The Boy and the Heron has some thought in it, but for me it dragged a bit too much for me!!!

Real Rating:

3 Birds

What I Like:

-I can tell that there has been some great thought put into this film, there are plenty of metaphors to choose from and for fans it will be very thought provoking

The So So:

-The animation reminded me of an 80’s cartoon which was fine I guess, but I understand the hard work put into making this film, and that is something we can all appreciate

What I Didn’t Like:

-It dragged for me a lot, I got into the character development and what not, but the rest of the way I find myself checking out, because of that, I couldn’t really get the main point of this story

Overall:

This was my first Studio Ghibli film. (Yes I know.) I see the type of film it is, but for me, it is a film that I really need to pay closer attention to. Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to watch. Maybe that’s why it dragged for me. I understand the hard work they put into this film, and maybe it deserves a second watch from me. With all that said, I know fans would probably enjoy it more than I did!!!

Real Rating:

3 Birds

Leave the World Behind is a fascinating take on the apocalypse happening, may be too long, but the acting made it all horrifically real!!!

Real Rating

4 Vacation Houses

What I Like:

-What I enjoyed most about this is the story, and the actors in this film made it work in the crazy notion that the world may be coming to an end, the way things go down just seemed very real, and gives it a horrific tone

The So So:

-It does leave a lot of plot-holes with what is going on, but I believe it is on purpose, it just gave you a sense of a real world event in the eyes of two families, that is what makes it fascinating, and in a world of what is happening and the unknown, you can’t know everything, and these plot-holes are merited

What I Didn’t Like:

-It was too long for my liking, and kinky they put a lot of unnecessary scenes and dialogue, I wish there was more action to make the long time more merited

Overall:

It is a fascinating tale with a horrific realness that makes you think, “Can this happen?” In that regard it did its job. What made it work is the acting, and the eeriness of the unknown. It may drag with the two and half hour running time which can be wasted on too much dialogue. However, I wasn’t bored watching this film. It kept me engaged to see what is going on, but I just wish there was more action at least. Regardless, with how things ended, it may merit a sequel. I would watch it for sure!!!

(Sidenote: The Nun II – The first one was trash, but this one was better. However, it is still a cliched horror film. With all that said, I always find the horror character Valak, very creepy, and to me that’s what makes it work. Even if the rest of the film doesn’t live up to it!!!
Real Rating: 3 Scary Nuns)

Godzilla Minus One has the be one of the best Kaiju movies I’ve seen, not perfect, but pretty darn good than what I have seen lately!!!

Real Rating:

4 Bombs

What I Like:

-This is a Kaiju movie, and it has some great special effects, the mix of CGI and practical effects really made this work to make a stunning visual masterpiece
-What also made it really good is the story part for the humans, and the character development for the protagonist, Shikishima, was great to see unfold

The So So:

-I normally don’t like watching films where I have to read the subtitles to understand the dialogue, and it can can be distracting trying to read and marvel on the special effects, but in the end, I even though i have to read it, it helped me really invest in the characters and seeing through their emotions of what they are experiencing

What I Didn’t Like:

-It was a little predictable and sort of cheesy at the end that kind of affected the story

Overall:

America may have some visually stunning Godzilla and King Kong movies, but leave it to the original creators to make a Kaiju movie that was really good and effective. Not only you get monster action, but a human subplot that you really care for. It is almost the perfect Godzilla movie. Even with subtitles and what not, I enjoyed it from the beginning to end. If you’re a fan of Kaiju or monster movies in general, this is one film you cannot miss!!!

Real Rating:

4 Bombs

Silent Night is a unique way of telling a typical but pure action revenge story!!!

Real Rating:

4 Mustangs

What I Like:

– John Woo really knows how to make a fun action movie, and this one is no different, the action is thrilling and enjoyable from beginning to end
– The gimmick with this film is that there is no dialogue, everything is about execution, action, and facial expressions, and I found it pretty uniquely entertaining

The So So:

– The acting was fine, but do you really need big time actors for roles you don’t really speak in? Is Joel Kinnaman and to a lesser extent Kid Cudi worth having with a role like that? I don’t know, but at least Kinnaman held his own in this

What I Didn’t Like:

– I thought the portrayal of Mexican Americans as dangerous gang members can be very harmful in how society sees them, not all of them are gangsters, and for a white guy to get revenge on them, it can be problematic
– It is a typical revenge plot that we have seen before

Overall:

With all the problematic stuff aside, it is still a good watch. With the no dialogue gimmick and the fun action, it is worth the time to check it out. Everything just worked in place, and if you have the heart to withstand the dark moments, it is entertaining enough!!!

