Clash Of The Titans

Can you believe this shit?

11 damn years and we're just NOW talking Clash Of The Titans! It's probably been almost 20 years since I last saw this movie and very much like Jason And The Argonauts the legacy of the film is still prevalent in my mind. This was Ray Harryhausen's final bow in the film industry but what a fantastic finale to a lifetime of incredible work, and the fact you can actually see a lot of the models and figures from this movie even today is a gift from the heavens. Hell I almost want to say this was the last bow of true mythical fantasy epics in the year of our lord 1981, and it does tell a sprawling big story that no doubt takes maaaaany elements of greek mythology into account. Following Perseus demigod son of Zeus who wishes to take the hand of the princess Andromeda, is tasked with several trials not only to win her love but save her from a terrible fate. That is the bare bones plot when you get right down to it, but the movie takes a good bit of time setting up this world and fleshes it out constantly with mythological creatures and battles, from a prince cursed and deformed by the gods, to the fabled Kraken, to the still quite horrifying Medusa, and still more to see. I heard Ray was not thrilled with his work and wanted to fine tune the film stock to make it look better but didn't have the time, yet I still wholeheartedly say the stop motion effects are great! In any capacity it's a marvel to look at and I have zero issue saying everything to the buildup of Medusa is so eerie and dreadfilled, from the surprisingly creepy appearance of Charon the ferryman to the dilapidated temple to the actual appearance of Medusa is a gold mine of suspense and horror. Undoubtedly the highlight of the entire film for my money. But even beyond that seeing Pegasus, giant scorpions, the deformed monster Calibos who by the by looks spectacular to the point where I honestly don't even see an actor under the prosthesis, even the robotic owl Bubo which some people deride but I find charming only adds to the magic of the film. I feel the gods themselves were much better handled here than in The Argonauts, in no small part due to the cast I mean flippin' Sir Laurence Olivier as Zeus is pitch goddamn perfect in this movie, Maggie Smith as spurned goddess Thetis works great with the plot, Ursula Andress as Aphrodite is stellar casting in my opinion, and how they interact with the story feels more engaging. Of course love goes to our mortal cast as well, Harry Hamlin though not as compelling as Todd Armstrong has a solid look and still does a good job throughout being an archetypal hero, Judi Bowker while not having a great deal of material to work with is still a welcome presence and I think you can tell she was enjoying her time on set, again I'd like to shoutout Neil McCarthy as Calibos and even though he's really only the antagonist for the first act is such a trooper for going through such extensive makeup and prosthetics plus being a good villain gets him brownie points in the end, and I'll be damned if I still don't treasure seeing Burgess Meredith in any role and even as a supporting character he still not only commits but is wonderful to watch. It's a classic in it's own right and deserves the love, not perfect but damn good enough to where you don't mind. It is a shame that such a technical marvel was the last of it's kind, I am a big advocate for practical effects and always been a fan of stop motion and while the craft hasn't become obsolete it breaks my heart knowing we'll never reach such heights again. It does make me curious how much real, well...anything will be showcased in The Odyssey, knowing Christopher Nolan is a true hands on director who loves to do stuff without much computer wizardy gives me hope that the sword wielding epics aren't truly dead and gone. If you are any kind of fan of monsters, old school effects, mythological stories, or just imaginative adventures this is a movie you must see. I give it 3.5 stars, 8/10, and boy do we have an event to attend on Friday my friends.

Jason & The Argonauts

I almost want to say this is the first time I've seen this.

Oh I absolutely knew of it growing up and the stop motion effects by Ray Harryhausen, but I truly believe this is my first watch through. So how was it? Pretty solid I gotta say, this is one of the earliest greek epics that I'm aware of concerning a young man with a quest to reclaim a homeland and slay a tyrant who is given a near impossible task from the gods to obtain a golden fleece to aid his revenge. What's interesting is this is a tale that literally predates The Odyssey so it made since to showcase it this week, and it honestly bears some similarities with the hero making a long journey with several courageous men, the gods on Olympus treating the heroes just like pawns in chess to see who wins, and encountering fabled mythical creatures. Now obviously when most people refer to this movie it is indeed for the stop motion effects, but it is a very good movie on it's own that should be watched. That being said the effects by Harryhausen are still great and show good variety ranging from giant metal statue Talos, to a hydra, to flying harpy's, and of course sword wielding skeletons which is still just as rad as it was in 1963. I was a bit surprised to learn this was not a great financial success for Columbia when it was first released despite good reviews, and only through the passage of time has it gotten reappraised and considered a classic of the fantasy genre. I think Todd Armstrong is a damn good lead as Jason, a stalwart hero with conviction and wisdom that carries the film just as well as the stopmotion effects. Honor Blackman as Hera was a treat to see and really it doesn't seem that much of a stretch to see her as a goddess, as she aids Jason on his quest while in somewhat friendly competition with Zeus. Though not on the crew for long I gotta say Nigel Green as Hercules was a major highlight, I can't fully explain why but his physicality and warm demeanor made me wish he stuck around to end credits and I'll be damned to think of a better live action Hercules in anything! For a movie roughly an hour and forty-five minutes long it certainly doesn't feel like it, keeping a good brisk pace that's easy to follow and has a charm to it that not many newer movies could have. And I think that's the reason why it's a classic of the genre. It has this old Hollywood charm to it, from the way it's shot, to the actors in it, how the special effects are showcased, it fits the ancient tale because it feels like someone is retelling it at that point in time. So all in all I give it 3 stars, 7/10, and next time we get to a movie that I honestly can't believe I haven't talked about yet.

Evil Dead Burn

Title is giving me Halloween Kills vibes but that's okay.

Uh wow, holy shit what a movie! My God what a horror film. It is fascinating how I didn't see a shred of promotion for this film, I can barely describe the poster, and yet this is a hell of a picture on just about every front. It takes the family drama element of Rise and bumps that shit up to 12, it is a onslaught of a film before the demons start running rampant. Following the widow of an abusive asshole stuck with a family that not only grieves differently but cracks differently is soon set upon by Deadites and mayhem fuelled survival starts anew. The first and most important thing I gotta get out of the way is the visuals, Lee Cronin did not return instead Sébastien Vanicek takes over and I can already tell people are gonna either dig his visual style or be so over it like it's not even funny. There's a lot of long takes with involved choreography, there's a lot of almost Edgar Wright style editing to an even further extent, the camera gets weird in how it moves, the man clearly took a cinema class and got free reign to just go. I didn't hate it by any stretch nor did I love it to bits, I appreciate the variety and it is never boring to look at I'll say that. Performances wise because it's such a small cast and there's so much drama and bloodshed, they get to sink their teeth into some good material. Souheila Yacoub is undoubtedly our star and my oh my does she shine bright, harboring a lot of repressed rage and put into a family dynamic that is anything but welcome she just nails it, kills it in more ways than one, in a strange definitely fucked up way this movie is kinda cathartic if you got family issues. Hunter Doohan you could almost see being the main protagonist as he finds family secrets linked to the Deadites and seems like a very nice well rounded kid who has to survive the meat grinder, very akin to Ash in the first movie and he does very well. Our main star on the titular dead is Erroll Shand, fucking hell this guy commits 150% and is a powerhouse of opposition for our heroes, doing the prosthetics, effectively creepy and brutal, and no doubt will be one of the greatest performances in a solid lineup of possessed characters from this series. In fact this movie stays to the tried and true adage of anybody can die at anytime, it's shocking cause it happens so quick and gives you no time to brace or even get bored which I commend heavily. The gore is excellent, even though the movie does a lot of finger pointing set up, it still pays off well enough and it pushes the envelope for what we haven't seen from this series yet. It is a fucked up movie in the way that you want a horror movie to be, it is horrifying, it can be shocking, it's visceral and in your face when it wants to be. Even after writing all this I'm still kinda at a loss for words, and it undoubtedly will stay in my mind for a bit. If you're not squeamish and are even a casual fan of Evil Dead I say check it out. 3 stars, 8/10, and we got a proper set of reviews next week so I hope to see you there.

In Retrospect: Evil Dead Rise

Alright, from the top!

Yeah it has been about three years since I've watched this and regardless of if the new movie is any kind of follow up, it's nice to watch this again. Still pretty fucking horrifying just on a conceptual level I can tell you that, and I am going to be rather bold here for a hot second and just say Alyssa Sutherland...best horror performance of 2023. Now I know David was really really good in Late Night With The Devil that year, but Alyssa knocked it out of the park. And indeed while the characters aren't super intelligent, the writing is solid enough which is something I feel is grossly needed in the horror scene. That indicates several things to me, they don't half-ass a script, they want you to be invested and engage with these characters, and it just makes for a better story overall. Sure there's some fodder to up the kill count, but our main family unit is pretty damn good. I don't need airtight plots and ingenious characters, and to see a even more modern lens implemented to an Evil Dead film after 2013 works great! It all feels like a necessary evolution to the series, I don't think it's trying to match or top the original trilogy but rather just stand on it's own merits which it does admirably. Alllll the makeup, gore, and effects still are effective and the cinematography is anything but dull or unoriginal lending to a very good modern horror film. And considering the fact I haven't seen shit in terms of promotion for Evil Dead Burn, hell I can barely describe the poster, and yet I'm still very interested to walk into that theater Friday goes to show what a total underdog series this is. I mean really think about the trajectory of this franchise and the standing it has in the horror community, and it's kinda unbelievable we're at this point! Even I'm not that die hard a fan of the series despite reviewing every film, but I respect the living hell out of it and as long as we keep getting gnarly and good stories I'm totally game to see a new one. The score still stands at 3 stars, 7/10, and fingers crossed for even better this weekend.

Jackass Best And Last

If it truly is the end, I'm happy.

