Turning Red

POSITIVES

  • This highly entertaining premise, is full of kinetic energy, excellent sense of humor, relatable teenage perspective, anime influenced flavors, plus a super cute and giant talking fluffy red panda. What’s not to like? 

  • Really liked several scenes in this movie. From the montage sequences, action beats, recipe for embarrassment set pieces, to that fantastic third act. Good stuff here overall.  

  • Gotta love the cast here. Rosalie Chiang is phenomenal as Mei Lee, Sandra Oh is wonderful as her Mom Ming Lee, Ava Morse is great as Miriam, plus many more! They really add a lot of character to their characters. 

  • While it’s not the most original thematic message found in coming of age stories, it’s still one that deserves to be celebrated. Speaking of which. I see why this was released during Women’s History Month. Brava!

  • Kudos to Finneas and Billie Eilish for perfectly capturing that Boy Band sound. Enjoyed those 4*Town songs. 

NEGATIVES

  • You might be tempted to accuse this movie of not being the visual powerhouse that you would expect from Pixar. 

  • There were several scenes where Meilin’s Mom just acted so cluelessly unaware of her actions, that it was annoyingly frustrating to watch.  

  • Yes there are some certain convenient plot points that you’ll just have to accept without too many questions. 

  • If you’re not into the whole boy band thing. This will likely find a way to annoy you then. 

  • One particular dream sequence seemed a little too out of place with the rest of the film. 

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Turning Red - watched it on DISNEY+

Drive My Car

POSITIVES

  • Pleasantly engaging story for a deliberately casually paced three hours film. 

  • Hidetoshi Nishijima is an excellent lead of a fantastic cast that’s filled with multicultural supporting roles. Kudos to Masaki Okada, Tôko Miura, Yoo-rim Park, Dae-Young Jin, Sonia Yuan, and the beautiful Reika Kirishima.

  • It's about the conversations, the connections and insight that comes from communication. One could describe it all as poetic. 

  • Love the thematic parallels presented in the narrative. 

  • That red Saab 900 Turbo driving through the serene views of Japan is very beautiful to watch. 

NEGATIVES

  • It's a three hours movie. Hope you're prepared for that. 

  • Slow burn of a story filled with tons of monologues. Not for everybody. 

  • The lack of exciting conflicts also might not be for everybody's taste in stories. 

  • There's a plot reveal that while I understand gives a perfectly good reason for including it, I still just didn't care for it at all. 

  • Honestly, I personally wouldn't watch the play that's presented in the movie, and it's a significant element of the narrative. 

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Drive My Car (Doraibu mai kâ) - watched it on HBO MAX

Fresh

POSITIVES

  • If you're someone who is cynical about dating, relationships, and meeting people for the first time, well this just might be an engaging movie for you. If you're someone who has a twisted curiosity about the more depraved, dark horrific things that people might do in this world, well this just might be a thrilling movie for you too. 

  • Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan are absolutely fantastic. They really carry the movie. The supporting cast includes Jojo T. Gibbs, Dayo Okeniyi, Charlotte Le Bon, and are great as well.  

  • Just when you thought you had an idea where the movie was going, you're immediately reminded that this is a horror film. It's the kind of horror film that is more about the situation than it is about the scares. Don't get me wrong though, the situation presented is very very scary. 

  • Has some twisted montages that really represent this movie well. Plus certain scenes discussing (and joking about) a particular subject matter is fascinating in an incredibly wrong way. 

  • Nice song choices found here. Obsession by Animation. Restless Heart by Peter Cetera. Perfect Day by Duran Duran. Endless Summer Nights by Richard Marx. Le Jardin by La Femme. 

NEGATIVES

  • Subject matter is definitely not going to be for anybody. 

  • uuhhmmm, kinda gross. Kinda? It can get pretty gross. Don't lose your meal. 

  • Irresponsible stupid decisions can be frustrating to watch. Plus there are a few questionable plot details and directions that kinda ruins the movie for me a bit. 

