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(First time viewing for the Phoenician Scheme review today.)

“Don't point that gun at him, he's an unpaid intern.”

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is only one of two Wes Anderson films I hadn’t seen up till now (the other is Darjeeling Limited which I’ll try to watch before The Phoenician Scheme tomorrow.) This film has been considered one of Anderson’s worst films but I think that the film is his most moving and underrated out of the bunch. The film like most of his others is very silly but is also very touching in parts where most of his films hadn’t done beforehand. This is also the first time Anderson works with his famous puppetry that would later be used in films like Fantastic Mr. Fox. The film is about Steve Zissou an Oceanographer who plans on killing a shark that killed his partner and ranges a crew that includes his estranged wife, a Journalist, and a man who may or may not be his son. Wes’s direction here may not be his strongest in most points, but it finds ways in being charming and entertaining while also feeling like a structured Wes Anderson film, the writing and screenplay from Noah Baumbach and Wes Anderson is unique and far distant from other Anderson films but it gives you so much character development and makes Steve Zissou an asshole in the beginning to a sympathetic broken man in the final act of the film. The production design is great, but the design of the ship is incredibly made, the cinematography that is somewhat shot underwater is incredible, and the ending is heartbreaking to watch. The cast is phenomenal with Bill Murray giving another all timer performance as Steve Zissou, Owen Wilson being the MVP as Ned (Zissou) Plimpton, Cate Blanchett as a pregnant journalist Jane Winslett Richardson, Willem Dafoe as Klaus Daimler who is Steve’s assistant with a crazy German accent, and Jeff Goldblum (Steve’s wife’s ex-husband who has a rivalry with Steve.) The score is beautiful, and lastly I felt the film was a bit too long and paced very slowly for 2 hours and felt they could have cut a few scenes out. 

Overall a surprisingly fascinating film about Ocean life and a man’s desires to get revenge on a shark and connect with his maybe long lost son.

7.8/10

(Rewatch for the Phoenician Scheme)

“Let’s shag ass.”

The Royal Tenenbaums is the third film Wes Anderson made, and this is (in my opinion) the first masterpiece that he made, and by far his most depressing and dark themed film yet. The film being about a rich family whose father isn’t apart of the children’s lives, and each of their children grapple with depression as they become older. The film is somber at times but also heartfelt and charming in others, and this might be my favorite interpretation of New York in a film thus far. The beginning perfectly summarizes the family as broken and distant while all being gifted in their own ways and Hey Jude is a perfect song for them to play for that opening scene. The direction from Anderson is personally his top 3 best, and the screenplay from him and Owen Wilson is spectacularly written for showing a broken family and their redemption. The cast ensemble is another excellent casting with the late great Gene Hackman as Royal Tenenbaum, Luke Wilson as Richie Tenenbaum, Ben Stiller as Chas Tenenbaum, Gwenyth Paltrow as Margot Tenenbaum, Angelica Huston as Etheline Tenenbaum, Owen Wilson as Eli Cash, Bill Murray as Raleigh St. Clair, and Danny Glover as Henry Sherman giving stand out performances. The production design is another personal favorite of mine as the style of each room of the house is Beautiful and elegant to look at. The cinematography is fantastic, the structure of the Wes Anderson format is iconic as always, and the score and costumes are immaculate. Also the film gives me Succession vibes by the way, as it’s basically to same story if you think hard about it.

Overall a perfect film about family, redemption, depression, and clarity that you will ever see. Check this one out if you haven’t, it’s a top tier Anderson film and one that I see myself rewatching for years to come. Plus this was the first film that made me love Wes Anderson until I saw Grand Budapest Hotel and Rewatched Fantastic Mr. Fox.

9.9/10

(Rewatch for The Phoenician Scheme)

“You can't wake up if you don't fall asleep.”