Real Rating:

4 Mustangs

Dream Scenario is an intriguing story that gets downright depressing, but in an entertaining way!!!

Real Rating:

4 Dreams

What I Like:

-This is a unique storyline, sci-fi(ish) type of story about dreams with some subtle themes of what gets famous and cancel culture as well, that brings a lot of comedy as well that made me laugh, think, and enjoy
-What really makes this work is the great acting by Nicolas Cage, not only does he give some great dramatic acting, but his comedy was really good, and of course you get his eccentricness that we know Cage does well

The So So:

-The story of this film does get depressing, but they do it in an entertaining and engaging way with their themes and execution of the film, but I can’t shake off the fact how depressing and unfair it is for the protagonist, Paul Matthews, and what he had to go through

What I Didn’t Like:

-It didn’t quite stick the landing at the end, the conclusion was left open ended, it didn’t leave me satisfied, plus the weirdness at the end, which is saying something for this film, just made it more like What?, then Ooooh, mainly because it refused to explain things

Overall:

This is a good, well thought out film. Some people may see it as a black comedy, but I see it more of a psychological sci-fi type of ordeal. It was fascinating to see how this will all end. However, the ending just left me dissatisfied with this whole ordeal. There are many reasons why it didn’t quite stick the landing, but that is for you all to decide. With that said, Nicolas Cage fans will have their hunger satisfied at the very least!!!

Real Rating:

4 Dreams

(Sidenote: You Hurt My Feelings – This film is pretty much seeing Julia Louis-Dreyfus having a breakdown, and then trying to reconcile with her husband. It may bring some witty comedy, and has some interesting scenes. However, you keep asking yourself, “Why should I care about these people?” I kept saying that at the conclusion of this film where their main theme was way too exhausted after a while!!!
Real Rating: 3.5 Feelings)

Wish can be another film that is not original, but I still found something special in it, plus the hidden nostalgia!!!

4 Stars

What I Like:

-I enjoyed the world building in this one, it was very straightforward, and I enjoyed the diverse characters in it, some of the main characters I did enjoy especially Asha, the protagonist, and the cute ones like Valentino and Star
-The animation was different but great, the mix of CGI and 2D animation worked perfectly together
-I enjoyed the heart of this story about wishes and why it is important, and the hidden easter eggs made it nostalgic for sure, it was a good movie to look back on how Disney was and still is special

The So So:

-Chris Pine playing King Magnifico has some up and downs, I thought Chris Pine gave it everything as the villain and king of the story, but what threw me off was his singing, I thought it was distracting and not good which affected some of the songs, including his solo
-The music at first didn’t blow me away, but later on it got a lot better, the song, “Knowing What I Know Now,” actually had some emotional umph into it

What I Didn’t Like:

-The story is the typical Disney trope, and there is no way around it, it is pretty straightforward too

Overall:

Yes, the film is a typical Disney film with all the tropes and cliches that Disney like to do. With that said, I really did enjoy the many Easter Eggs it brings from their past films. It makes this story a nostalgic special one, and I thought it was nice. I enjoyed the characters for the most part, and in the end, I liked it. It is not the best, but good enough for the family to relax and watch!!!

Real Rating:

4 Stars

Napoleon can be a good war epic, but the character development made Napoleon hateable and not interesting!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Cannons

What I Like:

-The battle scenes were epic, director Ridley Scott executed some mind blowing effects that will keep you engaged

The So So:

-The acting was good in certain aspects, but as for the main character himself played by Joaquin Phoenix, I think he did the best with what he got, but it was developed for him to make him look arrogant and hateable, and even at times funny at some things that look weird and awkward

What I Didn’t Like:

-The scenes with Napoleon and his first wife played by Vanessa Kirby just seemed awkward, I did not feel any type of genuine love between the two of them
-There was a lot of slow moments for a “historical” film that is two and a half hours

