Scream (2022)

POSITIVES

  • You watch these Scream movies for it constantly being self-aware and meta (even calls out why this couldn’t just be called Scream 5), all the pop culture references (that Rian Johnson joke!), plus seeing Ghostface get beat up by the would-be victim (never gets tiring to see). This movie delivers splendidly on all those fronts. 

  • As expected, we know that there’s going to be this huge third act full of deaths, but prior to that are some solid murder set pieces that are thrilling to see play out. Those kills are pretty brutal too! 

  • The connections to the previous films should make fans happy. There is also one particular call-back scene that I thought was absolutely perfect. 

  • It’s good seeing the legacy characters/actors like David Arquette, Courteney Cox, and Neve Campbell, but huge shout out to the excellent new cast which includes Melissa Barrera, Jack Quaid, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and more. 

  • There’s a running theme and plot thread about trust that is a lot of fun, and then there’s the subtextual theme on what this movie is really about that is just fantastic. 

NEGATIVES

  • Those plot conveniences are really pushing some things to incredulous levels. 

  • Hey movie! I know you’re having fun with all those fake-out jump scares, but it got tiring really fast. 

  • You new kids are supposed to be so self-aware and smart about movie plot tropes, and you still make the stupid decisions?!! Calling out your own stupid decisions doesn’t change the fact you made stupid decisions! 

  • Is it a negative in the fact that I thought it was pretty obvious who Ghostface was in this movie? Kinda kills the fun a little on the whodunit plot premise. 

  • What is it about these Scream sequels that can make them feel generic and unmemorable? 

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Scream (2022) - watched it IN THEATERS

Raging Fire ( 怒火 )

POSITIVES

  • The movie kicks ass with lots of exciting action set pieces. From the gunplay, standoffs, chase sequences, to the martial arts moves. 

  • Story has a kick ass plot premise on this adversarial conflict that should motivate you to see it through to the end. 

  • Donnie Yen kicks ass because Donnie Yen always kicks ass. He's the protagonist you want him to be. 

  • Nicholas Tse kicks ass playing the antagonist. The whole movie is even more interesting because of his side of the story. 

  • Those kick ass stunt work and action choreography are awesome to watch on screen. Fans of the genre should not skip this movie. 

NEGATIVES

  • Familiar plot tropes, cliches, and conveniences here and there keep it from being a fresh and unique experience. 

  • Those unbelievable illogical moments aren't helping either.  

  • Some might be surprised at how violent things can get in this movie. 

  • There were a couple of triumphantly dramatic scenes that were supposed to be inspiring, but it had an element of ridiculousness that kinda diffused that. 

  • Hey movie! Do you know how heavy a duffle bag full of money is? Very heavy. 

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Raging Fire ( 怒火 ) - watched it on HOOPLA

The 355

POSITIVES

  • If you’re looking for a traditionally entertaining spy movie then this one will help past the time. 

  • Action set pieces are solid, and features some good chase sequences.

  • The main draw of this movie are the chemistry, dynamics, and charm of the four leads in Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong'o, Diane Kruger, and Penélope Cruz. It’s fun seeing their characters go through this movie, and I legitimately wouldn’t mind seeing more films featuring them. 

  • It’s always enjoyable seeing Jessica Chastain doing physical combat and being badass. 

  • I dug the movie’s conceit of having multicultural characters showcasing many different languages, which includes featuring different world locations. 

NEGATIVES

  • It’s generally unremarkable and probably disposable of a spy action flick, with your familiar plot tropes and cliches. 

  • Certain plot points come off as artificially coincidental and some plot reveals were just too obvious to offer any legitimately fun surprises. 

  • Kinda wished there were more innovative action set pieces. 

  • Fan Bingbing’s character seemed unnaturally included with the group, and a rather underwritten role at that. 

  • The epilogue conclusion comes off as dumb and patronizing. 

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The 355 - watched it IN THEATERS

The Lost Daughter

POSITIVES

  • This film has a compelling narrative and tone that hooks you into the premise. 

  • Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley are amazing in their roles as Leda, who is what I would consider a very unconventional character for a protagonist that we are supposed to sympathize with. 

