Movie Night (Official Movie Discussion Thread)

For the 3rd time (sorry for spamming)


January- March

​

*** (Netflix) ***

Glass Onion
9/10

Top Gun Maverick (online)
8/10


*** (HBO Max) ***


***(SHOWS)***
Primal Season 2
10/10

Harley Quinn Season 3
7/10

Black Dynamite seasons 1 &2
8/10
***(SHOWS)***

Maid in Manhattan
5/10

Don’t Tell Mom The babysitter is Dead
6/10

Bee Movie
6/10

Ghost Dog
7/10

Team America
8/10

Hotel Rwanda
8/10

Black Sheep
6/10

Barbarian
8/10

Rockrolla
6/10

Reindeer Games
9/10

The Men who Stare at Goats
7/10

Redline (YouTube)
7/10

Sweetheart (online)
4/10

The Maze Runner 1 - 3
7/10

Brave heart
7/10

A Christmas Story (2022)
7/10

Jurassic World Dominion
6/10

65 (Theaters)
6/10

House Party 1 - 6
1. 11/10
2. 8/10
3. 7/10
4. 4/10
5. 1/10
6. 5/10

Marlon Wayne’s God Loves Me
6/10

Bloodsport
10/10

Lord of The Rings 1 - 3
10/10

Cobra
7/10


April

​

*** (HBO Max) ***


***(SHOWS)***
Boondocks all seasons 1-4
10/10
***(SHOWS)***

*** (Netflix) ***

Chris Rock Selective Outrage
6/10

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
8/10

Mike Epps: Indiana Mike
6/10

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
7/10

Snoop Dogg Fuckin Around Comedy Special
6/10

Ant Man and The Wasp (online)
6/10

Earthquake: Legendary
8/10

Katt Williams: World War 3
6/10

Deon cole: Charlene’s Boy
8/10

Creed 3 (online)
8/10

Monique: My name is Monique
5/10

Sommore: Queen Chandeiler
7/10


June & July

​

*** (Netflix) ***

***(SHOWS)***
Stranger Things Season 4
8/10

History of Swear Words
6/10
***(SHOWS)***

You People
7/10

Transformers: Rise of The Beast (Theaters)
7/10

Extraction 2
8/10

The Flash (Theaters)
8/10

*** (Amazon) ***


***(SHOWS)***
The Boyz Season 3
8/10

I’m a Virgo
6/10

Swarm
9/10
***(SHOWS)***

House of Gucci
7/10

Respect
8/10

The Black Phone
6/10

Clifford The Big Red Dog
7/10

Nacho Libre
7/10

Honk for Jesus
7/10

Air
8/10

Megan
6/10

Smile
8/10


August

​

*** (Netflix) ***

***(SHOWS)***
Black Mirror Season 6
7/10

Super Crooks
6/10
***(SHOWS)***

The Grey Man
8/10

85 South: Ghetto Legends
6/10

Enough
7/10

They Cloned Tyrone
9/10

The Out Laws
6/10

Day Shift
7/10

Flight
9/10

Hidden Strike
6/10

The Bad Guys
6/10

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning part 1 (Theaters)
9/10

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish
9/10

Kicking & Screaming
6/10

Wendell and Wild
6/10

The Benchwarmers
6/10


September

​

***(SHOWS)***
Masters Of The Universe season 2
7/10

Bill Russell Legend
8/10

Kevin Hart: Don’t fuck this up
8/10

True Story
7/10

Castlevania: Nocturne
8/10

Junji to Manic: Japanese Tales of the Macbre
7/10
***(SHOWS)***

Pee Wee’s Big Holiday
6/10

Entergalactic
7/10

The Monkey King
7/10

The Adam Project
6/10

Murder Mystery 2
6/10

Killer Book Club
5/10

End of The Road
6/10

Uncharted
7/10

Funny People
6/10

Bird Box Barcelona
5/10

Deuces
6/10

Missing
7/10

Wallace & Gromit: Curse of Wererabbit
6/10

Jackass 4.5
7/10

White Boy
7/10

Bob Ross: Happy Accidents
7/10

Hard Lessons
6/10

Marshall
8/10

The Woman King
8/10

Birth of The Dragon
6/10

Blood Brothers: Malcom x And Muhammad Ali
7/10

Kate
6/10

Security
6/10

White Noise
5/10

Luther: The Fallen Sun
6/10

The Big 4
6/10

Untold: Malice at The Palace
8/10

Blue Beetle (Theaters)
8/10

The Game Changers
6/10

Untold: Johnny Football
8/10

Bruised
5/10

Untold: The Rise of And 1
8/10

Big: George Foreman
7/10

Untold: Operation Flagrant Foul
7/10

Kountry’s Woman’s Prayer
6/10

Hustle
8/10

Tony Parker: The Final Shot
7/10

The Redeem Team
9/10

Pelè
7/10

RRR
8/10

Race
8/10

Is That Black Enough
8/10

I wanna Dance (Whitney Houston)
8/10

Kevin Hart: Zero Fucks Given
5/10

Fatherhood
8/10

Me Time
5/10

The Man From Toronto
6/10

Heat
8/10

Blonde
6/10