Asteroid city is Wes Anderson’s most philosophical and existential film yet with the whole taking place as a theater play at a Junior stargazing event where an Alien played by Jeff Goldblum causes a crisis in Asteroid City, fun ain’t it? People call this his worst film by far and I for one have to disagree with anyone who hates this film, this film is one that I keep revisiting every year as I feel I get something new out of watching it every year. This story of grief, existential crisis, belonging, purpose, and understanding is undeniable in every single aspect possible. The Alien standing as a metaphor for life and purpose of existence and thoughts of death and grief is haunting but almost a hidden truth and message that comes across as Adrien Brody’s character somewhat says to not understand life but just keep telling and going along with your own story to make it easier for you to understand (at least that’s how I interpret this message, like Auggie Steinbeck I also don’t understand this story but keep watching the story to understand it somewhat better.)

Wes’s direction and writing here is way more odder than his previous work, but it’s a film he basically tries to understand with the audience as well on why the story moves this direction that he probably also gravitates on towards most of his filming. I also love how his filming perspective is still the same but at the same time feels different and has more techniques that he uses at the same time such as a split screen shot, an intermission that is optional for the actual audience, the whole sha-bang. The production design in this might be one of my favorite sets that I’ve seen in a film alongside the Grand Budapest Hotel, and I do wish it got nominated and won at the Oscars two years ago (Poor Things is also good but not as mind blowing to me), the Cinematography is beautiful as the colors of turquoise blue, tan brown, and orange work well for the look of this film.

The cast ensemble is definitely one of the best casts ever assembled and definitely one of Wes’s best cast he has worked with, some of my favorite performances include Jason Schwartzman as Auggie Steinbeck (a grieving father of four kids mourning the loss of his wife and making a connection with Midge Campbell), Scarlett Johansson as Mitch Campbell (An actress and mother who is deep in a new performance that she will be performing and growing fond of Auggie Steinbeck), Tom Hanks in his first Wes Anderson movie as Stanley Zak (the father of Auggie’s late wife and grandfather of Auggie’s kids), and Margot Robbie as the wife/actress (who has this pivotal small scene with Auggie in the end of the film that gives Auggie a sense of hope he is looking for throughout this play that he is performing in.) The Comedy in this film is light but hilarious at parts, the pacing is flawless, the costumes are exquisite, and the score is memorable as hell.

Overall it’s not Wes’s absolute best film but it’s the one that I think about a lot from his filmography, with many morals and messages that come across that don’t make sense but makes you go along with the story, plus it’s one that I will rewatch a lot more than other movies and most of Wes’s other films.

9.8/10

(Rewatch for The Phoenician Scheme)

“Why dincha just piss off, Fischer? Ya dotty wee skid mark!”
“Is that Latin?”

Wes Anderson’s sophomore film Rushmore is a good follow up to his directorial debut of Bottle Rocket and this film is such a fun and unique film compared to most of his later films. Even though this film is shot in a different structure compared to his later films and masterpieces over the years, this one has the formats of almost every Wes Anderson’s films such as the bolded texts on screen, the still camera, the quirky characters, etc. Even though I feel this film can get a bit messy in its second act and the pacing can drag in certain scenes, I still felt that this film was very strong in its writing from Anderson and Owen Wilson and it reminded me of The Holdovers at some points of the film. It’s one of those types of cozy and warm films that you can almost feel nostalgic with when watching. Anderson’s direction isn’t his best, but it gives Anderson the skills and ability to make films like Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel years later. Jason Schwartzman gives an all time great performance as Max Fischer in his film acting debut, as it’s a character you can relate to throughout the film and get his perspective on why he’s fond of the school Rushmore not with the academics but with the school clubs and one of the teachers of the elementary school across from him named Miss Cross, and Bill Murray is phenomenal as Herman Blume an industrialist who also has a crush on Miss Cross. The production design and sets are great, the cinematography is good, the editing is solid, and the ending is great message about finding your place in the world. Overall not one of Anderson’s best, but one I’m so glad I got to rewatch after so many years. (I was really young when I watched this for the first time.)  A superb film that is very simple in how it was made.

7.8/10

(Rewatch, Wes Anderson marathon for The Phoenician Scheme.)