Overall:

I may have come in with high expectations that maybe that is why I walked away a little disappointed. It wasn’t for a lack of execution, because I thought the battle scenes were top notch. I also thought Joaquin Phoenix did his best with what he got. I just thought his character development for the historically famed Napoleon Bonaparte just didn’t do any justice for him. It made him not likable whatsoever. What I learned in history is that this man was a genius, and I couldn’t see that in this film. So maybe that is why I didn’t like it the way I should’ve liked it!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Cannons

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes started off very intriguing until that third act where it felt nothing was merited!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Turnstiles

What I Like:

-I enjoyed seeing the story of the beginning of the Hunger Games and the issues they had to endure to “keep the peace,” it was a good premise
-The start of the Hunger Games for this film was a lot of fun to watch with the one shot that added a lot of intensity and fun action
-The acting was pretty good especially Rachel Zegler and that singing voice, and Tom Blyth as a young Coriolanus Snow was interesting to see as a good person even though we know how that will end up, add to the fact that Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage was in this as intense villains was just icing on the cake

The So So:

-The first two thirds of this films was great with compelling storytelling, and great character development, for a prequel it really developed everything well to keep the aesthetic of the original movies but make it their own way, however, the last third of the film is where everything went down

What I Didn’t Like:

-The last third of the film is where I felt it fell of a cliff, they needed to develop Snow to the man he was in the original films, but their approach to it felt very rushed, and his supposed evilness felt unmerited, I just didn’t feel any emotion to his character becoming evil, I felt the Star Wars prequels to Anakin Skywalker was better, and that is saying something

Overall:

I really thought this film was going to be one of the good ones in this franchise the way it started with everything. Then the third act came, and everything felt it was crumbling down. I felt that this could’ve been split into two films, because the way they handled Snow in the third act just didn’t felt right. I wasn’t feeling any emotion whatsoever for the turn of this character, and really affected my viewing pleasure. It is a shame really, but just add this film to the franchise trying to make more money without a really compelling film!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Turnstiles

Trolls Band Together just double downs their tropes, and made it into something that is getting old!!!

Real Rating:

2.5 Magic Dog Slug RV

What I Like:

-The music is something you can sit back and enjoy, especially if you’re into late 90’s early 00’s Boy Bands

The So So:

-The voice cast is good enough, but how much of Anna Kendrick’s overly excited voice can you handle? My tolerance is very low now
-The animation can be colorful and exciting, but sometimes I feel like I’m stoned watching this film
-The jokes can be funny at times, but the adult jokes are way too on the nose

What I Didn’t Like:

-For a third film, it is definitely wearing out its welcome, the first film was fine, the second was entertaining enough, but this one just got old for me way too quickly with its schtick and what not
-Growing up, I was not into Boy Bands and their music, so please excused if I can’t be 100% in their culture

Overall:

The first two films were decent at best, but this one just didn’t work for me at all. There are some bright spots like the voice cast, music, and animation, but overall, it is a story that is just getting old. What can I say? It is just a big load of glittery crap!!!

Real Rating:

2.5 Magic Dog Slug RV

Is Next Goal Wins very cliched, yes, but since I’m a sucker for sports movies, plus Taika Waititi’s charm makes fun in my book!!!

Real Rating:

4 American Samoans

What I Like:

-I am a sucker for inspirational sports stories, and this one is no different, in this case, the culture of the country of America Samoa, though shown in a comedic way, really makes you pull for them
-The acting was great, and it actually gives a lot of charm, it is what Taika Waititi does in his movies, it brings a charm to make the characters likable.

The So So:

-There is a character that is trans, and it brings out some tense and special moments that were great, with that said, it wasn’t the main focus of the film which loses a little bit of why that is important and special

What I Didn’t Like:

-Yes it is a cliched sports movie, and you knew what was going to happen

Overall:

Once again, I am a sucker for sports movies, and I still enjoyed this fun movie despite its cliches and tropes. It actually brings some special moments, and I really enjoyed learning the culture of the country of America Samoa. Taika Waititi’s hands are all over this, and that is why it is a charming movie that we can sit back and enjoy what it brings!!!

Real Rating:

4 American Samoans