Vivarnum
5/10

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhikers
7/10

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2022
5/10


October

​

***(SHOWS)***
The Movies That Made us
8/10

Muscles & Mayhem
8/10

Tiger King season 2
8/10

Cocaine Cowboys
7/10

Kaleidoscope
8/10

Dahmer
8/10
***(SHOWS)***

The Wiz
8/10

Spider head
6/10

The invitation
6/10

Arrival
5/10

The Devil All The Time
8/10

Columbina
6/10

(online)
Mario
9/10

John Wick 4
9/10

Spider-Man Across the Multiverse
9/10
(online)
 
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A couple of quick revs


The Good Mother





Some good performances from the cast including Hilary Swank · Olivia Cooke and Jack Reynor in this movie about the murder of la journalists estranged son who forms an unlikely alliance with his pregnant girlfriend to track down those responsible
This movie was an odd mix of a murder mystery, a PSA about drugs and alcohol and then a suspenseful thriller,despite trying to do to much and some dull moments it surprisingly works for the most part.
Scale of 1 to 10 a 7½



Mortal Kombat Legends: Cage Match




Some great voice work from the cast including Joel McHale as Johnny Cage Jennifer Grey as Jennifer Grey ,the late great Gilbert Gottfried as David Doubldy and Kelly Hu as Ashrah
Everything is in place for the character Johnny Cage the arrogance and conceited nature and of course his fighting skills. The animation is sleek and the action sequences are fun. A lot of salty dialogue adds to the fun. Not as good as the last two legends animated film due to some underdeveloped characters and some minor problems but a nice quick action romp for the most part.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 7½
 
Killers of the Flower Moon






Oscar Time !!

PRAISE: After watching a documentary about The Osage Indian murders I wondered how much Director Martin Scorsese and co writer Eric Roth would put in his film about this haunting true story and the people that inhabit it. Would he try to romanticize it in some way.
He captures it ,presents it in a way that's stunning and unnerving. One of the things that really stood out was the casual attitude certain people had about committing the murders to obtain land that had been given to the Osage people after the Indian wars that soon began springing oil. For some it wasn't enough to be "money managers" for them. They wanted it all,by any means necessary.
The film is filled with unflinching performances laced with raw emotion.
Deniro gives one of his best performances ever as William King Hale a cold and calculating man,basically a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Leonardo DiCaprio does a great job as Ernest Burkhardt Hales nephew. I think people will be conflicted like I was when it comes to his character charming at first but was he ever sincere ? Watching the aforementioned documentary makes me lean towards that he was at times but his loyalty to his Uncle overwhelmed everything else.As
Mollie, Lily Gladstone turns in a quiet but beautiful performance ,it's one that displays a lot with just a touch, a look and a smile. Praise to Jesse Plemons as a BOI agent who would lead the investigation into the Osage murders, and Tantoo Cardinal as Mollies mother.Scorsese displays that classic feel of films from the past. The film is laced with soul stirring imagery and facts about what happened to the Osage people.
I think Scorsese really captures how stunningly sinister people were and willing and able to dive into their darker sides of human nature. Having the insane rationale that the murders of the Osage people was balanced out by the things that were provided for them.
Even with all of the grimness and sobering moments there are still celebrations of Indian culture woven in.