“He is not an invincible comet, speeding on its guided arc toward the outer reaches of the galaxy in cosmic space-time. Rather, he is a boy who will die young. He will drown on this planet in the steady current of the deep, dirty, magnificent river that flows night and day through the veins and arteries of his own ancient city. His parents will receive a telephone call at midnight, dress briskly, mechanically, and hold hands in the silent taxi as they go to identify the body of their cold son. His likeness, mass-produced and shrink-wrap packaged, will be sold like bubblegum to the hero-inspired who hope to see themselves like this. The touching narcissism of the young.”
I am starting a Wes Anderson Marathon of most of his films before I see The Phoenician Scheme this weekend and I felt that The French Dispatch would be the best film to start it of with.

The French Dispatch is a love letter to the writers and the journalists who share the stories of the past and the future of events that happen in real life. As someone who wants to write screenplays for movies but feels like I have regrets or denial that pulls me back from starting a screenplay, this film for one vividly shows and reminds me that anyone can write something extraordinary as long as they try to make it sound like they wrote it that way on purpose, and with writing these silly reviews does this make me feel a bit more confident in myself even if I often don’t use big and fascinating words to describe the film I review. 

Anyway this film as a whole is one of Wes’s most underrated masterpieces that is now making a restoration of one of his best films by many cinephiles who like myself think Anderson is one of the greatest filmmakers and storytellers to evolve the film industry from a century ago and make this anthology film look like an art painting misunderstood but valued in the same way as a Vincent Van Gogh or in a better example, Moses Rosenthaler Masterpiece. Each story that is depicted (including the Owen Wilson sightseeing tour) are each flawed but endlessly fascinating and compelling to rewatch and it’s Wes Anderson Magnum opus screenplay and his captivating direction that makes this his most Wes Anderson based film thus far. He understands most of these characters backgrounds, their motivations, their personalities, and each of their downfalls with such gravitous and nuanced that it’s the reason his style and structures of these stories and scenes and with every single one of his films have us coming back to rewatch his films. The placements and shot selection of each of his scenes for this particular film is spectacular and awe inspiring to look at and the cinematography and production design make this film look beautiful and unique in every way. The cast ensemble is in my opinion is tied with The Grand Budapest Hotel as his best ensemble ever, and I won’t include everyone’s names in this as they all are equally phenomenal, Bill Murray, Benicio Del Toro, Timothee Chalamet, and Jeffrey Wright all gave a different performance that fit each story, Del Toro a deprived and troubled painter, Chalamet a brave and rebellious College student who is asking for change, Wright an ambitious but audacious man, and Murray a hard working director of a newspaper company that runs all of these stories to make sure it fits. The score from Alexandre Desplat is one of his most impressive scores I have heard from him, the costumes are immaculate, the scene with Chalamet on the motorbike is my favorite shot out of the film with a second or third being the Moses painting Sloane’s potrait scene or the chase scene of the chauffeur in story three. 

Overall an astonishing achievement for Wes Anderson in Storytelling and visual sets. While Grand Budapest Hotel, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Royal Tenebaums, ETC are way above it in my ranking, this one holds a special place in my heart as I can easily rewatch anytime if I feel like I’m in the mood to watch it. Also the Second story is my favorite as I’m basically the same age as the College kids.

9.8/10

(Spoiler free review)

“In case you forgot, our parents' war is about to become ours. Figure out what side you're on.”

I saw an early screening of How To Train Your Dragon, and this will definitely be a hot take but the live action How To Train Your Dragon is one of the best Live-Action films I have seen and this adaptation is better than the animated film even if it is a shot by shot replica of the original film. When I was younger I somewhat tolerated the animated film, even though it was not my favorite and the fact that I found those films ok but a bit less engaging and pleasing but I understand why people love it way more than me. Yet with this I was entertained from start to finish, and this film looks way more visually appealing and pleasant to the eyes in live action. The story is way more interesting in this version when you have very realistic CGI Dragons in this film, and the visual effects are spectacular to look at, with Toothless looking even more cute and epic in this, as well as the set pieces being similar replicas to Berk in the original films. The cast ensemble is great with Mason Thames literally being the perfect casting for Hiccup, as if he was rip from the animation. The first act takes a while for the film to get going like in the original (which at this point I should say I haven’t seen in years and need a rewatch of the films) but it gets the ball rolling when Hiccup meets Toothless and the story moves forward in a steady pace. Overall, I know people will disagree with my thoughts and might not even watch it if they think it’s just a replica of the original, but I promise you will get the same nostalgic experience that came from those films to leave you satisfied.