As a final hurrah to a rather fascinating phenomena that has lasted a quarter of a century, Best And Last surprisingly doesn't go for the biggest, loudest, and most outrageous finale but more stays consistent with the previous four films adding a fair bit of looking back and reflection on the last production we may see. I could potentially see this might upset some people, you know if you're going out go out with the biggest bang you could do but the new antics they get into while also showcasing a few of the old favorites was really good. It still got a few strong laughs out of me and while it wasn't nearly as packed a crowd as last movie the audience seemed to be having fun with it too. It's funny to see the stark difference between early Jackass and right here right now Jackass, that show looked like it had zero budget and yet look at the legacy it produced. Something that truly shocked me is we got Bam back for a little bit, that's a bit of a big deal and how appropriate that his first segment back has him scared shitless with snakes. We also got a few bits of unreleased footage from the veeeeery early days, so it feels like a well rounded sendoff. Despite not knowing about this series until really my mid to late teens catching the movies on cable, I'd be pretty down to own all five of the movies. It seems almost an impossible task to review a Jackass movie so this probably was more rambling than usual, but I dig it! It's a good movie, fans will be pleased I think, I give it 3 stars and a 7/10! We'll have a bit of a gap between the next new releases so I'll see you at the movies, and be good people.

Supergirl (2026)

Once again Rotten Tomatoes can suck my assssss!

I knew Supergirl was going to be different in a lot of ways from Superman, and I can appreciate the story it tells even if everything didn't hit the bullseye. They absolutely had me from the premise of some assholes shoot and poison Krypto and Kara has to go intergalactic John Wick on fools, but what I got instead was a story that yes has a good amount of ass whooping to be found but touches on subjects like grief with Kara being very detached and a drunk because of her own origin story and it makes sense, and how revenge continues to be the most worthless of causes as Kara constantly averts a young girl named Ruthye from killing the man who destroyed her family which I unabashedly love that it's not as simple as most tales would go in this direction! I like the character development for them both and as much as bitches are gonna bitch, both Milly and Eve work with this story. The visuals have gotten totally out there and me being the Star Wars kid I am how the hell could I not enjoy a film with so many alien heads and practical costuming for said aliens? I love my sci-fi, I love spaceships, I love alien lifeforms of all shapes and sizes, so I was quite happy with that. The action is a godsend and granted my wishes for a more literally grounded camera, they play a lot with long takes and involved choreography, it's shot more standard and yet works miles better in my very humble opinion, and yeah man Supergirl can wreck some shit. For a movie just a bit under 2 hours it flows at a brisk pace but never so quick to where we can't take in a moment and let a scene breathe, it totally benefits from a basic plot so you can let the emotions and action carry you through. Milly is a solid Supergirl that can juggle comedy, emotion, and has got a mean uppercut to boot so I'm game for what might come next for her in this series. Eve Ripley (great fucking name by the by) I already can tell people are gonna whine about "WelL sHe dIDn't Do aNyTHing" and well yeah, she's an emotional support character not an action heroess and this is the big important part: She doesn't have to be a blood soaked crusader to have an interesting story. Matthias Schoenaerts is a basic bad guy, definitely a bastard but I do wish he had more material to work with to be more memorable but that's more a criticism of script than actor, despite a decent design. Flippin' Jason Momoa as Lobo, now I'm not a hardcore Superman fan so my experience with the main man is limited but I really digged him in this movie! This is just an aside but I would kinda find it fun and funny if they recast most of the previous DC actors as new characters. Like get Henry to play like The Question or some shit. Have fun with it. Although Lobo pops up sporadically you can tell Jason is having fun with the part and by God he looks like he just erupted from the comics. I'm also quite happy David shows up a good bit and isn't just a blink and you miss him cameo, effortlessly still having that boy scout energy and making me really looking forward to Man Of Tomorrow. The effects were really good, the cinematography though not in your face has some standout moments, music choice was a little hit and miss but I'm a heavy metal girlie so what can you do? It's not the most jaw dropping next level comic book movie but I got news for you dear ones, I don't want them to be. I just want good and entertaining superhero movies and that is what I got. I respect it, I admire it, and I like it. I really don't know what more I could genuinely ask. So I give it 3 stars, 7.5/10! But oh, we got a curtain call tomorrow so stay tuned.

In Retrospect: Superman (2025)

So about a year later, how does it stack up?

I hate to say this with every iota of my being and every drop of blood in my body, but the hope has waned since seeing this in the cinemas. I remember everyone loving the new Superman, it gave them such an optimistic positive outlook in a world that was very dark and very grim. And I am blaming this solely on me, that while yes it showcases such hope and niceness that absolutely works in the film, I am not happy with the way practically anything is being run by government bodies and so-called "elite" individuals and nothing will satiate or asuage me other than retribution the likes of which even God or Satan could conjure. But I'll save my most vile of hexing for later. It still kinda amazes me just how much they really did shove into a 2 hour movie and YET it somehow works. You think on rewatch the flaws would become abundantly clear of having such a involved plot, more side characters than you can shake a stick at, taking a pretty bold stance on making Superman's parents kinda fucking bastards, absolutely using real world genocide as a basis for in universe conflict, and against all the odds and logic saying this should fail it comes out on top. That's a ballsy ass maneuver to literally kick off the new DC movie universe with so much stuff, but with tight writing, solid ass acting that still kept me invested and entertained, I'd say pretty good effects even if for the fucking life of them they couldn't direct a fight scene where the camera just stays still and yes ooh, ahhh, magical but I don't think it's too much to ask for the camera not to get topsy turvy at the drop of a hat. Minor quibble if I've ever made one and it isn't even terrible but guys, can you maybe not give the camera to a ADHD kid who just got into a 10 pound bag of sugar? I know what that's like because I'm ADHD as shit! But the weaving of the story works just fine, David is still goddamn Superman and while I'm frankly fucking over this comparison bullshit between the Snyderverse and the Gunnverse (comparison is the thief of joy), I still love Henry with his version of Superman, just like I love Brandon and Christopher, and I can safely say the future is in good hands for this character. I mellowed out on Rachel as Lois thank God, I thought she was a hardass and she kinda irked me but on rewatch girl's got a job to do and I ain't gonna slam her for that. Really great to see Edi as Mr. Terrific again, a true standout that I'm kinda proud the writers didn't just go for Guy Gardner even though that would have been the easy way out. Nicholas flip-flapping Hoult man, what a performance to make the most just pure asshole Lex Luthor in visual media and still be a credible antagonist despite being a bietch. Of course I got plenty of love for my boy Skyler as Jimmy, and Isabela ooh honey we need that kind of dictator dropping energy hardcore in this foul year of our lord two thousand and twenty-six, even Nathan who yeah Guy Gardner is a dick but he's an enjoyable dick (never thought I'd say those words but there you go). I'm totally game for Supergirl's antics even though she's a little shit sometimes, very happy I get to see that Friday! Music I still felt was kinda iffy on volume but the score by Jove still rocks, the effects are outlandish but fits perfectly with the tone, I'd be a damn fool to say this wasn't still a rock solid comic book movie in all it's lavishly ludicrous ways. Superman is a citizen of the globe so it's gonna be interesting to see the style difference and character difference between Kal and Kara. So I'll see you at the movies, and I'll boost up this score just a notch to 3 stars, 8/10!

Supergirl (1984)

I'm just thankful Supergirl got more love after this.

To be perfectly honest it seemed like a rough decade for the character in general especially considering after this movie Crisis On Infinite Earths happened and Supergirl got axed literally out of existence. But let's turn the clock back to 1984, Superman III is already out and through several scripts Supergirl is released to...less than favorable reception. Pretty much bombed at the box office, not a good word toward it from critics, and is now viewed as a secular oddity in comic book movie history. I mean the plot isn't god awful with Kara venturing to Earth to retrieve a magical MacGuffin and has to combat a sorceress named Selena, that has potential and indeed the Super family battles magic users all the time so it's not too out there. But the execution is really what kills it. I mean the cast is decent, Helen Slater just looks like Supergirl and has that wide eyed curiosity and joy that we never really got to see from her famous cousin. Faye Dunaway is our villain and is appropriately over the top, practically eye banging the camera throughout and while her schemes never really get off the ground till near the end the use of magic is inventive. Somehow, I don't know how, they got fucking Peter O'Toole in this movie and he really was my favorite character essentially the architect of Kara's city, and being the hardcore professional he is he brought a lot of charm and dare I almost say gravitas with his delivery no matter how outlandish the film is around him. Hart Bochner is Kara's semi-love interest and despite being introduced pretty early on doesn't have much to do which is a shame cause I feel like there's an okay romance on the cutting room floor. Speaking of which! The post production was a bit of a fiasco to say the least, strained relationship between the production company and Warner Bros., the film didn't even get released here in the States, the film was cut from two odd hours down to about 90 minutes, it really does just look like the world was against Supergirl from the word go. And while indeed the movie is fluff to an extreme, it's very Silver Age in it's plot and characters, the plot is loose and slipstream, it's very kiddy, and while the Christopher Reeve Superman movies were on a downward spiral you always had at least moments of character and drama, it's a far cry from what people would think a comic book movie is nowadays. But it's not unwatchable, I feel like this is a screaming instance where a good movie exists but it just had too many cooks in the kitchen spoiling the soup. It got me to smile, it got a chuckle out of me, I dig Helen as Supergirl, I really loved Peter O'Toole, it even captures just a little bit of that magic seeing Superman fly from the first movie when Kara arrives on Earth which is not an easy feat, it has moments to it! I watched the 2 hour version and while I didn't love it, I'm happy I got to see this little corner of history and when the hell would I have ever gotten around to reviewing this if not for the new movie? Far from great, definitely not for most, but it still has an impact all these years since. They literally cast Helen as the adoptive mother of then current Supergirl Melissa Benoist on the TV show, someone was clearly a fan. I give it 1.5 stars, 5/10, but we got one more stop before hitting the theater on Friday so look up for the next one.

Disclosure Day

Alright Steven, I can dig it.