  • Leans a little too hard on the commentary about idiotic, creepy, toxic, and useless men. 

  • Frankly speaking. It's not exactly the most cinematic movie to watch. 

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Fresh - watched it on HULU

The Batman

POSITIVES

  • If you wanted to have a film noirish story, mixed with an unraveling mystery of a serial killer, with a little bit of torture puzzles, plus a super gloomy investigative vigilante that’s dressed like a Bat, and it’s a three hours long movie, then definitely check this out. I myself thought those three hours moved pretty well. 

  • Best thing about this is honestly anything to do with Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle AKA Catwoman. She is fantastic, and absolutely livens things up. I liked Jeffrey Wright playing Batman’s sidekick too… 

  • There are some solid action beats in this movie, like the ones where Batman beats people up, but that Batmobile set piece in particular was a pretty awesome highlight. 

  • Appreciated the thematic message that this narrative ended up with, and it’s one that’s absolutely worth bringing up now. 

  • Has some beautifully shot visuals and imagery that really knows how to use those shadows. 

NEGATIVES

  • There are certain characters that you just don’t get to spend as much time with as you might have hoped. Then there are certain ones that you want less time with. Just saying.

  • How much of Batman brooding can you take? Because Rob Pattinson is really good at that. Oh, you want more emotions coming from Batman? How about just slightly less brooding? Or contemplative brooding? There’s a lot of brooding. 

  • It’s a three hours movie! So it must be filled with so many thrilling action sequences to eat up all that time watching this right? Right? Right?! No. Not really. Don’t get bored now. 

  • One thing kinda really bugged me. There is one moment during the third act where there is a big fake out that happens. Sorta felt like the movie was just effing with the audience at that point. Didn’t really appreciate that. 

  • In the end, does this new interpretation really add anything significantly new to the Batman mythos that justifies its existence and that three hours runtime? No. Not really. Hope you’re okay with this direction. 

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The Batman - watched it IN THEATERS

Catwoman: Hunted

POSITIVES

  • From set piece to set piece, this animated movie about heists and colorful adversaries, makes for an entertaining watch to pass the time. 

  • Elizabeth Gillies is fantastic as the voice of Catwoman. Plus she sells her corny jokes and puns pretty well. 

  • Fun action sequences move things along decently well. 

  • Anime style visuals and jazzy soundtrack is really cool. 

  • Fans of the comic books should enjoy the easter eggs and cameos. 

NEGATIVES

  • Plot is as basic as it gets. Don't expect anything truly noteworthy. 

  • Very straight to home video direction. Definitely not cinematic. Plus the CG animation can be a little too obvious at times in a negative way.  

  • Evokes anime, but doesn't quite get what makes anime actually look and feel like anime. 

  • Several of the voice actors seem like they are just phoning it in. 

  • The bad guys are just so dumb. It's stupid. It’s stupid dumb.  

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

Catwoman: Hunted - watched it on VIDEO ON DEMAND

No Exit

POSITIVES

  • It's got a solid premise for a thriller that's all set in one location. 

  • Havana Rose Liu is excellent in the lead here, and the rest of the cast are also solid, which includes Dennis Haysbert, Dale Dickey, David Rysdahl, and Danny Ramirez. They work well together. 

  • There are some plot developments that keep things exciting. 

  • Play on your emotions into thinking of what you would do if you were in their situation. Which is a fun exercise to do. 

  • That game of Bullshit. 

NEGATIVES

  • Stupid decisions can make the movie seem stupid. 

  • Prepare to get frustrated during some parts. 

  • At one point you'll be thinking "how much longer can they stretch this out?!" 

  • Some plot conveniences will help stretch things out. 

  • Addresses some seriously dark topics, but it only has them included in a sort of superficial kinda way. 

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

No Exit - watched it on HULU

Studio 666

POSITIVES

  • If the idea of the rock band The Foo Fighters playing themselves, in a haunted house type story, done in a dark comedic manner, is something fun you'd like to see, then go watch this movie! 