8.7/10

(Spoiler free review)

“You are Him. The one they call the Baba Yaga. How do I start doing what you do?”

“ Looks like you already have.”

Got to see an early screening of Ballerina and it was so much fun. I’ll be honest, I had very low expectations for this film, as the trailers didn’t do much to make me invested or excited, but once the film started I was hooked and really enjoyed my experience with it. As an avid John Wick fan this prequel spinoff really is able to feel like a standalone film from the franchise and feel like its own story. Ana De Armas is super badass and hot  in this film, and she is a definite new fan favorite for the franchise, Gabriel Byrne is wonderful as The Chancellor, Angelica Huston, Ian Mcshane and the late great Lance Reddick all are great in their recurring roles, and it’s great to see Keanu Reeves back as John Wick. The action in this film is more grounded compared to the John Wick films but at the same time it goes really hardcore and badass at the same time with the stunts working perfectly and one scene with a flamethrower that will stick with me for this film. The writing is phenomenal as it’s able to stick with what makes the franchise one of the best by sticking with a story and a mission that doesn’t feel convoluted or repetitive even if a few of my grips are first act wise and some character development wise that feels a bit cheap, and the set pieces and locations at stunning to look at, as well as the cinematography and editing that hits hard. Overall it’s not a perfect film or even the best of the John Wick films, but was I for one entertained for 2 hours. Fuck yeah. I also know that there will be some people who will not be on board with it, but don’t get too frustrated with it , and don’t let this become a movie that has so many bad reviews for dumb reasons or let this bomb at the box office. Go see this and have a good time with it.

7.8/10

“I believe God made me for a purpose - but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

Chariots of Fire is another fine Oscar bait film that I respect for being tolerable and doing its job right. The direction was to strongest part of this film as it shows you each characters goals and objectives on how to win the Olympics and there are some cool shots in this film including the famous run on the beach scene. The score is very empowering and strong. The writing I wish was more engaging and that they focused more on the Jewish background instead of just focusing on the Olympics games. Overall an ok film were I basically got the point of the plot after five minutes and wish it changed expectations of what the film should have been. Still not a bad film but probably won’t rewatch.
6.7/10

“I wonder if those little creatures feel joy and sorrow like us.”

Normally I wouldn’t include reviews of films that are under an hour but I’ll make an exception for this. A day in the country is a silly, fun, and charming time. That’s pretty much it. This was originally supposed to be a full length film, but the director Jean Renoir withdrew from the production due to bad weather and never fully completed it and his wife had to edit it years later with the footage he already shot. I wish Renoir completed this film for me to talk about the film as a whole as all of the crafts worked well as did the cast. Overall a film which original ending was scrapped and forgotten in the history books and a short 40 minute film that is worth checking out.

7.7/10

(Rewatch)

“Should've taken the serum. Bucky's full of shit.”

Rewatch with the family. It’s still pretty fine and the previous review stays the same (so read that if you want my thoughts). It’s not bad, it’s not great, it’s just a fun superhero film that isn’t the worst film in the world. Likely won’t rewatch it again after this due to already having an idea of what happened in this film but you never know what I’ll do.

7.0/10

“Why is Guy growing so distant? I would have died for him. So why aren't I dead?”

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is a beautifully and elegantly made piece of cinema full of drama, romance, and music that inspired La La Land years later. This is my first Jacque Demy film and I got to say, Damn can this man direct a film. It is something else entirely that I haven’t seen before, literally felt like I was watching a dream that is happy and cheery, to then get depressing and feel melancholic at the end. The acting is great and the characters feel human and lively for musical standards. The writing is great as the dialogue is basically just the characters singing out the words and I love it, the plot is a bit all over the place in Act 2 but I feel it worked for how some characters acted and progressed over the months and years that the film takes place. The production and costume design are some of the best most elegant that I have seen in a film maybe ever, the cinematography is beautifully shot, and the musical score and songs work really well instead of it being another Emilia Perez. Overall a nearly perfect film with some flaws, great music, story, and direction that you should check out soon.
8.7/10

“Lincoln said, "With malice toward none, with charity to all." Nowadays they say, "Think the way I do or I'll bomb the daylights outta you."