Probably not a modern masterpiece of his films but a solid if bonkers movie. But hey, it's aliens I'd be disappointed if it wasn't bonkers! And the film kinda throws you in the deep end from minute one but it raises enough questions for you to want to know more and where it goes. It follows an archivist for a black ops team and a newscaster who for reasons unbeknowst to them have access to higher intelligence and they're willing to blow the whole lid on the you are not alone truth. It's interesting to see so many modern camera techniques utilized by Spielberg and it does make for a visually interesting film so props to you! Emily Blunt in my personal opinion is the standout role because she acts how any normal person would when confronted with such strange goings on, she has no idea what is happening to her and she voices it but still follows through knowing she has to do something. She feels unbelievably grounded in an earth shattering situation. Josh O'Connor is a good partnering lead with Emily, and I like how consequences be damned he is about unearthing the truth that yes extraterrestrial life has been on this planet for decades, but also the dyad they form into at a certain point I thought worked quite well. I think this is the first antagonist role I've seen Colin Firth in and while he's no Hugh Grant (sorry Colin please don't shoot) I kinda like the fact he's not this murderous, by any means necessary, above the law type villain, he just is doing what he feels right with such a massive truth. Colman Domingo is kinda the wild card in this deck because he seems to be the one who knows the most and has his own game to play, aiding our protagonists throughout yet it's not fully explained why and how. Far from the performance being bad, it's just a different element. The effects are minimal but are used effectively, they love shooting eyes I can tell you that and while the CG is not quite realistic who cares, it works just fine. Some people might bitch about the religious undercurrents but I found the filmmakers handled it right, with one character claiming this would be disastrous beyond recall and would damage religion worldwide because we need a god and a book to be good people while another claims and in my estimation too who the hell says alien life outside of Earth wasn't also created by a deity, and that faith is faith and not fact. They don't make a big deal out of it, it doesn't feel hamfisted, I rather appreciated that real world discussion. And yeah that reveal is about as real as you can get, though I do find it hilarious our own government has confirmed aliens are on this planet at least three times and we're just like, alright cool but could we maybe not fuck this planet and it's inhabitants even more on a daily basis. We know man, now could you please increase the minimum wage to a liveable status? I had not a great many expectations and walked away fairly happy, I think people will like it just fine and I'm happy to see Steven still doing what he loves. I give it 3 stars, 7.5/10!

E.T.

Hand over my heart, this is my first viewing of E.T. despite being a part of pop culture for decades.

Which I have to admit is pretty funny because I'm damn certain I had the 20th anniversary DVD when I was like 7, I knew about the Atari game and that whole reputation, and I knew the basic plot through cultural osmosis. Alien gets abandoned on earth, befriends a young boy, and they have to keep him safe from government bodies so he can GTFO this planet. How I wish I could join him. But it's such an endearing film, it's so easy to connect with E.T. and Elliot and despite the two hour runtime it really doesn't waste anytime pairing these two together. It's a surprisingly funny film and I was having a blast with it, it truly doesn't surprise me why it was such a success both in theaters and on video with audiences. The simple fact alone of this alien design being fully realized as a costume with prothetics built in is a marvel, effortlessly believable in my opinion and with a lot of personality to boot. Hell everyone has so much personality, Elliot is a good kid and I'll be goddamned if I didn't say Henry Thomas wasn't acting his fucking heart out I mean my God man, the movie had me on the verge of tears not once but twice! Robert MacNaughton as Elliot's brother Michael starts off as a punk older brother but quickly becomes a real one, Drew Barrymore just a wee baybah is so fffffffuggin' cute I'd burn planets for her and again for such a young actress she's damn good, Dee Wallace our horror queen barely feels like she's acting at all and despite having the peripheral vision of a mole is lovely to have here. Though dear sweet God this movie is so 80s man, kids playing D&D, some real hilarious insults, E.T. pounding Coors like a blue collar dad, the very fucking questionable scenario of having 8 year olds chloroform and dissect frogs, the buffet of Star Wars references that you bet your ass I was nerding the hell out over, it's crazy. But that's the way I like it even if I do have to say, what the FUCK 1980s?? All in all, a very very good movie that I'm quite happy to have finally seen. I give it 3.5 stars, 8/10, and Mr. Spielberg I'm curious to know what you got cooking up for us so I'll catch you tomorrow.

Close Encounters Of The Third Kind

It's probably still top 5 Spielberg.

It should be frankly studied how Close Encounters does two things, keep the audience's attention in a stranglehold and almost mindbendingly mix wonder and terror of extraterrestrial life. You are hooked by scene one and you are left guessing honestly even as end credits role, as several sightings and experiences of UFO's radically change people's lives and has the government trying to piece together what it all could mean. I dare not divulge too much more because this is a movie that truly must be experienced start to finish, I simply cannot no matter how many words I write or feelings I have sum up Close Encounters. It is a marvel of storytelling and is one of those very rare movies where you're constantly wondering what the fuck is going onnnn and YET you are seated and wanting to know more. And it's not like sci-fi exmaples of earlier movies where the alien or spacecraft is more a mystery for most of the film, they show us the ships roughly 20 minutes in, and even then you can't truly describe them. Oh you see them for sure, but its such a finely crafted effect that you can't discern too much other than outlines because of the bright lights but that adds so much mystique and maybe even charm. It really captures that moment of time when space was still cool as shit and a large collective of people still wanted to know what was out there beyond the sky. We still have that now but nowhere near the level as back from say early 50s to late 70s. It is a movie that takes it's time pushing past 2 hours and the story it crafts, really only focusing on about three different characters that all are converging on one point while still showcasing a much wider berth of the effect such a monumental event would have on the world, is very finely done. Richard Dreyfuss has probably one of the most intricate and involved performances I've ever seen, after experiencing firsthand a UFO it shows how much that would change a person and how it kinda destroys his family when he starts pursuing things even he can't properly explain. He does a great job conveying confusion, determination, and a almost neurotic excitement sometimes all at once! Melinda Dillon has big time stakes when the aliens take an interest in her young son and it really is a horrifying situation to be in, you just get what she's going through. Last but not least we follow François Truffaut as a UFO specialist brought in by the american government who after finding several missing craft throughout decades of history has his own theory to everything. Back to my original point involving the aliens, it's effectively eerie when they show up mainly because you really don't know what the intentions are and it's this odd mix of awe and horror that constantly flip flops, not to the film's detriment but down to the simple fact that we fear the unknown. And the movie almost paves the way for modern sci-fi horror like Fire In The Sky, it's shot like a fucking horror movie at times and any singular point where there was a night scene my eyes were glued to the sky than anything else echoing one of the most chilling outro lines in movie history, "Watch the skies everywhere. Keep looking. Keep watching the skies.". Everybody on that crew was on their A-Game, writing, designs, visual effects, music, acting, cinematography, in a very unflashy almost subdued matter of fact way. It feels real, undeniably real for that time and corner of the world. It is a high high recommendation from me, 4 stars, 8.5/10! And tomorrow we fast forward to the mid-80s for another Spielberg alien movie.

The Mandalorian & Grogu

We have never been more back!

To the uninitiated it has been a fat minute since new Star Wars has hit cinema screens, but to me it's just another Tuesday. But what did I think about the slightly basic titled The Mandalorian & Grogu? Now this might shock you but, I really loved it! Is it the most insanely awesome Star Wars movie I've ever seen? No, but the stakes feel appropriate for the jump from series to film even though it actually feels more in tune with season 1 Mandalorian while still keeping all the additions of the other seasons and even beyond the show in terms of time and lore. The plot while very centered on Din and Grogu going through links to capture imperial warlords gets a bit sidetracked with the gangster siblings of Jabba but it forms a coherent and even emotional tale that may not be the most dazzling pulse pounding grandiose story of say the main 9 saga films, but it works in it's own way. The main draw to the film really is the relationship and dynamic of Din and Grogu, no matter how many references and extended characters that us mega fans know by heart. And I hate to say it with every fibre of my being but I think they're setting up the eventual demise of Din, slowly and ever so slightly but it could happen sooner than later. Papa Pedro is committed as always and still really good but I can understand his possible thinking that he can't do this forever and it toys with that in the movie. Of course Grogu is still our sweet baby but shows remarkable capability and not only did he comprise my favorite scene of the entire movie but got me on the absolute cusp of shedding tears. A Star Wars movie has never quite hit me like this and it must be noted. Kind of an inverted duet with Sigourney Weaver and Jeremy Allen White, I thought we would see Rotta barely at all after a certain point and get more Colonel Ward but we stick with Rotta for a good bit and I gotta tell you man, never have I ever been so keen and down with a Hutt in my existence! He was rad as hell and not to mention the mind trip of seeing that little slug baby all grown up after the 2008 Clone Wars movie. Of course I'm a mark for Anzellans, Embo, dragon snakes, and Dejarik creatures so I was having a field day and every little nod and reference I caught was a treat. I think people kinda forget how deeply self referrential Star Wars truly is, I dare say it's at least half of the backbone of the entire franchise and the other half being combining so much culture and classic tales of fantasy and fiction to create something new. It's a very enjoyable fun movie that screams escapsim, with appropriately excellent special effects, a fantastic score by Ludwig Göransson that in my opinion eclipses the series soundtrack and stands toe to toe with the memorability of the John Williams score, a good bit of humor but never afraid to take it slow or serious, and makes me incredibly interested what could come of season four of the series. Just check your expectations at the door and have fun, it's a damn good time to be a Star Wars fan like every other day of the year and I'll be extremely happy to add this to the DVD shelf when that special day comes. This is indeed the way. 3.5 stars, 8.5/10, I'm a happy camper.

Is God Is

Simultaneously what I expected and yet I got a good deal more.