PROBLEMS: I wish more had been added to the film about the unsolved murders of the Osage people

Scale of 1 to 10 a 9

One of the best films of 2023
 
The Killer





Killer Confidential

PRAISE: I loved the opening line to this movie about an assassin who gets embroiled in an international manhunt because it's so true !!
There are two routes a movie like this can take. One would be ultra safe and clichéd and one would be just a bit clichéd but far more enjoyable. Fortunately Director David Fincher and writer Andrew Kevin Walker chose the latter. Michael Fassbender is terrific as the mysterious assassin. He turns in an intense, laser focused and unflinching performance. The assassins voice over is like a diary and instructional manual. Charles Parnell makes the most of his screen time and Tilda Swinton does so as well.
Fincher easily frames and presents his characters especially the assassin in such a way that I thought I knew everything about the character so it was very surprising when a turn happens I didn't see coming. Going back to the voice over I wonder if some of what is said was purposely put in to throw the viewer off a bit if so .....good job !!
Fincher also displays the partial paranoia a person may experience after doing something sinister. Fincher and Walker insert dark humor and nods to nostalgia that brought a big smile to my face. I appreciated the intensity and choreography in a standout action sequence.
Fincher definitely knows how to draw an audience in with a simple quiet conversation and then rattle them with an explosion of violence.

PROBLEMS: The pacing could have been better. I think the film could have used an extra fifteen minutes especially to flesh out a couple of under developed characters.
I wish one of the random characters had mentioned something about one of the running nostalgia nods in the film that would have added to the humor of it and been a bit more realistic.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8
 
The After





PRAISE : This short film hit me with a couple of gut punches and then a lot of raw emotion. David Oyelowo is terrific in this Netflix film giving a soulful performance that is laced with shock and grief. Also displaying how coldly some people can only see themselves forgetting what's really important in life.

PROBLEMS: NONE

Scale of 1 to 10 a 10
 
The Marvels




Mediocre Marvels

PRAISE: I guess some execs at Marvel/Disney also found the First Captain Marvel to be to bland and one note like me and decided to take a different approach but does any of it work?
Some of it actually does in this film that brings The Marvels Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel · Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel · Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau together.
They have great chemistry and the writers do a good job of connecting the dots of the three lead characters. They work well together,it was fun seeing them in some of the lighthearted scenes. There's even some clever ways to unify the characters and bring the audience up to date on the characters. I laughed a few times and there are a few action packed and adventurous scenes.
The mid credits scene did give me hope about the future of Marvel films and streaming shows.

PROBLEMS: The odd shifts in tone took me out of the film several times. I remembered how in a couple of the Thor movies the comedic skits were brief in this film they seem endless. A couple of scenes are head scratchers I kept asking why are they doing this ? They might as well do this but they keep it going just to hopefully get some laughs out of some visuals. I have enjoyed Zawe Ashtons performances in the shows The Handmaids Tale and Guerilla but her role in this as the villain Dar-Benn is one note ,absolutely nothing intimidating or interesting about the character. Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury is basically Bosley from Charlie's Angel's in this movie.
Sure I knew from the first trailer this was going to be mainly a comedy but I didn't expect it to be seventy percent sitcom.
I think it's funny how Marvel/Disney suddenly tried to change the marketing for Marvels a few days before it's release with a serious and more reflective trailer because it had already been promoted as a wacky and more joke filled feature months ago. This should have gone straight to Disney+ it would have fit right in with a lot of Marvel shows they offer on there.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 4½
 