You can’t take it with you is a great Rom Com that basically sparked how the sub-genre would expand over the years. Fun family disagreements and rivalry’s, interesting characters and storytelling, and wacky and witty humor. The ensemble cast is fantastic, James Stewart is great as Tony Kirby and his bombastic screams were astoundingly funny,  Jean Arthur shines as Anne Scyamore, Lionel Barrymore is hilarious as the grandpa of Anne, and Donald Meeks is the MVP as Poppins. Frank Capra direction can feel a bit stale and flawed in the beginning of the second act, the writing is good but random at times, and the conflict in the second act feels like it goes on for a while. Overall a very good film that has a lot going for it to make it feel like a grand Rom Com.

7.7/10

This review may contain spoilers.

(Rewatch)

“Hello, brother. If you're listening to this, the world is still here and so are you. For the record, I never had a moment of doubt. I knew you'd find a way. You always do. I hope, in time, you can see this life is not some quirk of fate. This was your calling. Your destiny. A destiny that touches every living thing. Like it or not, we are masters of our fate. Nothing is written. And our cause, however righteous, pales in comparison to the impact of our effect. Any hope for a better future comes from willing that future into being. A future reflecting the measure of good within ourselves.And all that is good inside us is measured by the good we do for others. We all share the same fate -- the same future. The sum of our infinite choices. One such future is built on kindness, trust, and mutual understanding, should we choose to accept it. Driving without question towards a light we cannot see. Not just for those we hold close, but for those we'll never meet. I hope you know I'll always love you, brother. And I will see you again, though I hope it's not too soon. The world still needs you. Of course, they'll never know it, but we did it. We, who live and die in the shadows. This message will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Ethan.”

Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning is still better the second time. Got to rewatch this in an XD theater and it was a very immersive experience from start to finish. I understand most people still aren’t connecting with it, but I felt that the second viewing made me love it even more. Some things I didn’t talk heavy about in my last review is that I still get freaking chills and anxiety when the Entity shows Ethan the future and it’s basically Nuclear apocalypse and major cities getting destroyed and the whole world engulfed in flames, when Ethan is in the bottom of the Arctic Ocean and is floating up while the camera spins around, Luther’s death still gets me and his monologue at the end of the film nearly chokes me up, and the by plane battle is still perfect. I love the tension of this film and how it doesn’t let you sigh a breath of relief and keeps you anxious for the majority of the film. I don’t have much to say that I didn’t say in my last review so check that out, but this is the best film of the summer so far, and one of the best films of the year (not better than Sinners but still perfect) and I hope more people respect it in the coming months and years.

9.9/10

“Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”

The live action Lilo and Stitch isn’t as bad as people say it is. Sure there are problems such as some changes from the animation (including Jumba) and (Gantu), and the ending being entirely butchered (though I can’t complain as it’s better than most Live action films). Lilos actress is very cute and has great moments and Chris Sanders as Stitch is still fun with a lot more mayhem then I expected, and I also loved the actress who plays Nani. The direction is ok, the visuals look better than the past Disney films, and the story is still fun. Otherwise not much else to say then it is fun and cute.

6.7/10

“I spend my life between the kitchen and my bedroom. Is that living in ?”

Black Girl is a haunting depiction of discrimination in 1960’s . It follows and Senegalese woman who moved to to make a living and works as a servant for white abusive people. For one thing I love how this film is only an hour long and it doesn’t waste its time explaining everything and how you can get an idea of what Diouana is put through. I do which it was a tiny bit more interesting in some scenes but I’ll work with what I got. The cinematography is captivating, the direction is nice, the production design is phenomenal and makes me want to move to or even visit , and the ending is haunting and feels too real of similar incidents that happen today
Overall not perfect but not a bad experience. Give it a watch if you have an hour to spare.