The trailer admittedly got me intrigued, I like a good revenge story even if it is the most worthless of causes but it does a lot more than you would really think. It follows twin sisters who are given a task by their dying mother, to kill their father who burned them as kids but how the movie progresses has not only a plethora of quirks which are welcome to differentiate it from other examples of the genre, but you get a very true aspect of revenge that isn't shoved in your face, the change it instills in a person. From pretty much scene one it is established that Racine is the more outgoing and confrontational type while Anaia is the more soft spoken reasonable one who upon hearing her mother's request is realistically kinda taken aback. They share so many synchronized traits yet are two fundamnetally different people and it makes for a compelling and sad story. I mean are they still highly justified in killing such a heinous evil creature in the guise of a man? Oh abso-fucking-lutely! Though we barely get much of him in this movie Sterling K. Brown who is such a damn good actor he can convey so much dread and uneasiness when he has even a snippet of a scene, and towards the end he runs a bit of a gambit of emotions that leave you off balance not really sure if he's on the level or not. Didn't fool me for a second but the performance is what counts. And Vivica A. Fox who was a real trooper working under so much prosthetics like Mallori Johnson still holds presence and the simple fact she is referred to as God by her kids lends a fair bit of religious overtones in the dialogue. So performances get solid grades across the board, and the production certainly follows suit. It's stylistic but not in an overbearing way more of a quirky offbeat way, with De Palma-esque multiple camera shots, narrated flashback sequences drenched in sepia tone like it's a damn noir, and the little fact that the twins are telepathic and we can read their conversations through subtitles. So it's a strange movie but all these qualities add to the uniqueness of it, you just can't name another movie like it and that's something I appreciate. Whether it works or not for you you can respect the filmmakers for doing something original in a somewhat conventional genre. I give it 3 stars, 7.5/10, and next Friday simply cannot get here any quicker even at lightspeed.

Mortal Kombat II

Oh thank God, it's better!

Actually a vast improvement on every front in my estimation, I actually had a pretty good time with this movie! Damn near everyone is back but what kinda took me by surprise is how much time we spend with newcomers Kitana played by Adeline Rudolph and Johnny fucking Cage played by Karl fucking Urban which isn't necessarily a bad thing, Kitana has major ties to our new big bad on the scene Shao Khan and I really loved what they did with Johnny making him a washed up martial arts film star thrown into the deep end of the pool. Of course it's great to see Jessica, Ludi, and Tadanobu again and they still do very fine work, hell I'll even give a bit of credit and say they juggled the roster list pretty solidly! Everyone gets their own fights and moments to shine equally which has always kinda been the cardinal sin with the fighting games turned into movies. This really does seem like a movie for the fans, so much was thrown in from characters, to arenas, to moves, to little easter eggs here and there. Now can I freely admit to you all the last Mortal Kombat game I played was coincidentally 2 on the Super Nintendo and technically 3 on the arcade cabinet? Just did. So there's probably a good bit that I missed but the fact alone we got my favorite character Baraka in this, and he was great, and they didn't throw his ass out like they did in Annihilation gets you at least a solid 1.5 points added to your score movie! The only thing I could kinda bitch about and this is the most pathetic thing to bitch about so tune me out creators of this film who read the reviews, but the selection of arenas for the fights left just a bit to be desired. We have one courtyard for I swear 3 or 4 fights, we have the spike room (not the pit sadly), the acid room which was beautifully accurate, and the portal sans the creepy floating monks. God awful? Of course not. But even my novice ass knows you have a practical buffet of arenas to throw a fucking dart at, but other than that terribly nitpicky ass aside, pretty good movie! Fights are varied, they got no problem bodying people which could piss some people off admittedly, the kills make the first movie look pathetic in comparison in terms of gore and inventive gore at that. It moves at a good pace, the characters aren't super deep but have good motivation, the effects are really nice, they even got some neat-o cinematography in there at times which I very much appreciated, and it was actually pretty damn funny! I was surprised how many laughs I got, so well done on that front writers! It appears my hope and faith was not mislaid, and while it does kinda sequel bait the shit out of the end which I have several questions about because heeeey Mortal Kombat noob over here, I'm happy with it. So I guess I have my best of both worlds with the 1995 first movie and the 2026 second movie, and I am rather curious what the die hard fans think about it. All in all I give it 3 stars, 7.5/10, and I will see y'all next week for another new release.

In Retrospect: Mortal Kombat (2021)

I guess there's a reason this spawns from a company called MIDway.

I think my estimation has actually fallen since I saw this opening day. Like dude, I would gladly take the 90s film over this. And it took me a second to kinda articulate as to why, but the quality of this film overall is like if a Sci-Fi Channel original movie had an actual budget. This halfassed script, decent actors but not great characters, blank slate of a protagonist which makes me wonder why the fuck we even have him, the slightly off beat references that should be awesome but kinda make you roll your eyes when they happen, the effects which are passable, just everything about this leans so much into that direct to cable movie element which I have to say I've not seen in a considerably long time. Now I know, I know...it was a rough goddamn patch of time when this movie went into production and when it got released, I'm taking that into consideration and not trying to bash it too hard. Cause it's not a bad movie, this is nowhere near Annihilation but it ain't that goddamn good either folks. Best damn scene in the movie is the opening, it was investing, a notch emotional, had really good fight choreography, I loved it! I think the true nail in the coffin for this is our main character, may I ask why we just decided to add some guy who isn't a character in the games to be our focus and might I go one step further and ask why did you make him the most uninteresting nothing character? Poor Lewis Tan had exactly two things to work with, jack and shit. And jack left town. He's trying but there is nothing to this to the point where I almost feel offended for the guy, imagine you got cast in a Mortal fucking Kombat movie and you're just some...guy. Not Liu Kang, not Johnny Cage, not even Stryker! It's almost stunning how bland Cole is. Like...I gotta move on, I'm gonna be hear all fucking day. I will however say I do indeed have higher hopes for the second film, I truly do. It does look better. As long as they don't do stupid shit like in this where you drop Kung Lao in that undignified fashion, kill Goro in THE FIRST FRAKKING MOVIE HELLLLOOOOOO, and not even give us the shit sucking tournament on which this entire franchise is built upon, we'll be fine! Those are choices man, but they are not good ones! Holy fuckaroli it's like the longer I think about it the more the score dwindles. But hey, they at least didn't rush a sequel. It took them 5 years to get around to Mortal Kombat II and I will commend the filmmakers on that alone, all the time in the world to iron this script out, make the right calls, and craft a good movie. I'm not saying I'm walking in with the highest of expectation but I'm certainly walking in with hope. I however am leaving this film never to return. 1.5 stars, 4.5/10, I'll catch you tomorrow!

Maul Shadow Lord

My chains are broken, the Force has freed me.

I'll level with you, I kinda forgot this show was a thing until we got a trailer for it about 2 or 3 months ago. Now of course me being the dark sider that I am and somehow as each year passes more and more a formerly Darth now just Maul fan, I knew my ass was gonna sit down week after week for this show. I was justly rewarded, taking on more of a noir style lens before shifting into the action style animation we have been watching for almost two decades we pick up kind of in a grey area with Maul's timelime sometime after Son Of Dathomir but years before Rebels as he is slowly but surely reinstating himself in the criminal underwolrd and is seeking a pupil, an acolyte if you will, where we meet a tight knit of supporting characters including two jedi knights and a police captain who gets swept up in the mix. The first thing I gotta get out of the way is the animation, holy bawls this animation! Combining classic Clone Wars style with an added dimension of brushstroke visuals straight out of Visions, I'm not only proud of the animators for doing something this different but am here to say this is a resounding superior style to an already excellent basis we've seen in recent years of Star Wars animation. It's no secret the voice cast top to bottom is great, I'd be here all goddamn day talking about how, I still don't know how, Sam has just kept climbing the Everest of voice acting for Maul with quite possibly the most flowery dare I even say Shakespearian dialogue yet in this universe. It's unreal. Gideon Adlon as our prized apprentice Devon is great, we've seen fugitive Jedi before but she brings a new element and stance that is highly welcome and the fact we're getting season 2 of this has me glued for upcoming news regarding her character. Dennis Haysbert as her master Daki gets to ride that line between sagely Jedi Master and something unknown not only conflicting with his student but also working side by side with Maul for their survival which is shall we say unique. Further compounding that we are introduced to Lawson played to silky smooth effect by Wagner Moura, a lawman firmly planting his pole on the wrong damn hill not only contending with Maul and his mandalorians but also trying to stave off the Empire which he has no love for, we spend a good amount of time with him seeing his home life, character, and resilience even in the most dire straits which makes him a fine addition to our Star Wars family. For a 10 episode season (bit by bit we'll get back to 20 episode seasons one way or another) it's paced damn near perfect, hooks you in almost immediately, builds more and more with stakes and developments with each episode, and caps off simultaneously in a mental finale and yet a more subdued conclusion. Or at least a season conclusion not a series conclusion obviously. I will admit I think episode 5 was a lull but I will never say it was bad, it just seemed like they pumped the brakes when everything before and after keeps revving up to more awesome moments. I need not tell you any and I do mean ANY duel with Maul is glorious, it really puts it all into perspective how much progress we have made since season 1 of The Clone Wars back in frick-frakking 2008. I just loved it to bits, I think this really was the Lucasfilm project I was anticipating most since The Acolyte, and if Shadow Lord can get another season why not The Acolyte? I require more dark side media in my life gawd dyammit! But oh how the party is not over yet in a galaxy far far away, but until that special moment I give this 4 stars, 9/10, and I got a new release for you coming up this Friday.

Batman Beyond: Season 3

Sort of an innocuous ending for the series but overall quite good.