She Came to Me





I have to give this movie about people trying to find purpose, love,and understanding plus regain creativity an E for effort for trying to be a little bit of everything. There is enough in this movie that kept me interested and the acting from the cast including Peter Dinklage · Anne Hathaway · Marisa Tomei · Evan Ellison · Harlow Jane · Joanna Kulig · Brian d'Arcy James and Judy Gold give it their all . It just fails to have that perfect balance of comedy and drama. I laughed at how crazy some situations were, I was involved when it became heavily dramatic but I was taken out of the film several times because the switches in tones are very extreme. Very likeable but also lacking at times.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 7½
 
Resident Evil: Death Island on Netflix

New improved virus that infects people without getting bit super quickly and they all get bit yet don't turn. Ton of corny moments during the "boss" fight
 
The Holdovers





Heartwarming with a capital H

PRAISE : Director Alexander Payne and actor Paul Giamatti team up again for The Holdovers about a New England school instructor who soon forms an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker, and with the school's head cook.
The setting for the movie couldn't be more perfect, the coldness and bleakness of winter is synonymous with what several characters are experiencing or have experienced. Giamatti is great as usual, especially when his character is pushed into a corner and questioned about something, the pitch of his voice rising is not only funny but extremely entertaining and then some. Equally great are Dominic Sessa as Angus Tully and Da’Vine Joy Randolph as Mary Lamb. Both giving strong ,dramatic and amusing performances.
Paynes signature story threads always bring a smile to my face especially when they go down unexpected roads.
I liked how the film focuses for some time on how someone may think that they know all there is to a person: Oh he's just a his way or the highway dictator ,this person is holier than thou or upstanding to a T.
The layers are pulled back on the characters and the back stories on them are amusing, sad and extremely moving.

PROBLEMS: At times some of the turns in the script are a bit to spelled out and predictable

Scale of 1 to 10 a 9
 
Dream Scenario





Dream Drifter

PRAISE : Nicolas Cage is great as an everyday joe college professor that hundreds to thousands of people are suddenly dreaming about.
One of the best things about the movie is its display of suddenly being famous and how it effects a person's life. All of the exhilarating and fun things about it but also it's dark sides and how anonymity fades away. Even at the start of his sudden fame you can see his wife Janet (quiet but good performance from Julianne Nicholson) start to chafe at it especially when it involves an ex girlfriend.
Michael Cera is very funny in a scene as a marketing mogul. I can just see Cage in my minds eye complimenting Cera and saying: that's exactly how I would have played it.
The movie doesn't hold back on how fame can lead a person down paths they would have never considered before.
How some turns in the story play out are haunting and reflective of situations celebrities have found themselves in as of late.

PROBLEMS: Even though some of the scenes towards the end of the film are funny, most of it is repetitive as if Director and writer Kristoffer Borgli is wondering if the viewer has gotten the point. I know I did far before the movies last twenty minutes.

Scale of 1 to 10 an 8



Thanksgiving




Thanks for Originality

PRAISE: I remember laughing so hard and being disturbed by the mock Thanksgiving trailer in 2007's Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino cult classic film Grindhouse. Sixteen years later a real Thanksgiving horror flick has finally hit the big screen. Director Eli Roth has assembled a pretty good cast including Patrick Dempsey, Karen Cliche, Gabriel Davenport, Tomaso Sanelli, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Milo Manheim, Gina Gershon and Rick Hoffman. It's the usual fodder of jocks,cheerleaders, meatheads,love rivals and uncaring people.
I liked the immediate reminder of why I don't participate in anything that has to do with Black Friday madness in the standout opening scene of the movie.
Which was a good foundation and link to the carnage that was to come.
The first 45 minutes was a pretty good guessing game of who the Killer Carver was.
The kills were very inventive and blood soaked for the most part. I can tell Roth and writer Jeff Rendell are fans of slasher flicks like Massacre at Central High. They both come up with some gory original ideas and I was happy to see some of the insanity from the 2007 trailer was carried over into this movie.

PROBLEMS:Some of the acting is bad throughout the movie. Several characters vanish for long periods of time. Some of the practical effects look pretty bad. Especially in one scene in which a body looks like one of those science kit human body toys.
Once the movie hits the 45 minute mark I figured out who the Killer was. I pretty much knew who would make it to the end aside from one horror trope change up.

Scale of 1 to 10 a 6
 
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