Don't Look Up

POSITIVES

  • A biting satirical take on life, politics, media, social media, big corporations, pop culture, division, ignorance, people, and the future of the planet. In other words, a metaphorical look at the world today. 

  • Among this huge ensemble cast, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, and Mark Rylance, were all excellent stand-outs. 

  • Several entertaining scenes, running jokes, and set pieces, all moving at a quick pace. It all leads to that ending, which I think is worth seeing. 

  • There are some awesome rants and outbursts to behold here. Also that bag over the head gag, that you’d think I’d get tired of, but no, let’s have more bags over heads! 

  • Thematically it does have a strong warning that we really should pay heed to. The tag line is that this is “based on truly possible events,” and I believe that. 

NEGATIVES

  • Simply put, you might not find the premise and characters humorous or entertaining at all. Your mileage may vary. 

  • How many cynical commentaries can you put up with? Because this movie is almost two and a half hours long of cynical commentaries. 

  • What’s going on Adam McKay? Are you trying to compete with Michael Bay? So many quick cuts and edits in this one, that you’d think this was ADHD the movie. You’ve got too many B-Rolls that you had to use or something? 

  • The plot seems so ridiculous that it borders on being outrageously unbelievable. I mean that’s an opinion you could very well have that can ruin your enjoyment of this movie. Assuming that’s how you feel about the story. 

  • Certain characters didn't really add to the story as much as I hoped they would, like Timothee Chalamet and Ariana Grande. Plus Himesh Patel was completely underused in this. 

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Don't Look Up - watched it on NETFLIX

8-Bit Christmas

POSITIVES

  • If you’re looking for a kids Christmas movie that adults who were kids in the 1980s-1990s will also appreciate, has funny jokes, thematic lessons to teach, and it involves the love for video games, then this is the movie for you. 

  • It has a delightfully entertaining narrative that goes into wacky places, visits different genres and tropes, plus it has a charming framing device as well. 

  • Filled with several outrageous, over the top, weird, fun scenes, that isn’t afraid to get into some humorously bizarre flights of fantasy. 

  • Solid cast here that fills out the diverse character types with specific traits. Winslow Fegley, Che Tafari, Steve Zahn, Bellaluna Resnick, Brielle Rankins, Vraelyn Rankins, Max Malas, Cyrus Arnold, Sophia Reid-Gantzert, Neil Patrick Harris, and David Cross, were all fantastic in this.

  • Gotta love all those 1980s pop culture and video game references. 

NEGATIVES

  • It might get too out there and oddly weird for some people. 

  • There are plot details that can only be explained by them having “kid logic,” which is nonsense that you’ll just have to try and ignore. 

  • Those familiar tropes and cliches keeps this from being a completely fresh experience. 

  • May not have the conclusion to the story that you are looking for. 

  • There’s a scene involving vomit that might not sit well with you. 

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8-Bit Christmas - watched it on HBO MAX

The Matrix Resurrections

POSITIVES

  • Who doesn’t love seeing Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss as Neo and Trinity once again? Watching the continuing adventures in the Matrix is a huge incentive to see this movie, but c’mon, it’s really all about the return of Neo and Trinity for a lot of people. 

  • For the new characters in this one, Jessica Henwick is pretty awesome as Bugs. Want more of her, please! Neil Patrick Harris and Jonathan Groff are excellent in this too. 

  • There’s a lot going on with the narrative of this film, but I did enjoy how it further expands on the world building of this franchise, and the overall premise is still fascinating. 

  • Lots of interesting themes, commentaries, subtext, and general thought provoking ideas to chew on, because that’s what I truly love about The Matrix. 

  • Had fun seeing how this movie is so self-aware, and very meta. From subtle easter eggs, recreations of classic Matrix scenes, to full blown clips from the previous films. 

NEGATIVES

  • I dug the easter eggs, meta-ness, and reverence to the original movies, but it can get to the point where it started getting distracting and almost punny. 

  • My biggest disappointment with the movie is that the martial arts sequences and action beats absolutely do not hold a candle to the previous films. 

  • Others might be disappointed with the changes made to certain returning characters. 

  • Speaking of characters, I really felt like several of them could have had far more screen time than they were actually given. 

  • Somehow it felt like I just crammed a TV season into a 148 mins time frame. Made it feel like this was a story that should have just been told on the smaller screen; like on HBO MAX, and didn’t necessarily have to be made into a movie. 

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The Matrix Resurrections - watched it on HBO MAX

The King's Man

POSITIVES

  • Fan’s of the Kingsman franchise will find some things to like about this, like how this origin story is applied to the backdrop of World War I, and some of the world building mechanics like a specific network of spies. 