7.8/10

“It is with me now, so many years later. And it makes me think of so much that is good, that is gone.”

They weren’t kidding about how green their valley was, as the whole film is in black and white. In a seriousness How Green was my valley is a pretty good film. Not Fords most entertaining or best, but one filled with heart and soul. I’ll get the problems out of the way with the film, the writing is ok but doesn’t feel strong in the last act, it does have a power to make you fall asleep or feel sleepy near part of the film, and it could have been shorter. What makes this film good is Fords direction on how this film should look with the beauty and horizons of most of his shots is great, the ensemble cast is fun and unique, and the Black and White cinematography is stunning as is the production design. Overall it’s not perfect or what should have won best picture (Citizen Kane should have won, but I’m not complaining) but it’s a nice film I would recommend to people who want to check it out. 

7.6/10

(Rewatch)

“This is why I never do business with Italians. The spics of Europe.”

Showed this to my parents and they loved it like I did the last two times. It’s still an impeccable masterpiece that I feel will still become a modern Classic in the next few years. For a third time I’m still surprised that it didn’t drag for so long with its runtime though I likely won’t rewatch this for a few more years, due to having seen it three times this year, and it is a hard film to get others to watch. Also if you want to hear my thoughts I have two very long reviews that I have talking about its importance for me and what I love about it. 

9.8/10

“Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!”

All About Eve is a masterpiece on all levels of brilliants and whit. It took nearly a few years but I finally got around to watching it and this film just works for me on every level, someone who used to be in theater as an actor✅ and someone trying to become a director in Hollywood like Bill Simpson✅. Either way this story is rough in a few places but never feels stale or dull, just near flawless characters, themes, and rivalry between Margo Channing and Eve Harrington that keeps the plot engaging. Both Eve and Margo are fantasticly entertaining characters and are both play wonderfully by Anne Baxter and the wonderful Bette Davis (who gives one of the best and hottest performances of all time and either her, Baxter or Gloria Swanson should have won the Oscar) and the way both of them fight for this one role that Margo played for many years and can’t risk her fame being lost if she loses the role, how Eve wants to become a big star like Margo and try’s to look and dress like her, and how it feels like a full circle in the end when Eve becomes the next Margo Channing and someone mentees her like she did with Margo all those years ago. George Sanders is astounding, Celeste Holm and Thelma Ritter steal the show, and Marilyn Monroe shines in her breakthrough role for a few minutes. The direction and writing from Joseph L. Mankiewicz is outstanding and especially the writing which is top notch. The costumes look elegant, the editing is great, and the cinematography is vibrant. My one complaint is it can be a bit slow in the second act, but overall a near perfect cinematic experience that will be studied for more years to come.

9.8/10

This review may contain spoilers.

“You don't look happy.”
“Have I ever?”

My God. We Need to Talk about Kevin: a deep exploration of a struggling kid with a troubled childhood who becomes a school shooter and his mom who has to live the consequences of his actions two years later. I’m in utter shock after watching this film. This is my first Lynne Ramsay film and this was a rough one to finish. This legit was a therapy session of a mother who’s mental state is destroyed and her life ruined by certain circumstances, and a therapy session of a boy who’s childhood being stranger than others who becomes more dark and evil throughout the film and becomes the embodiment of a monster near the film’s final minutes as it is a character study of both characters from where they start to where they end in a very nonlinear story. Tilda Swinton gives a career best Eva, Ezra Miller is terrifying in this film and it makes sense, the direction and writing from Ramsay is so raw and compelling that it feels like this came from previous material or real life, the editing is haunting, the motif of red is perfect showing how horrific this film is, and the ending is like I said heart dropping and bleak. Overall, if you want to watch this, please be fair warned that this film is not at all a happy film. This film is bleak filmmaking at its finest and I feel that this film has this unsettling feeling that scares me so much but also makes me want to rewatch it in the future to see how my thoughts have changed, but for now I don’t think I’ll have the urge to.