For a final batch of 13 episodes that more or less capped off this series I have to say I was in a better mood and far less nitpicky this time around. We get some standout episodes this time around including a loooong awaited return for Inque, a slight throwback to The Animated Series with Talia al Ghul, a two parter involving the future Justice League which has some important behind the scenes ties I'll share momentarily, and of course the season and series finale which showcases Terry unmasked but not quite for the reasons you think. I feel the quality of the storytelling is on par if not slightly above the second season, in retrospect that first season was easily the best but let that not dissuade you from enjoying the rest of the show. It's a damn fine piece of television that has garnered a cult following for almost the entirety of my life, and the simple fact that there has been so much spinoff material with Terry in decades past proves it deserves the love. The animation is still rock solid and has some neat visual moments, and while the actual character development is slim to nothing the acting is still gold standard from everyone. It was undoubtedly a treat to finally talk Batman Beyond and though I've really only been a fan for just a notch over a decade I'm glad to say I own it all on video. But all things must come to an end and in a bizarre twist of fate Warner Bros. Animation shelved and ended Batman Beyond in favor of pursuing a Justice League series which is a fantastic show in my estimation and hopefully the day will not be far where I can review that in it's entirety, so the story of future Batman was rather unceremoniously ended and given a tiny bit of an epilogue which...I don't entirely hate but I certainly have questions. I was rather debating on if I should include that cause it really is the sendoff for the series (kinda) but it involves megaton spoilers so it's not really like I could divulge it anyway. Do I wish we got more overarching character progression and development just overall for the show? Of course, even though it really wasn't the style yet in animated shows until a good while later. It's simultaneously an immense blessing and an unfortunate curse for older cartoons, cause on one hand you get your episode of the week, you can just watch it, enjoy it, and move on to the next. Yet on the other hand you kinda want a more expansive involved story especially cause it's original characters, it's a new setting, we don't have, well at that point anyway, 60 years of backstory to know about Batman and his villains. But you know what? It's okay, we've had other stuff come after this that embellishes the world of 2039 Batman and anybody who is curious can dig into that. I still love the show, I love the animated universe it inhabits, and this is just the beginning actually of my own personal dive back into the Batman mythos in preparation for Legacy Of The Dark Knight which I can't wait to play! It was a very good birthday week and a very good show, I give this final season 3 stars, 8/10, and I'll see you very soon for Kombat.

Batman Beyond: Season 2

Boy we upped that episode count like nobody's business.

After a small but respectable 13 episodes in season 1 we jumped all the way to 26 making this the longest season of the show. And after paving the groundwork and setting up the world and characters logic would dictate we vastly expand upon it, which we simultaneously do and yet stick to a good bit of the same. I do strongly appreciate Terry has his own rogues gallery that keeps popping back up while still flourishing some original stories as well, they go kinda out there at times with a backstory episode with Ace, one of Terry's maidenless dweeb schoolmates gets a robo-girlfriend, one of the most fucking gruesome images in children's television is present as the villain early on in the season, we even get a telepathic almost spiritual predecessor to doomed child Ace from Justice League. The variety is strong and we even get a highly welcome addition to the cast in Max who I'm just gonna say it, is a much better candidate for Terry in a relationship than Dana and she's pretty rad as well! I'm right, no questions at this time! Though and I swear whenever I say this I'm not taking shots or giving this show shit I wanna preface that before I say, a lot if not even the overwhelming majority of the episodes this season have pretty...not lackluster but certainly very rushed resolutions. Now am I being a cataclysmic ass for kinda picking on the 22 minute cartoon from the turn of the millenia? Yes, without question. I cannot imagine how difficult it truly is to create a scenario, introduce a threat, make a memorable or compelling story, and have to wrap it up in less than half an hour and have it get gold stars every time. And YET, The Animated Series somehow did with even endings that erupted goosebumps along my body to this day just thinking about it. Maybe slight fatigue was setting in, or maybe the writers didn't have the time frame they needed to make this excellent television but instead very good television, and while indeed the very first time I sat down to watch this season I was game all the way through but right here right now I was taking much more notice of it. Is it absolutely show breaking and I'm gonna eviscerate this series with a flaming buzzsaw? No not at all, I still love the show, I was still engaging with the episodes and some even got big reactions out of me, you just have to acknowledge all the facets. But all the technicals from the animation which is still top notch, to the voice cast who commit lock stock and barrel to the performances, to the music which dear sweet tap dancing Christ was really on my radar this go around and I ain't got no problem saying I'd buy volumes of the score for this series it was that damn good, are on such firm standing much can be forgiven. To throw some favorites out for this season I point to Hidden Agenda which is our first true introduction to Max, Mind Games which has an almost Over The Edge vibe from the last season of The Animated Series to it, The Last Resort which got me raging hardcore at the villain who just reeks of evangelical child absuing pieces of dog shit that makes my skin crawl, and Ace In The Hole because hey I'm a sucker for a Great Dane and it's a compelling story. I like we get more of an expansion with Terry's love life, having Max be an ally who knows the secret is a nice and great shake up, seeing higher stakes in the plot feels like natural escalation, and the more teen after school metaphor episodes are few and far between. Even with it's slight shortcomings and questionable actions from characters on a regular basis, it's still a very very good show and I'll be damned if I said I didn't like it. All in all I give it 3 stars, 8/10, and thankfully next season will not take all flippin' day to finish.

Batman Beyond: Season 1

This has been coming for a long long time.

Pretty early on I knew I wanted to review The Animated Series and Batman Beyond but you would be surprised how long it actually took me to come around to this show. I have a fairly clear memory of when I was about 5 or 6 and my cousins were over and gonna watch Batman Beyond on Kids WB, and I said outright that I'll just stick to The Animated Series. Fast forward to the year 2011, the hype for Arkham City is unreal, and everybody is losing their shit hardcore over the Beyond skin for DLC whereas I was most stoked for the Dark Knight Returns and once again The Animated Series skin. And finally about 3 years later when I was in college I finally decided to know what this show was about and gave it a watch. I kind of have a track record with brushing off really damn good shows for significant amounts of time. So let's get this show on the road. Premiering in the year 1999 this show is a follow up to The New Batman Adventures following somewhat in the art direction style as we jump ahead to a cyberpunk futuristic rendition of Gotham as we meet high schooler Terry McGinnis who after a run in with a gang crosses paths with an elderly Bruce Wayne and kinda stumbles upon the secret under stately Wayne Manor, before taking up the cowl against Bruce's wishes until he's more or less "hired" for the job. This has such a stark and definitive look and style that is evident straight from the opening which is pretty kickass in my estimation and is easily one of the best intros to any animated show. They essentially took the goth out of gotham, it's all futuristic with flying cars, mega skyscrapers, and barely a dark alley to it's name yet I'm surprised how well it still works and I'd kill to have this Gotham in a game to play! Obviously the timeframe isn't stated lending to the more timeless aspect of this animated world but it's a solid shake up that I can see younger more novice viewers easily able to jump in and the older veterans can still dig as well. The animation is really nicely done feeling still akin to that turn of the millenium DC animated vibe but still retaining an identity of it's own, with a lot of blues and purples in play (the red sky is not even prevalent) which makes the batsuit and villains really pop. I now see why people rave about this suit, undeniably minimalistic and I'm just a sucker for red and black color combos, the ears I swing between looking stylistic and awesome or closer to bunny ears depending on the angle, but all the tech built into it and the wingspan are such cool attributes so I'm definitely a fan now. The music also is actually pretty fantastic, foregoing the themes of individual characters and villains but delivering a more metal edge at times, why people don't comment more on the score baffles me because I genuinely adored it! Now obviously I was quite young when this show was going on and I have no recollection as to the reaction and fandom that was there since day one, but people nowadays claim it as an underrated gem that was stuck in the shadow of it's Emmy award winning predecessor which isn't far from the mark. Comprising of only 13 episodes for this season it does a pretty remarkable job setting up all the world building details and character introductions, giving a small taste of what is to come. Will Friedle as Terry is a very very good lead, though still a teenager it never feels outlandish or dumb that he becomes the Batman and almost is a precursor to when Dick Grayson took up the cape and cowl in the comics years on down the road, he's more upbeat and jokey and has good chemistry with Bruce who takes on a stronger mentor role, he struggles with the balance of the identities, and you know he's still a kid who has more to learn in his years so it's never a case of seeing him act stupid and thinking he's insufferable. Of course Kevin Conroy (God rest his strong soul) is back and I almost feel I love him more in this role than any other time he has voiced The Batman, simply because it is so different and while he can still deck a fool he's more in the background of events taking on a more Oracle-ish role giving Terry support and information from the Batcave, and just seeing Bruce as this grumpy old man won me over quick. Not too many side characters at play here besisdes Terry's sweetheart Dana who thank God they just made them a couple already and didn't slip oh so easily into that will they/won't they on again off again relationship nonsense that plagues maaaany teen orientated shows, it just shows another aspect of how it's hard for Terry to maintain a stable life. The show takes on a severe episode of the week stance, this before animated shows became almost serialized with overarching plots and character development, with a few reoccuring villains as far as I know all made specifically for the show, the main one being Derek Powers who now owns the vast majority of Wayne Enterprises and hires the help of various supervillains to progress his schemes which comprise of shapeshifting blob woman Inque, technician and sound guy Shriek, he even has a hand in ressurecting Mr. Freeze. We got some independent evil doers as well including hypnotist and laziest robber ever Spellbinder, aristocratic card enthusiasts the Royal Flush Gang, and The Fantastic Four. How DC did not get sued over that is a mystery for another day, stretch armstrong dude, translucent lady woman, and a literal flaming beast of a man, kinda on the nose there guys! Thankfully no bad epsiodes to speak of or a shred of filler, if I had to pick favorites here I'd go with the opening two parter Rebirth or Mr. Freeze's return in Meltdown. And for not even a 5 hour sit it's well worth it for this season. I give it 3.5 stars, 8.5/10!

Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Well I'll be damned.

I liked it way better than the first! Pretty much every aspect has been improved and the lore has been expanded, the hallmarks of any good sequel are present here. So the story goes after Princess Rosalina has been captured our plumbing brothers and the princess in another castle set out to free her while Bowser reconnects with his son in dastardly deeds. That's the base story but trust me you get a lot of cool stuff along with it. I feel the animators are just showing off in this, if you thought the first film was beatific and colorful to the max throw in the cosmic aspect and it's peaked at a whole other level in my opinion. Performance wise from our original roster they all do great and I'm happy Luigi gets more to do, and I was quite invested in Bowser's storyline, and as for our new arrivals I knew Brie Larson was gonna rock it as Rosalina and Donald Glover was a unique choice for Yoshi but welcome just the same. The plot moves just as brisk as the first and never ever gets boring with maybe not as much easter eggs you can shake a stick at but some surprise reveals that more than make up for it. In fact one particular reveal nearly pushed me to scream in the theater, as they are my main choice in the Super Smash Bros. games. But I like all the nods to Super Mario Bros. 2, or should I really say Doki Doki Panic for those who are initiated and getting to see stuff I'm actually surprised wasn't in the first. It's a very fun and I'd easily say funnier movie as well, with an easy to grasp plot, damn good animation, and come what may if they decide to do a third they will have my attention. I give it 3 stars, 8/10, and I really gotta check the upcoming releases for this month and see what else might strike my fancy.