  • Ralph Fiennes is fantastic as expected playing the Duke of Oxford, but I’d like to give a specific shout-out to Rhys Ifans who looks like he is having just the most absolute fun hamming it up as Grigori Rasputin. 

  • There are some solid set pieces here, like the big Rasputin sequence, the war on the front lines, to the final action filled third act. 

  • Story wise, there are actually several plot surprises to keep you on your toes, but there is one particular surprise that I have to give them kudos for really catching me off guard. 

  • Gotta love the camera work in this film, from how it frames the action beats, to that sword-cam! 

NEGATIVES

  • For a movie that’s filled with so much visual spectacle and intriguing plot points, there’s this feeling of unremarkableness to the whole thing. 

  • I get that there’s a theme and a point to this story, but it’s seriously overshadowed by it’s constant need to focus so much on the plot mechanics. 

  • Many of the characters are just so disappointingly underwritten and are only there to serve the plot when convenient. 

  • Not necessarily criticizing Harris Dickinson specifically, but the character of Conrad is just kind of a boring uninspired protagonist, that I should have cared more for, but didn’t. 

  • Augh. Depiction of animal cruelty. Augh. 

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

The King's Man - watched it IN THEATERS

Spider-Man: No Way Home

POSITIVES

  • Out of all the live-action Spider-Man movies, this is undoubtedly the most ambitious, most exciting, and most engaging story that will hold a solid grip of your attention from the very beginning, all the way to the very end. It’s a 148 minutes movie, and I wanted it longer! 

  • Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Marisa Tomei, Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe, and so many more! What a spectacular cast, working as a sensational ensemble, that truly brings these amazing characters to life on screen. 

  • Between all the action and the comic book-ness of it all, the scenes where it really is just characters talking to each other, a discussion, or an argument, having a heart to heart moment, are what I thought truly elevated this film beyond just your typical blockbuster superhero movie.  

  • If you are a huge Spider-Man fan and a huge MCU fan, this installment to the franchise is such an incredible gift that will entertain you like no other live-action Spidey movie has ever done prior to this. Yes, certain particular references, cameos, and those big set pieces help a lot. 

  • From the heroism, science stuff, the moral messaging, the trials and tribulations, this film is truly an excellent representation of what makes Spider-Man who he is.

NEGATIVES

  • There are plot turns of events here that I don’t think will please everyone. Hopefully not to the point where they hate the movie, but not everyone will be happy with some of the outcomes. 

  • They didn’t make much of an attempt at explaining certain logistical aspects of the plot that I’m sure you will be really curious about. So, plot holes? 

  • Certain characters simply did not get as much screen time as you might have hoped they would have gotten. 

  • The way the action sequences are stitched together can be kinda messy. 

  • Some of those Spider-Man or MCU related easter eggs and winks to the camera can be a little too much or cringey at times.

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Spider-Man: No Way Home - watched it IN THEATERS

Nightmare Alley

POSITIVES

  • Intriguing, fascinating, dark, grim, with a wide-ranging set of characters, “Nightmare Alley” is an odd and unusual film that just grabs your attention visually and narratively.

  • Cate Blanchett. Period. Yes, Bradley Cooper was very solid. The whole ensemble cast that includes talent like Toni Collette, David Strathairn, Willem Dafoe, Richard Jenkins, and many more, were all really good. However, Cate Blanchett was just as amazing as she always is and owned this movie.

  • This film is filled with lots of well done character work, interactions, and conversations, that those moments are truly the best parts of this movie.

  • The particular skill and talent that this story features is what piqued my interest the most.

  • There are specific themes and lessons that this story is telling us that is worth the price of watching this movie.

NEGATIVES

  • Overall has quite a bit of unpleasantness with the story, setting, and characters that dampened by overall enjoyment of the movie. It wouldn’t be much of an issue if it wasn’t for the fact that I found it hard to care for the main character.

  • While I understand the necessary expositional content that the first act had to do, I just wished it would have gotten to the main meat of the story much sooner than it did.

  • I was disappointed with how the third act was just so predictable in ways that I wished the movie wouldn’t go in.

  • Rooney Mara seemed like she was completely underutilized in her role here.

  • Some bits of gruesomeness that may not be for everyone.

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Nightmare Alley - watched it IN THEATERS

C'mon C'mon

POSITIVES

  • There’s a fascinating and insightful story here that is worth the experience. Especially from the perspective of somebody who isn’t a parent or somebody who is. 