8.5/10

“Our lives are not defined by any one action. Our lives are the sum of our choices”

Just got out of an early screening of Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning and surprisingly this is the best swan song to a franchise that I have seen. I may be a bit biased on my thoughts and I understand people who have seen it are mixed on it and I know for a fact that this weekend, once it comes out people are easily going to find ways to hate it and call the film and the hype overrated, and while I can see where they are coming from (the first act can feel slow, they can feel that it has too many quests and that it mostly focuses on Ethan in the second act, and not like the ending) I personally found my first viewing of Final Reckoning to be the most suspenseful out of the franchise, on the edge of your seat thrills, and the most dyer and consequential story that we have been anticipating for nearly 30 years. The beginning can be dialogue heavy, and it’s not as action heavy as the last few films, but it is a great reminder of what Ethan Hunt has been preparing for, and for gosh sakes they make a tribute for both Tom Cruise and Ethan Hunt at the beginning of the film showing his past missions. The film is able to give you anxiety in the beginning of the film as The Entity (Artificial Intelligence) shows Hunt  the villain Gabriel’s plans of what he is going to do and I really felt like this mission really was going to be impossible during 99% of the film (No Spoilers by the way, you’re good but I can now say I’m afraid of what weapons where used in that scene including the AI as well), and by far this had the most stakes out of all of the films. 

The daredevil stunts that Ethan (Tom Cruise has to do are horrifying but epic, the story has a lot of exposition and character Development but feels paid off in the end, the villain is way more menacing in part 2 even when he is offscreen, and the ending is a perfect as I wanted it to be. I seriously don’t need to talk more about Tom Cruise, we can already say he is the greatest of all time and his deep dive scene and by plane scenes will likely go down as his best stunts he has done and him making Ethan as a character in this film really felt like he wanted this to be his sent off for the franchise. Esai Morales is great as Gabriel and makes the list of most menacing villains out to screen, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, and Ving Rhames are all still great, Pom Klementieff and Greg Tarzan Davis are the MVP’s and have time to shine, Angela Bassett plays a more pivotal role in this film, Henry Czerny and Shea Wigham where phenomenal as always, and the new cast such as Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, and old cast such as Rolf Saxon are fantastic for time the have. The direction from Mcquarrie isn’t his best but it proves that he had a lot to work with to cap off a story, the editing and cinematography is amazing, the score is still Iconic, the visuals (especially in the beginning) and the sound design is great, and the ending like I said before is perfect. 

Overall, I don’t want to give much away, but even if this movie isn’t perfect or the best of the franchise (Fallout), I can say this is the conclusion to a story that I wanted. The film is fun, thrilling, twisty at times, intense, has the best use of transitions, has heart, and with out a doubt, a movie that you will want to revisit. Please don’t make any other films after this one please, the franchise is *near perfect* and doing one more would feel like overkill. Please go and see this on the biggest screen you can, I beg you.

9.9/10

“I need you to trust me, one last time.”

“Do you feel how life flies?”

Daisies is unlike anything I have seen before. A totally original film about two teenage girls both named Marie who realize the world is spoiled and that they should be spoiled, embarking on a series of destructive pranks in which they consume and destroy the world around them. The story is very vibrant and whimsical and it reminded me so much of Poor Things and a French new wave film (the film is Czech by the way) and has this exploration to it where you are able to come along for the ride. The direction is phenomenal as the director shows how women view the world and how the sad truth is that they are struggling to survive in a man’s world, and there is so much commentary and satire on politics and feminism. The editing is wonderfully made as it switches back from black and white to color, and cuts into a montage of different photos and scenes making it feel like a fever dream. The ending is a bit bizarre and and Act 2 is definitely weak compared to the first act, but it is honestly a beautifully made film that hasn’t been seen by many and I ask for you to check it out.

8.7/10

“That look in your eyes is a pain in my ass, you know that, right?”