In Retrospect: The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Considering how well they handled tbis movie I guess I can look forward to the Galaxy Movie.

Hands up, I haven't seen this movie since opening day so all this time has done some good on the reappraisal front. Shit I'm thrilled they took their sweet ass time before releasing the Super Mario Galaxy Movie and not trying to rush anything! All the minor quibbles I had with the soundtrack selections, the worldbuilding, and the lack of Luigi has softened and I do still stand by it being a good if not even great movie. The part that struck me hardest on rewatch is the soundtrack, dear lord the plethora of level music beautifully crafted into an orchestral score is only rivaled by the amount of easter eggs prevalent. I mean when you have a video game series as acclaimed as Mario and a company like Nintendo with unrivaled rich history you'll get plenty of nods and shoutouts. Another aspect that made me appreciate this movie so much is despite the star studded cast you kinda forget they're voicing these characters, a lot of animated projects want you to pay attention to the fact it is the celebrity, like Robin Williams in Aladdin who pretty much was the bedrock for all celebrity voice acting since, rather than have the celebrity slip seamlessly into the part. I kinda forgot who voiced Peach until I had to look it up, Chris Pratt you do just roll with, even with Charlie Day and Jack Black who definitely are more recognizable voices never break the immersion. Good job director! It still looks outstanding I can tell you that much, despite my predilection for obsidian I do truly appreciate color in life, and it's rarely on better form than here. Of course it's a joy to see such fabled locales from the games be rendered in picture-esque beauty but in all aspects the animation truly shines. Kinda makes you wonder why they never did it this way earlier, in fact I'm still in the minority I feel when I say I would love more animated adaptations of video games on the big screen. We just need more animation fucking period to be brutally real with you here, I don't know what the stigma has been against this medium for decades at this point but not everything has to be live action. I swear. I had a good time watching it, I'll bump up the score to an 8/10, I'm endlessly interested to see what all will go down in the next one tomorrow so stay tuned!

They Will Kill You

Not the greatest title, but a fantastic movie!

I knew a smidge more about this movie than Forbidden Fruits mainly cause I just saw the trailer when I was at The Bride and it immediately had my attention. Zazie Beetz goes forth and wrecks shit in a building full of satanists, that is the movie advertised and that is the movie you get! It still has enough twists to keep it interesting but man, shit hits the fan fucking FAST in this movie! It moves at such a quick pace and it barely took anytime for me to be seeped in the style, humor, and batshit insanity laid out. It has minutiae of horror elements but it truly is a, what I like to call a fuck shit up movie. You know, your John Wick's, your Nobody's, movies almost entirely action where people get their shit kicked in with increasingly creative possibilities. Zazie girl I haven't seen you in a long time and I will never get over you in this movie! Not only do I fully believe her action hero status but you instantly identify with her emotions and reasoning, it's tightly written enough to where they don't need to exposit much and you just get it. The style is practically dripping, you get swish zooms, flashback vignettes, lots of unconventional camera work, a soundtrack that got me fired up, and high pressurized blood straight out of a goddamn anime. It's undoubtedly Zazie's movie but all the supporting characters from Patricia Arquette to Myha'la to Tom Felton, they know how to play it and play it well. It's out there man and yet I somehow was still calling story beats, sometimes long before some plot detail was revealed, which either means that this was tailor made for me or maybe just maybe I've seen too many movies. Yeah I'll go with that one. But overall, I loved it, I think it's badass, and you know what? Ohh! Ohhhhh, I'm gonna do it!! 4 stars, 10/10, a full hearted recommendation through and through!

Forbidden Fruits

Fuck me this movie infuriated me.

It's not even bad, far from it actually! But holy fuckaroli did half our main cast just piss me off, which in all reality means the performances were damn good. If someone can make you run a gambit of emotions with a performance including rage, that is a great performance! So the story goes a new girl who works at a mall is quickly inaugurated in a bitchy coven where over the course of several months it starts breaking down and ends in blood. Props for all the Texas love, but I'm still iffy on this film. Let's just get into the nitty gritty here folks, the cast. Major hardcore props to all the actresses who bring so much personality and even dramatics to the role! We have Lola Tung as new girl Pumpkin, and I was not expecting her arc going from a rather sweet and inexperienced at life girl into for lack of a better word the second worst monster of the film. Cause you think oh she's gonna challenge the hierarchy and be a positive force who eventually will have to fight the head of the coven but she degenerates into a blackmailing and sort of still complicit member so there is no catharsis found there. Then we have the bane of my existence Apple played to stunning perfection by Lili Reinhart. This...fucking...****. It has been ages since I have utterly despised a character more, a true masterclass in manipulation, fear mongering, bitchiness, and pure control freak behavior. It's truly a marvel to behold and once again no catharsis or justice found with her journey, which nearly made me torch the theater. But like I said, fantastic performance to even illicit such feelings so brava to you my dear! Then we move onto to Alexandra Shipp as Fig, who really is the first fracture in the coven wanting to branch out and do her own thing and her brief moments of relationships and interests were nice to see, and Alexandra was a joy to watch! Last but not at all least we have Victoria Pedretti as Cherry who at first seems like a total ditzy blonde but has the largest arc and really is the star of the dramatics due to her character's tragic past, just damn she really kinda swept me off my feet and easily was my favorite of the group! Well done and high praise to all these fine actors who really and truly carry the film in it's entirety on their backs. But yeahhhh, I was not thrilled with where this story went. It moves at a brisk pace and has decent production values with some good gore effects, pretty decent comedy, hell I was digging the shit out of the soundtrack, and a message I've never truly seen in cinema: Toxic femininity. But I'm so split down the middle with it! In terms of production it's like a 7.5/10, but in terms of enjoyment it's like a 3/10. So what the hell do I even give this? It's not a movie I'd really watch again, but that doesn't mean it's bad. It's not, it is a very well acted, well directed movie that just so happened to make me rage at a screen which I haven't done in a long while. It's certainly memorable! So ehh, I'll give it...2.5 stars, 6.5/10, with a caveat the size of the goddamn Grand Canyon.

Happy Anniver- Oh...

Maybe I should retire. I know I was busy and dog tired but what in the actual shit is this?? Never have I ever forgotten my own anniversary, I might as well divorce myself now. And on that bombshell...I'm just joshing you, I wouldn't end it like that. But yeah man, jeez 11 years now and while I'm still very much operating in the background it's good to still be going. I don't know if I'll do a standard week of reviews every month but it's not a horrible idea. I will say we got two new movies to review this week so that'll be fun but I'm just hoping for a healthy amount of new releases. I'd also like to just do what I do best, rant and ramble, maybe do another EVOTIC or ruminate on the state of now vs. then like I often do in real life. I didn't think I'd ever truly get this far, past a decade now but time, as Seal would say, keeps slipping into the future. Shoot it'll be the birthday month before I can even blink and I got a little something something that I hope I can lock the fuck in for cause this has been on my list for at minimum 8 years, I honestly can't believe I haven't done it yet. So if the stars align and life is kind we're gonna talk some Batman Beyond. But that is the future and we are right now, slightly late mind you but all we can do is take it one day at a time and try to make the most of it. It isn't always easy but I have faith in you, and like me you probably got some groovy things to look forward to in the not too distant future, so stick around. You may be surprised how it all turns out. I'll see you on the weekend and if we're lucky we'll have some far out cinema to talk about. Until next time.

Project Hail Mary

Sweet baby jeezus, this was a lot better than anticipated.

Granted I kinda forgot this movie was coming out, knew diddly squat about the book, and was expecting a decent film but I'll be damned if this isn't Top 10 material for the year. Centering on a science teacher who gets roped into a government operation in an attempt to stop a previously unknown lifeform from dimming the sun quickly makes second contact with another alien as a shockingly endearing and lovely friendship blooms. Bare bones plot, fantastic fucking movie. I can't believe how well all this is balanced cause it is a heavy plot and takes as much time for the drama as well as the humor and it is easily one of the quirkiest, sweetest, most fascinating movies I have ever seen in my life. It grips you right off the hook with a fair bit of mystery but relatively quickly stars feeding you backstory throughout the picture, giving you the necessary backstory and information, which is impressive. It never gets boring and is a very artsy film in terms of cinematography, I'll be talking straight out of my ass if I said I was never invested. Like this is the movie that I desperately needed, some truly positive even dare I say life affirming sci-fi without even a shred of saccharine or pulled punches emotionally. Goddamn movie nearly made me cry seeing Ryan Gosling talk to a rock creature, and a surprisingly emotional karaoke scene that I have not seen the likes of since Lost In Translation. I'm kinda speechless honestly how this movie not only submerges you in the emotion but keeps you trailing along every story beat with baited breath. Ryan Gosling I continue apologizing for not knowing your game, as he delivers a great maybe even award winning performance in my estimation. Fantastic stuff. But the movie wouldn't be complete without James Ortiz as our resident alien affectionately named Rocky who effortlessly stole my heart and was really the part of the movie that grabbed my attention to even want to go see it. They spend a good bit of time hurdling the language gap but with sharp writing and good humor it never feels like a slog, and the bonding time is essential. The movie never forgets about the crisis but you almost kinda wish it did just so you could see these two hang out even more. Hell yeah I wanna see humans make galactic friends, and it's so strong I...almost kinda see them as a couple! Not anything as base as mates, but something far deeper and more caring. I'm still baffled how they pulled that off but I sure as shit ain't mad! I just wasn't prepared for how damn good this movie really was, and I know that probably influences expectations so don't take my word for it and just go see it for yourself. I love the relationship dynamics, I love the visuals, the score from the drums to the choir is perfect for the film, the creativity of the camera work is right up my alley, and it practically injects 50ccs of dopamine straight into my bloodstream. Especially the ending, God almighty that is an ending I have wanted to see done in a sci-fi movie for decades. I'll be stunned if there's a more feel-good movie of the year after this, I really will. I have no reservations when I say 4 stars across the board, 9/10, big thumbs up from me! It's really moments like these that have kept me going for almost 11 years come next week, I love when I get movies that look interesting and just blind side me with how great they are, but hey that's just my opinion. You gotta go see it for your own. But you may be surprised how much you dig it, and I'll see you next week come what may.