  • A huge part of what makes this movie enjoyable is it’s sense of humor of not taking itself too seriously, having some fun banter, cheesy moments, and just happily embracing the silliness of it all. At the same time it has a serious direction of having some solid horror sensibilities with some legitimately scary imagery and bloody gore. 

  • So much kudos to Dave Grohl for really throwing himself into this version of Dave Grohl that he is playing. He is fantastic! Gotta appreciate the self-deprecating sensibilities that the band has in this. 

  • Part of the fun of watching this movie are the pop culture references, the meta-ness, cameos, and easter eggs. 

  • That killer epic super heavy song that the Foo Fighters are working on here sounds so good. 

NEGATIVES

  • Nandi Bushell might be too young to be watching the graphic visuals and language found in this. Not to mention those who generally mind those Rated R things. 

  • Okay, we know. They are not professional actors, and it shows. 

  • Yes, the movie also shows some limits to not being as visually cinematic as it could be, especially when paired with the fact that it’s all set in one location like a bottle episode. 

  • Plot-wise there are just unbelievable moments that you are just going to have to forgive. 

  • Unfortunately “Love Dies Young” doesn’t really live up to that killer epic super heavy song that Foo Fighters were working on in the movie. 

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Studio 666 - watched it IN THEATERS

Fistful of Vengeance

POSITIVES

  • Fans of Wu Assassins will appreciate the continuation of that story with this movie. 

  • Iko Uwais, Lewis Tan, and Lawrence Kao, are still cool as our protagonists. 

  • That mix of supernatural elements with martial arts action is a solid idea for a premise. 

  • The big action thriller set piece set in that one building was exciting enough. 

  • Bangkok, Thailand is a nice choice for location. 

NEGATIVES

  • Have to say that if you haven’t watched Wu Assassins, then you might be a little lost.

  • Felt like it was just going through a check list of familiar plot tropes, cliches, and wish-fulfillment. 

  • Certain characters and plot developments just felt rushed. 

  • Action sequences felt uninspired or were just average. 

  • Coincidental lack of bystanders or background people during the big set pieces kinda distracted me too much. 

loveditenjoyeditlikedit IT’S OKAY itsmehitsterrible

Fistful of Vengeance - watched it on NETFLIX

The Tinder Swindler

POSITIVES

  • To anybody who meets strangers online, you should probably watch this fascinating cautionary tale. 

  • Interesting narrative that should hook you until the end. It only gets even more gripping as more and more details are revealed. 

  • Satisfying third act. Satisfying. 

  • Interviews felt very personable and just sucks you into their stories. 

  • Loved the use and integration of media and apps into the visual direction. Plus a lot of good B-footage used.  

NEGATIVES

  • Knowing what you know about this documentary, it might just make you super frustrated. Oh you're going to roll your eyes a couple of times. 

  • Considering the narrative there can be a bit of confusion with some of the details or lack of.  

  • There are a couple of people that I wished the documentary would have been able to get some statements from. 

  • Don't know about you, but seeing the lavish lifestyle displayed on screen makes me disgusted. 

  • It's still an ongoing story, so the final conclusion in the documentary may not be as satisfying. 

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

The Tinder Swindler - watched it on NETFLIX

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

POSITIVES

  • If you're looking for some bloody gory violence with the return of Leatherface, congratulations! 

  • Has some solid suspenseful moments here and there for you scary horror movie fans. 

  • There's that one social media joke that I chuckled at. 

  • Some of the commentaries mentioned are at least thought provoking. 

  • It's not a super long movie. 

NEGATIVES

  • It'll probably be better if this derivative movie was even shorter. 

  • Overall a disappointing attempt of yet another "requel" to the 1974 original. 

  • What's more frustrating in a slasher movie than seeing people do the most stupid things possible that gets them killed. 

  • It's hard to care if the characters die or not, if the movie doesn't make much of an effort to make me care for the characters. 

  • It threw in all the popular triggering social issues into this movie just to be embarrassingly provocative just for the sake of it. 

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Texas Chainsaw Massacre - watched it on NETFLIX