  • There’s a certain fascination in seeing what Leda is going to do in this movie that might make you curious enough to see things through to the end. 

  • Supporting cast is excellent as well, and adds to the drama and the tension of the premise. Solid work by Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, Paul Mescal, Dagmara Domińczyk, and more. 

  • Has thought provocative commentaries and themes that I think spouses, parents, and middle aged people might just relate to. 

NEGATIVES

  • Has a gradual somewhat meandering build up into the plot that might make you feel impatient. 

  • There are some frustrating plot points to put up with. 

  • Rude, mean, inconsiderate, annoying people. There's a lot of them in this movie. 

  • Feels like the commentaries in this movie lays it on a little too thick 

  • Ending might not be that satisfying 

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The Lost Daughter - watched it on NETFLIX

The Power of the Dog

POSITIVES

  • Interesting character dynamics and relationships are what this film is about. 

  • Benedict Cumberbatch plays a really commanding man, and he'll keep you wondering what he is going to do next. 

  • Not to be outshined by Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-Mcphee, are all excellent in their roles as well. 

  • Perfectly captures the grit, emptiness, beauty and wonder of the West. 

  • Moments, small scenes and interactions that greatly represent the themes of the movie that are absolutely worth exploring, and gives valid reasons to watch this slow burn of a story. Paper flowers on a table, the dinner party, "a barking dog," wood poles plus a bunny, and hides. 

NEGATIVES

  • People expecting a traditional Western will be very disappointed. 

  • I can hear the complaints. Slow moving and boring! 

  • Bad decisions because of naivety or just plot conveniences? 

  • Hope you don't mind male nudity. 

  • Depiction of animal abuse. ugh 

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The Power of the Dog - watched it on NETFLIX

Passing

POSITIVES

  • Fascinating provocative premise that'll give you something to really think about.

  • Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga are fantastic in this. Together in a scene? Amazing. They truly carry the movie. 

  • Good supporting cast as well that adds immensely to the film, which includes André Holland, Bill Camp, and Alexander Skarsgård. 

  • The look of the film and the musical score (or lack thereof) really creates the perfect tone and mood to such a delicate story. 

  • Interesting conversations and subject matters that say a lot thematically, whether overtly or subtlety.

NEGATIVES

  • A black & white film with a 4x3 aspect ratio? This might not be for everyone's taste. 

  • Some might find the heavy themes and commentary about racism to be seen as a little too heavy handed. 

  • Not exactly a fast moving movie, so do put up with it's slow careful pacing. So for that matter, I hope you don't get bored. 

  • There are moments that seemed a bit unbelievable to me, or the movie didn't do enough to help me understand it.  

  • I get that the musical score (or lack thereof) is purposefully implemented in the way they did for this movie, but it can feel a bit lacking at times.

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Passing - watched it on NETFLIX

The Rescue

POSITIVES

  • An incredible true story of fighting against the impossible when young lives are on the line. 

  • I liked how there is a focus on these specific cave-divers as the primary perspective of this story. Their stepping up beyond what is expected of them is inspiring to watch. 

  • Those twists and turns in the story keeps you on your toes wondering what else is going to happen. 

  • Narrative manages to present multiple themes and stories that explore beyond the main premise of this film. 

  • It's amazing how this documentary was able to seamlessly mix archival footage with reenacted ones. 

NEGATIVES

  • It's a documentary film. Not everybody watches them. 

  • Subtitles. Hope you're okay with them. 

  • I would have appreciated a particular perspective to the story that isn’t quite presented in this film. 

  • Felt like there was some padding to the plot to make the film longer than it has to be. 

  • With that said, I would have liked an expanded ending and epilogue to this story. 

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The Rescue - watched it on DISNEY+

Being the Ricardos

POSITIVES

  • Premise for this semi biopic is interesting. Captures a fascinatingly stressful week of filming an episode of "I Love Lucy," with a solid framing device that plays with that narrative. 

  • Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem were phenomenal in the roles of Lucy and Desi! They really brought them to life in this film and their chemistry together was just great. 

  • Supporting ensemble cast is excellent and adds so much to the story. Fantastic work by Nina Arianda, Alia Shawkat, J.K. Simmons, Tony Hale, and Jake Lacy. 