The Bride

Okay first new movie of the year finally.

I'm a bit lost for words I won't lie. Admittedly, hands up, I knew exactly two things about this movie: It had Christian Bale in it and was some kind of Bride Of Frankenstein movie. Now I will also admit that's all it really took to get my ass in a theater seat but what I got was such a bizarre movie that I don't think I can call it objectively good and yet I respect it and rather like it. This review will utterly fail to sum up this movie and do it justice because it's all over the place. You'd think it would be this reanimation love story but it goes waaaay beyond that! When the movie starts, begins, with the body of a woman possessed by the spirit of Mary Wollstonecraft Shirley you kind of can already guess this is going to be out there! And I'll say it right here right now, I wasn't digging it at first and it took me until the dance club scene for it to kind of start clicking for me and even then it had moments where it was this off putting strange movie, but I simultaneously appreciate and even respect the artistry of it. The movie has themes of identity, feminism, acceptance, and challenging the world around you and those themes do indeed work. But it also kind of goes on tangents that don't amount to all that much in the main story that is told. Oh I certainly will not blame Maggie for this in her directorial debut, this script needed a smidge of ironing but her direction is decent and needless to say bold given the material. You have to walk in with an extraordinarily open mind to not walk away hating it, I certainly don't cause the movie has a lot I do genuinely like and even it's more wacked out moments has appeal. Could I really hate a Frankenstein movie that almost turns into this Bonnie & Clyde type story with dance sequences and actually decent romance? Helllllll naw! Performance wise Jessie Buckley has to juggle a lot and has to stand on an uneven script yet she does very well, affecting a split personality with a penchant for independence that is likeable and you can sympathize with. Christian Bale also is very strong with one of the best physical interpretations of this character in the 21st century, it really is a stellar design in my opinion mixing movie monster with inspiration from The Shadow. The personality is what really struck me most, he's well spoken, cares deeply about the Bride and supports her independence, has a liking for cinema, and has no problems curb stomping a rapist. Good solid man right there, even if he does still tell white lies. The romance is more of a slow burn between them with the Bride after being reinvigorated wanting really nothing to do with Frank which he does accept even if he wants her super bad to be his wife, and after he stops her from being assaulted they slowly grow closer to the point where they are ready to love each other to the end of time. Pretty damn happy ending if you ask me and I'm so conflicted on final scores here. The production for the most part is very good, the story has some kinks and shortcomings but I don't hate it, it's just this mixed bag of quality to where I'm stumped. If I really had to give it something I'll give it 2.5 stars, 7/10, and hopefully this is just the beginning of more new movies to hit the schedule. I'll see you sooner rather than later.

Babygirl

Oh yeah, we are doing this.

Now hands up, full disclosure, I saw this opening day over Christmas break back in 2024. I didn't write a review for it, just wanted to go to the movies to go to the movies, and man was I surprised when I was the only one there. But here we are and I really truly gotta say I really liked it! Centering around a mature CEO who gets entangled in a shaky but dominant relationship wirh a young man(take fucking notes 50 Shades), and really what the fallout of such a relationship is...when she's already married and has kids. I cannot overstate this enough, thank GOD this isn't some erotic thriller bullshit and actually takes a much more mature lens to people in a dominant & submissive relationship. The actors are what sells it but the story has enough going for it to where you do kinda want to see where it all ends. It isn't just steamy fluff you'll forget about. Nicole Kidman is very very good in this movie able to convey a lot of conflicting emotions, I mean yeah it's very realistic, you would have to do some mental gymnastics and a lot of settling in if you were going to pursue a relationship like this so full marks across the board. Plus anybody who can get nekkid on camera has my highest respect. Harris Dickinson is interesting to watch cause he's not really that typical commanding dom, hell they don't even drop the big D Word, he's got emotional baggage, I dare almost want to say he's a touch neurodivergent, he likes control but he's not gonna be an asshole about it. That's so goddamn refreshing and kinda, I don't wanna say nuanced cause I've barely seen any movies like this before, but it feels unique to cinema here. Antonio Banderas though admittedly a minor role is important, I mean he's the husband in all this, so you do feel at least a notch of sympathy and the movie does not shy away from the ramifications of the affair. In terms of production it doesn't look bad in the slightest, shot very candid and really only kinda lets loose at the rave scene which admittedly makes sense, the editing is damn good in my opinion at times, and I got respect for the ending. No spoilers of course but it is almost this bittersweet thing. Now it's not super graphic in the sexual aspect but it is...effective. Let's just leave it at that. It was a trip to watch it again and I know it is far and away from everyone's taste, but I can surefire recommend it anyway. Taking a somewhat taboo relationship and translating it well to screen and doing it with respect must be commended, I give it 3.5 stars, 8/10, fingers crossed for next month cause man the new movie well is dryer than the Sahara so far this year.

Rental Family

I can't even really express in words how upset I was not to see this in theaters.

All you ever had to say was Brendan Fraser in Japan, and my ass would have been in that seat day frickin' one! And what an interesting premise about a struggling actor essentially being hired at a company who supplies people for emotional moments, you could hire them as a friend to hang out with, a husband to wed, an interviewer to tell your life story, and it's all willing from all parties. Now this is new even to me, if this is indeed a legit business in Japan I've never heard of it and I don't even really see a problem with it but the movie does such a good job showcasing the hesitation and unease for someone hired to do a thing. Humans are emotional social creatures in our bones, we love to be around people and share experiences with people, and that is what the movie is about. Building connections. That's fascinating stuff and not only does the director craft an emotional tale but the actors are what makes it work as well as it does. Do I even need to talk about Brendan's performance? That handsome man could sway me into any movie, he does a damn good job and is incredibly believable in the part of Philip. Shannon Gorman for being so young has so much attitude and emotional range as Philip's "daughter" and I was kinda actually surprised how the movie doesn't focus entirely on their relationship. Rather Philip is always onto the next client, like Akira Emoto as novelist Hasegawa who is having memory issues and Philip helps him reclaim memories in a very emotional subplot. Also I'd like to shoutout Takehiro Hira, great to see him again after Shōgun and boy does he have a twist that would make Rod Serling pause, and ho mah gawd Mari Yamamoto I am shamelessly gonna crush on you forever, I'd stand by her and obey her every word because she is the boss in this movie. The film so easily spices the story up with variety, it can be heartfelt, sad, cute, fun, funny, and ultimately enjoyable. The cinematography is naturally going to get a generous heap of love from me, it's a gorgeous country regardless of it's surroundings being either urban or rural. At first it seemed flat but as the movie progressed we got more and more atmsophere to it, more beautiful shots, more brief moments of reflection on nature. And to be perfectly honest I think that's why I love it so much, why I praise it so much, why it steals my heart away and I won't ever care to ask for it back. We don't really do that in America where we shoot cityscapes or landscapes of nature with the same level of beauty or even reverence that japanese filmmakers do. I feel that's a crying shame but I'm happy someone is doing it! It's more a drama than a comedy despite some good humor peppered throughout, and yeah it got me very close to crying in the latter half. I'm...slightly puzzled by the ending and yet I still like it, I'm not sure if there's symbolism at work here or if it really did end on a positive note of quiet introspection, I can't put my finger on it but it works well all the same. I always appreciate foreign films and it is not a movie that goes light on the japanese language, but me being a sucker for that and being a subtitle enthusiast since DVD players started getting big it was far from a deal breaker for me. I very much liked it, I thought it was a different kind of love story that worked quite well for this week, and yeah it does make you appreciate all the more the people you already have in your life and could make you excited about the people you've yet to meet. 3 stars, 7.5/10, and our next film is going to be a doozy so join me on V-Day for something...less than family friendly.

In Retrospect: Lisa Frankenstein

This is the strangest life I've ever known.

Literally two years to the DAY, we are back to talk Lisa Frankenstein! Spoiler alert I'm still mad about this movie, adore it, cherish it, spoil it, call it my darling, I am here for this movie. Which is funny because I haven't seen it since opening day so I was curious to know if it would still have as strong of a pull as it did before, and it took about 5 minutes to remind me why I love it so much. It is such an odd little movie in so many ways and yet I honestly couldn't laugh or love it any more! When I get a small headache from laughing so strongly and consistently which by the by, rare ass occurence, something clearly works. Kathryn Newton you goddamn gem, what a character to play and she nails it, I mean she just fucking nails it from start to finish. It's like watching the most likeable villain origin story in fiction, cause yeah she does kinda screwed up stuff and yet...I don't really mind. That probably says a lot about me, but God forbid a woman achieves happiness, identity, and romance. Cole, my guy, my main man, how could I fall for you all over again? The man doesn't have a damn line until the scene right before credits and I love him so dearly, flawless facial acting, how he slowly transitions from walking corpse to guy best friend to gentlemanly lover, is like witnessing a caterpillar into chrysalis and thence into beauty. Be still my heart, for if I speak I'll make a damn fool out of myself. I do have to say I felt so bad seeing Taffy being put through the ringer, like holy matrimony Liza Soberano could not be more preciously sweet if she tried, world peace would be a startling reality if more people had that compassion and love but she never crosses that line into saccharine personality or super bubbly, she still feels real and gyaddammit did I just want to hug her so bad. Such a rock solid cast and biiiiiig props to Zelda for being able to direct so well both in terms of getting the right performances but being able to play about with the camera, getting weird with it when called for and having some real nice framing. Now I know I'm practically gushing over this movie, it's frankly turning almost pornographic so I should wrap up quick, but it really is my kind of movie through and through. I mean I watch it and I have the time of my life, it puts me in such high spirits, and it makes me forget I'm more than likely gonna die alone one day. But that's okay, cause I get to live my life my way, love my way, and to hell with anyone who says different. 4 glowing stars, I'll bump this bad bitch to 9.5/10, and if the space gods are kind I'll have a little something for you before Valentine's Day.

