwell Jenkins, and Gary Sinese. Each one of them added so much to the movie, and had some incredible scenes. 

  • How can you not appreciate the thematic messages of this story? Important and relevant to all. 

  • Has some solid visuals of the locations that Joe is walking through. 

  • Asparagus straight from the ground. Green gold!

NEGATIVES…

  • Some will balk at the casting choice, and may not be able to see past the fact that Mark Wahlberg is playing Joe Bell. 

  • You’ve seen this drama multiple times before. I don’t think there’s going to be many surprises in the story. 

  • For those unfamiliar with the true story, the trailer unfortunately blatantly spoils that big plot-reveal in the movie. 

  • If you are familiar with the true story and / or have seen the trailer, the wait to get to that big plot-reveal may feel like it’s taking too long to get to that obvious point. 

  • Main thematic message can feel like it’s repeatedly just hitting you over the head with it without much subtlety at all. 

  • I know it’s based on a true story and all, but there are some plot points that seemed a little too convenient.

  • Did not like how the movie ended.

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

Joe Bell - watched it IN THEATERS

Jolt

POSITIVES…

  • Exciting, thrilling, and engaging action flick, starring Kate Beckinsale as Lindy. A woman who has anger issues and violent tendencies. Who doesn't want to see that? 

  • Opening character history montage was just perfect. I appreciate the quick origin story, so that we can just move on with the fun asskicking. 

  • It's very entertaining to see Kate Beckinsale get violent on people. 

  • Fight scenes. Once again, it's very entertaining to see Kate Beckinsale get violent on people.

  • Chase sequences. It's also quite entertaining to see people trying to catch her. 

  • Love this movie's sense of humor. Especially considering it can use violence and vulgarity to make you laugh. 

  • Speaking of making me laugh, the witty dialogue is fantastic. 

  • Jai Courtney. Those dates. So heart-warmingly cute. 

  • Stanley Tucci. His role and connection with Lindy is pretty fun.  

  • The combo of Bobby Cannavale and Laverne Cox is just awesome. Enjoyable oil and water duo routine there. 

  • Ori Pfeiffer as Delacroix. Excellent antagonist. 

  • Despite the simplicity of being just another action movie, there are some themes and subtle commentaries worth acknowledging.

NEGATIVES…

  • Not exactly rewriting the book on action films. It's derivative in many ways. 

  • It can be an awfully silly movie. 

  • Plot conveniences. 

  • There are just several unbelievable moments that might kill your suspension of disbelief. 

  • Conclusion might not work for everybody. 

  • That movie-set backlot they used over and over again for this. Maybe just a little too much?

  • Sure looks like an action flick on a tighter budget than the blockbusters.

  • Arguably needed to be more ambitious in it’s cinematic scope and set pieces.

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Jolt - watched it on PRIME VIDEO

Old

POSITIVES…

  • I know they say that getting old is scary, but this movie makes it absolutely terrifying. 

  • There’s a constant build up in this mysterious story that just doesn’t let you go. 

  • Once the main plot premise kicks in, so many things constantly happen that it becomes a thrilling whiplash of events. 

  • Excellent cast that consists of Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krieps, Thomasin McKenzie, Rufus Sewell, Alex Wolff, and more. 

  • Although there’s a limited amount of time given to full blown deep dive character backgrounds, this movie impressively gives you more than enough to get you invested. 

  • Interesting to see the character’s group dynamics when things start getting out of hand. 

  • Fascinating observing the actors act older or younger than their actual age. 

  • Liked the use of the camera and visuals that get certain shots that actually add to the narrative of this story. 

  • Kudos to the sound design too. There’s especially one scene that really takes advantage of that. 

  • Slices, and cuts, and scars, oh my! 

  • Haunting imagery. Some shots are just engraved in my mind now. 

  • Makeup work doesn’t usually get a lot of mentions from me. I can’t help but completely acknowledge and recognize the subtle but excellent makeup work for this movie however. 

  • Impressed in how this movie was able to show so much skin, but still managed to avoid showing actual nudity. 

  • Despite the obvious commentaries about aging, this movie was still able to slide in other things to say to give you more food for thought.

NEGATIVES…

  • There are several on the nose commentary about getting old, that got… old. 

  • Certain questionable plot points, conceits, and illogical character moments, that can at times take you out of the movie. 

  • The more over the top acting work might be a little too much. 

  • Some of the scenes come off as unintentionally hilarious? 