  • The three primary leads are fantastic in their roles. Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny, Woody Norman as Jesse, and Gaby Hoffmann as Viv. 

  • Probably the main draw to grab your attention in this film, is the chemistry, conversations, and dynamics between Johnny and Jesse, or Johnny and Viv, or Jesse and Viv. 

  • Thematically does have some thought provoking things to say. The plot thread involving the interviews with the kids should definitely give you something to think about. 

  • Love the location settings in this. New York City, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. 

NEGATIVES

  • Right off the bat I gotta ask, did this really have to be in Black & White? I’m not against the visual format, but there just doesn’t seem to be any real justification as to why this couldn’t have been in vibrant color. 

  • It also doesn’t help that due to this particular narrative, I can imagine people getting bored, restless, and just waiting for the movie to stop feeling so aimless. 

  • There are some frustrating moments that made me want to do a facepalm or shrug in bewilderment. 

  • Alright, I realize it’s unfair for me to say this, but I found the kid to be pretty annoying, to the detriment of me completely enjoying the movie. 

  • I’m so tired of movies using Clair De Lune! It’s overused people. Pick something else! 

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C’mon C’mon - watched it IN THEATERS

Mixtape

POSITIVES

  • Gotta love the pleasantly simple premise that revolves around a mixtape, the songs, how music is living, and how they could bring people together. 

  • Delightful story, filled with charming characters, fun dialogue, solid scenes, and feel good moments. 

  • Fantastic cast! Gemma Brooke Allen, Julie Bowen, Nick Thune, Audrey Hsieh, Olga Petsa, and Nick Thune, are all excellent in this. 

  • The 1990s references from the Y2K bug, Napster, to Ask Jeeves, are definitely some nostalgic fun. 

  • Soundtrack is filled with a pretty good collection of rock and pop songs. 

NEGATIVES

  • Not exactly the most exciting movie to watch, and can be a little too precious at times. 

  • There’s a certain familiarity to the plot progression that keeps this from completely standing out among the sea of movies in this vein. 

  • You might not completely relate with this movie if you think this is strictly a kids movie because of the young female cast. 

  • Some outdated plot tropes, ideas, and concepts. Meh. 

  • The bully characters cliche. Tired of it. 

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Mixtape - watched it on NETFLIX

West Side Story

POSITIVES

  • Gotta appreciate how this movie is unabashedly unashamed to just break out into a huge song and dance number. Those big energetic musical set pieces are fantastically enjoyable. There’s a reason several of the songs are musical classics. 

  • As a variation of the Romeo & Juliet tale, this continues to be an entertaining and interesting story to watch. Even if you already know how it’s likely going to end. 

  • Kudos to Spielberg for taking advantage of the movie medium by making this musical not look like it’s just on a stage, with some scenes moving from one location to another. However I also have to give kudos for him willing to still have certain musical numbers completely take place on a staged location, but instead uses the camera to create movements to the scene. 

  • Speaking of deserving recognition. The wonderful cast of actors! From the charming Rachel Zegler, the amazing Ariana Debose, to all the solid performances by David Alvarez, Mike Faist, Rita Moreno, Brian d'Arcy James, Josh Andrés Rivera, Corey Stoll, Iris Menas, and even Ansel Elgort. 

  • Those social commentaries that absolutely stand the test of time. Still very relevant 60+ Years later.

NEGATIVES

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West Side Story (2021) - watched it IN THEATERS

tick, tick... BOOM!

POSITIVES

  • If you love the musical RENT, Jonathan Larson, or Andrew Garfield, then you really need to watch this movie. 

  • Loved the narrative with the framing device and the intercutting between the stage and the story. 

  • Andrew Garfield is an amazingly energetic versatile actor that absolutely shines as Jonathan Larson. 

  • Supporting cast is fantastic as well, with many highlights by Robin de Jesús and Alexandra Shipp. 

  • The songs are peppy, catchy, and lively. Plus the musical numbers are just presented really well, and in absolute sync with the story telling. "Boho Days," "No More," "Therapy," and several more are just some of the great choices to pick from.

NEGATIVES

  • If you don't like artsy kids, then this might just annoy you. 

  • If you don’t like musicals, then this is really not going to change your mind.  

  • There are a good amount of broadway related cameos that can be too distracting.  

  • My fault, but I kept thinking that the character Karessa was going to go in one particular direction with the story, and yet it never happened. Intentional subversion that played on my false expectations?  

  • Speaking of expectations. The conclusion to the movie may not be as satisfying as it probably should have been.

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tick, tick… BOOM! - watched it on NETFLIX