  • Banter and dialogue. Those back and forth conversations / arguments are just spectacular to listen to. Even the interview answers were excellent. Aaron Sorkin hasn't lost it yet. 

  • I expected there to be quite a bit of commentary on the many seriously relatable subject matters that this film covers, but what I was pleasantly surprised by was that there were actual comedy jokes in this, and that they were legitimately funny. 

NEGATIVES

  • Do they look like Lucy and Desi? For that matter Fred and Ethel Mertz? No, not really, and that might bother some. 

  • You can only do so much visually with a movie premise like this, so don't expect all the special effects or sweeping locales. 

  • Is this story juggling too many plot threads than absolutely necessary? Maybe. 

  • Dare I say that there were multiple sequences that were actually uninteresting and boring? I dare say. 

  • Probably a longer movie than it had to be. It’s about 2 hours long, and I honestly think they could have cut about 10-20 mins off it. 

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Being The Ricardos - watched it IN THEATERS

Red Rocket

POSITIVES

  • Has a good naturalistic feel to the narrative and the characters, with a somewhat slice-of-life story that is provocatively challenging, has some dark comedic plot points, and even gives you some fascinating insight into the porn industry. This movie takes you places. 

  • Simon Rex as the charmingly reprehensible Mikey Saber brings such an amazing energy to this film. He has great chemistry with the rest of the cast. He propels the whole plot forward whether in exciting or tense ways, that you just might get hooked into seeing where the story takes him. 

  • Suzanna Son as Strawberry absolutely lights up this movie! Fantastic performance! Awesome screen presence! Plus she sings really well too! If there’s one character that you will want to root for, it’s Strawberry. 

  • Being that the interest in this movie relies a lot on it’s cast, their conversations and their banter, I have to definitely give a shout out to Bree Elrod, Brenda Deiss, Ethan Darbone, Brittney Rodriguez, Judy Hill, and Shih-Ching Tsou, who were all great in this. 

  • The social and cultural commentary plus thematic lessons that the story has is very thought provoking, and makes the experience watching this worth it.

NEGATIVES

  • The main romantic premise is going to turn away some people. 

  • Sexual content is also another thing that might turn away some people. 

  • Almost all the characters aren’t exactly sympathetic which might also turn away some people. 

  • It can feel a bit aimless at times. 

  • That ending isn’t going to please everyone.

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Red Rocket - watched it IN THEATERS

Licorice Pizza

POSITIVES

  • As an unconventional romance, and coming-of-age slice-of-life dramedy, set in the 1970s, this movie is like peeking into the lives of these unlikely pair of characters, and finding entertainment in watching what they do. 

  • With plot threads involving child actors, water beds, an aging actor that does stunts on motorbikes, an unhinged rich guy during a gas shortage, to politicians and politics, there are very many noteworthily fascinating scenes and set pieces that really goes places. This film is truly like no other. 

  • PT Anderson’s direction aside, this movie is worth checking out for the amazing work by Alana Haim as the not ashamed to speak her mind Alana Kane, and Cooper Hoffman as the charming hopeless romantic that is constantly hustling Gary Valentine. The chemistry that Haim and Hoffman have is simply fantastic. 

  • The dialogue. The banter. The insults. The writing in this is excellent! 

  • Has a free-wheeling go into random story beats type of narrative, with all the colorful characters that inhabit these stories, plus all the social commentaries and thematic lessons. This movie constantly makes all the attempts to keep your interest in wondering where the plot is going. For the most part, it truly succeeds at that. 

NEGATIVES

  • A romance involving an adult and an under-age teenage boy? Yikes! 

  • The “will they or won’t they” premise can get pretty frustrating to put up with. 

  • Blatantly intentional Japanese racism that’s played for laughs? WTF?! What’s worse is that if PTA took it out of the movie, it wouldn't have impacted the story at all! 

  • Has an unflattering look at show biz business types that is a little bit too on-the-nose in a rather cynical way. 

  • At a certain point it gets easy to ask “when is this over?” 

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Licorice Pizza - watched it IN THEATERS