  • Depending on how you react to it, the final conclusion may not work for you. 

  • doesthedogdie.com

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Old - watched it IN THEATERS

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins

POSITIVES…

  • Fans of G.I. Joe should eat this up. 

  • Fans of ninja movies in general should enjoy watching this. 

  • Comfortable familiarity with the genre and it’s plot progression makes this a nice easy watch. 

  • Henry Golding is just awesome as Snake Eyes. Charming as heck. How could you not be invested with where his character is going in this story? 

  • Then here comes Andrew Koji as Tommy Arashikage, who is just amazing in this! 

  • Not to be outdone, Haruka Abe as Akiko is fantastic as well. 

  • Those interactions between Snake, Tommy, and Akiko, are easily one of the main highlights of this film. 

  • Strong supporting cast, which includes Takehiro Hira, Eri Ishida, Peter Mensah, Iko Uwais, Ursula Corbero, and Samara Weaving.

  • Action set pieces were exciting, thrilling, and simply entertaining to see. There’s a bunch of them too. 

  • “The three challenges of the warrior” sequences. Fun stuff. 

  • Liked the Japanese location settings. Looks great on the big screen. 

  • There are certain G.I. Joe related fan service that is delightful to see.

NEGATIVES…

  • Some familiar tropes, conveniences, and predictable moments pop up here and there. 

  • Plot armor. So much plot armor. 

  • Could have done without some of that shaky cam during the fight scenes. 

  • Cinematic universe world building wasn’t subtle enough for my taste. 

  • Ophidiophobia. 

  • Is it really that hard to just keep your mask on to conceal your identity?

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Snakes Eyes: GI Joe Origins - watched it IN THEATERS

How it ends

POSITIVES…

  • What would you do if you knew it was the last day on earth? That's the undeniably fascinating premise for this generally lighthearted movie. 

  • There's a plot gimmick about younger selves that is uniquely interesting. 

  • This is essentially a series of back to back random moments and unsuspecting encounters that keep you on the edge of your toes. 

  • Some genuinely sweet scenes that are nice. 

  • Musical interludes. 

  • Emotionally honest at times. Earnestly cathartic even. 

  • Conversations. This is all about the conversations. 

  • Zoe Lister-Jones and Cailee Spaeny are fantastic in this! It's them as a remarkable duo that really carries this movie. 

  • The supporting cast is nuts! Loved seeing all these character actors take part in this movie. 

  • I like that recurring background visual that pops up occasionally. 

  • Appreciated the commentaries about life in general. Existentialism, self reflections, and all that. 

  • You just might like the weird quirkiness of this movie.

NEGATIVES…

  • This is a weird quirky movie, and it's absolutely not for everybody. 

  • Maybe a little too precious, and a little pretentious at times? 

  • There's a low production to the movie, and the obvious COVID restrictions that unfortunately really shows. 

  • Natural lighting can only take you so far with the cinematography. 

  • Is the premise remotely believable, or are you just immediately taken out of the movie? Will you be able to suspend your disbelief?

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How it ends - watched it on VIDEO ON DEMAND

PIG

POSITIVES…

  • Somebody took Nic Cage’s pig. He wants his pig back. Things happen. Simple familiar premise? Not as simple or as famliar as you’d think. 

  • Nicolas Cage plays the mysterious and wise man really well. It’s hard not to be invested in where the story takes him. 

  • Alex Wolff is good playing the audience surrogate, who finds himself in the middle of something bigger than he expected. 

  • Narrative takes certain plot turns that will keep you wanting to see where it’s going. 

  • Like the Hotel Portland scene for example. I didn't expect to see that in this film. 

  • World building. This movie about a kidnapped pig actually has some fascinating world building! 

  • Beautiful cinematography. From the location settings to the delicious looking cuisine. 

  • Elaborate monologues, and insightful conversations, that will at least give you some food for thought. 

  • Appreciated the more light hearted humorous moments. It’s not all grim. 

  • There's a recurring plot thread about who Nic Cage's character is that is just a delight. 

  • Has an interesting commentary about the food industry, those who work in it, and fine eating. 

  • Thematically sentimental.

NEGATIVES…

  • It at times meanders and indulges itself with it's methodical pacing. 

  • Pretentious? 

  • Some might argue that there's a plot point during the third act of the story that is a little too familiar with another movie about a particular chef. 

  • For crying out loud, at least wash your face Nicholas Cage!!!

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PIG - watched it IN THEATERS