Metropolis (1927)

I almost dare want to say there has never been a better time in the almost century this movie has been out than now to watch Metropolis.

It's funny how much I have heard about this movie and yet how little I have heard about this movie, I think people focus more on the impact and inspiration this film has than the actual plot and themes. It can be pretty layered with religious overtones, the gap between classes, a quite literal revolution story, and a romance all thrown in together but balanced quite nicely. We follow the son of the ruler of this metropolis who quickly is smitten by a woman from the undercity as he's drawn into the industrial nightmare, while his father has machinations of his own. That's bare bones, it really would take quite a while to break this plot down fully but it's so worth watching that I wouldn't give it away regardless. I have rarely seen a film so fitting of the times than now, the simple face value instances of a severe not only wealth gap but class gap between the higher echelons of society that reap the benefits of a nameless voiceless force that work themselves to death, a leader that has zero qualms instigating a violent response from lower class citizens to consolidate power, and how a small group can become an army to rise up against it's oppresors reeks of this foul year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six. And oh how I wish the resolution of this film could be anything beyond a pipe dream in reality, a constant theme of the movie is, the mediator between the brain and the hand must be the heart, and it shows how compassion and solidarity for your fellow man can create a better tomorrow. It's fairly potent and powerful stuff, and ideals I support fully. I know Gustav Fröhlich is our main character and he does indeed do a good job showcasing a man who is willing to fight for the woman he loves and has sympathy instead of apathy for those less fortunate than him BUT Brigitte Helm is in this movie. Good fucking God this woman is the star and the real focus for my money's worth, and she gets to act with so much more range because of her importance to the plot. I have never in even my wildest nightmares seen eyes so jaw droppingly beautiful and yet terrifying beyond the capacity for rational thought, I don't know who was in charge of the lighting for this movie but they damn well knew how to light her face! Jesus God almighty! Another standout in the cast for me was Fritz Rasp known only as The Thin Man, maybe it was the clothing or such a distinct physicality but he almost almost was giving me Joker vibes, and for a relatively small part he was quite memorable. I know everybody and their grandmother talks about the visuals and the special effects, rightfully so cause Fritz Lang has always been such a diligent director who knows how to achieve a shot. The modelwork, the absurdly expansive sets, the backdrops, the truly experimental collage of images, the costuming, it's absolutely no wonder why this movie has stuck around in the public consciousness. And for a movie that is damn near two and a half hours long which is rare for me in my experiences with silent movies, moves at a pretty good pace. It's never boring and considering we still don't really have the full film even after all this time due to several edits being made not long after it's premiere, who knows how much longer it really is. But the reconstruction efforts are very much appreciated, thanks to a 16mm print found in Buenos Aires. Now the real question is do I like it better than Faust? In terms of plot, no. In terms of relevance, it's essential. I'll give it 4 stars, 9/10! I don't really get preachy on this show but pay close attention to the world, support your neighbors and community, and tear down those rich and powerful fuck's worlds until there's nothing but ash for them to choke on.

Faust (1926)

I know the term silent cinema is common but I couldn't pick a better word than cinema.

Needless to say I was heavily impressed, intrigued, and taken in by what many would claim to be F.W. Murnau's crowning achievement in filmmaking. To be honest I think I'm one of them even though I haven't seen even half his filmography mostly due to the fact that out of his 21 films only 11 still exist, but the power of Faust puts even modern films to shame in the simplest term for movies, imagery. This is a monumentally gorgeous film with so much special effects shooting it could be considered the Star Wars of it's day, where almost every frame is a painting filled with brilliant contrast of light and shadow, a wonderful mix of miniatures, cross dissolves, rear projection, and even animatronics that wouldn't be surpassed in cinema until 1933's King Kong. Concerning an old alchemist whose town is beleagured by plague, turns to the king of Hell itself to try to save people but is quickly snared by promises of youth and love as not only his life spirals but those he interacts with as well. The road to Hell is often paved with the goodest of intentions. For such a simple story it's told on a grand scale with drama to match, all the performances are big but not hammy or over the top. Gösta Ekman who plays the young and old versions of Faust does very good work and can convey a lot through facial acting, Camilla Horn as his love interest Gretchen honestly is my second favorite performance because she has so much range and dare I even say haunting moments which is amazing to witness, but the whole show is stolen in my humble opinion by Emil Jannings who plays Mephisto. I know, I know, praising the villain as per usual but you have not seen what I have seen. Dis guy, lemme tell you about dis guy! I have never seen a performance in silent movies so relishing in the part, I almost want to say he goes camp but that is not in a derogatory sense, gleefully indulging in vice, you can practically hear the hisses and groans when he's confronted with religious symbols, his natural instinct to backstab and lie. I am hardpressed in all of my years to think of a better devil character in fiction than this fella right here! Exquisite, definitive, iconic. Yet even with the lighter moments this movie can get dark man, with shots of people dying from pestilence, being stabbed with the most nonchalant grace, pretty much everything that happens to Gretchen after falling for Faust is horrific and depressing. I almost expected the movie to end on a seriously pessimistic if not even nihilistic note, but there is hope at the end with a message of love to help you fight through the darkness. I couldn't praise the visuals more and I'd be here all damn day if I tried, the direction is so tight and focused, you can tell this was a production that worked hand in hand with each department to craft the best movie possible. For an almost 2 hour movie it pretty much had me in a headlock before even the two minute mark hit, and it's got a solid pace to it. I loved it, I can fully see why it is lauded so much and has a special place in film history, I also can easily recommend it and hope that you enjoy it just as much if not even more than I did. Full 4 stars, 9/10, and I hopefully saved the best for last with one of the most influential movies of all time, Fritz Lang's Metropolis.

The Golem (1920)

How truly we are in need of a guardian these days.

Another year has come and it is time to begin again, kicking off with a small offering of silent cinema. The Golem is a classic character of folklore both of jewish and german history personified no better than here, with Paul Wegener not only directing but penned the script and played the titular character himself. A true period piece set in the 16th century a rabbi in a ghetto portends of great danger for the jewish people of his town and sets about constructing a guardian even at the cost of dabbling in black magic, as word from an oligarch condemns the jewish people for a list of "reasons", if they can even be stretched as such, to forfeit their homes and depart. For a film not even 90 minutes long and is the only surviving story of a Golem trilogy all directed by Wegener, I'm quite happy it was this one that survived acting as an origin story and it does a quite good job telling it. It's not an example of pure german expressionism like The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, more expressionist lite with examples of architecture and lighting but mostly is shot conventional. For 1920 the special effects are fairly impressive cause I sure couldn't deduce how they pulled off certain things like the star studded night or the smoky appearance of the demon Astaroth, it looks quite nice and no doubt having such technical craftsmen behind the camera like Hans Poelzig and Karl Freund certainly helped bring this film to life. The performances are decent, obviously with silent cinema we can't get much inflection on dialogue but what is shown is easily understandable and the cast do quite well and I must give credit on the sheer scale of extras present. In true horror movie fashion it takes some time before the Golem is brought to life and even then isn't the centerpiece, but the look and imagery of what he does is what has kept this film from slipping into absolute obscurity. It's such a different tale that yes has some elements from other stories in the horror genre, the monster being in love with a girl, a creation that rebels against it's creator, but by far and away even after a century since it came out no movie is quite like this one. I wouldn't deem it a certified classic that simply must be watched at any cost but it is a very good movie where anybody who is a fan of silent cinema or indeed monster movies of all different types will get something out of it if they watch it. You can find the whole thing on a most trusted ally the Internet Archive, just look for the one that has both the english and german title, it has all the correct color tinting and everything. I give it a solid 3 stars, 7.5/10, and next time we're looking at F.W. Murnau's other classic of the 20s, Faust.

Top 10 Films Of 2025

10. Tron Ares – Now I know it was far from perfect but considering my relatively low number of new releases and my lifelong status as a fan, I knew I couldn't put it higher than this.

9. Wolf Man – Solid new approach to an immortal classic and I'm always on the lookout for what the Universal Monsters will return as next.

8. Nobody 2 – Basic but fun, a solid continuation in my books, and whether or not we get a third I'm quite happy with these two!

7. Ballerina – An interesting side story for the hardcore fans and an enjoyable watch for a casual like me, Ana you are a welcome addition to the action her pantheon.

6. Mickey 17 – Original moviegoing sci-fi with a solid cast, dark humor, and a fanbase that no doubt will sprout from the underground in years to come.

5. Predator Badlands – Almost ingeniously simple in terms of plot and yet very engrossing, and this is a story I would love to see have a continuation on screen.

4. Frankenstein – Yeah yeah Netflix original, well I saw it in the theater and it's my damn show so I'll do as I please! Far from super faithful but intensely engaging and the fan base could not be lovelier, so Guillermo you hit a home run yet again my friend.

3. Superman – Quite a kickstart to the new DC movies and firmly cements David as yet another great Superman, with tremendous heart and hope this is gonna be a beautiful addition to my movie collection.

2. Companion – I could not have fallen for this movie more, the twists and turns, the dark and yet liberating story, this was a damn hard movie to beat but ohh we got one more don't we....

1. Sinners – You're goddamn right. Holy fuckaroli people need to wake up and see this movie, and if you've already seen it well I guess it's about time to watch it again good buddy. It'll be an immense treat to talk about this movie again later down the road this year.

Well that about does her. Wraps it all up. I sure hope I can see significantly more movies this year but come what may I'm happy to have you all aboard for another year of ramblings and reviews. All my best wishes for a new year, be safe out there as always, and I'll be seeing you in the glow of the screens.