Mission Impossible III is the saving grace of the franchise after the clueless and uninteresting story of the 2nd film. Props to J.J Abram’s (who didn’t direct much before hand) for making a film that could have easily destroyed a franchise or made it worst and made a story that was more tense than before, gave us an interesting and most threatening villain of the franchise thus far, giving Ethan a fiancée that would make his job at the IMF way more stressful, and for bumping up the action and stunts to make it way more wild. I’m not a Abram’s hater but thank you for making MI 3 and making me love MI and thank you for making the Star Wars sequel trilogy so then I could hate the TV shows and eventually Star Wars all together (except for the Original Trilogy and Revenge of the Sith, and on some days the Sequel trilogy.) Tom Cruise up’ed the anti on Ethan Hunt compared to the 1st and 2nd films (I already have complimented him too much on his performance and as an actor), Phillip Seymour Hoffmann is the MVP as Owen Davian, the most frightening and horrifying villains out of this franchise, that interrogation scene with him and Ethan and Julia* about Ethan giving him the rabbits foot or he would kill Julia* chills me to the bone every time I think about it, he was such an amazing actor (he did not need to go this hard with his role but I’m so glad we got the best antagonist of the franchise, (I seriously doubt he will be beaten) ) Michelle Monaghan is fantastic as Julia, my main man Ving Rhames has time to shine as Luther in this film, and it’s great that this is the first appearance of the much loved character that is Benji played wonderfully by Simon Pegg, (I also wish we got more of Keri Russell and Billy Crudup as well).  The action is great, the story’s a little all over the place but it never feels boring, the ending can feel a bit rushed, and it’s not a perfect film nor is it the best of the franchise, but it’s undeniably a fun and enjoyable experience that will be the reason why you will respect this franchise years later.

7.8/10

Also I like that Aaron Paul was in this before he would eventually play Jesse Pinkman in Breaking Bad two years later.

This review may contain spoilers.

“In 2054, the six-year Pre-crime experiment was abandoned. All prisoners were unconditionally pardoned and released, though police departments kept watch on many of them for years to come. Agatha and the twins were transferred to an undisclosed location, a place where they could find relief from their gifts. A place where they could live out their lives in peace.”

Minority Report may not be my favorite Spielberg film, but damn is it one his best looking films. The film is basically about these precrime police that stop murders from happening in the futuristic world of 2054, and how cop John Anderton finds himself framed for murder and how these Pre-cogs predict that he will commit the crime in 36 hours. First off Steven Spielbergs direction is solid and you can tell he had a fever dream making this film, second the screenplay based on the novel for this film is very interesting, third this might as well be a Mission Impossible spinoff as I could totally see Ethan Hunt having to do this and Tom Cruise is very great as John Anderton, Colin Farrell, Max Von Sydow, and Samantha Morton are great ing characters, and the visuals are impressive for 2002. I will say the pacing was a huge problem for me as it was hard to be invested in it in the second half of the film, but the third act has a lot of twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting such as Von Sydow being a twist villain. Overall a cool looking film but I’m not sure if I will rewatch it any time soon, but you never know. 

7.5/10

“If you speak my name, I vanish. What am I? Silence.”

Life is Beautiful is a sweet a beautiful film in the first act, and a heartbreaking holocaust story in the second act. It’s hard to think that this film can take you in a range of emotions but that’s what I felt throughout most of the film. Roberto Benigni has gotten a lot of hate after making his Pinocchio film that destroyed his career but before that happened he was a very respected and creative filmmaker and actor and it is very much shown through this film that he cared what he put out. Did I think he needed to win an Oscar for Best Actor over Edward Norton (American History X), Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan), or Jim Carrey (The Truman Show, which wasn’t even nominated)? No but it’s definitely a nice win. The runtime for this is steady even if it is paced slowly in the middle of the film, the writing and direction from Benigni is something special as it is about a father who is a book store owner and waiter and his son as they are sent to the holocaust for being Jewish, and the father has to convince the son that it is all a game when in reality it is a killing field. The score is whimsical but also heartbreaking, and the editing is well done. Overall a  fantastic film about fatherhood, hope, and a depressing story that is an emotional roller coaster throughout.

8.9/10

(Rewatch)

“It’s my first time in Venice.”
“It’s mine too.”

Got to rewatch this again but this time with my mom who has now seen all of the films except for Final Reckoning which we hopefully are seeing next Wednesday. Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning still holds up for me on a rewatch nearly two years later. Without a doubt I don’t understand why some people are calling this film overrated and the worst of the franchise right now, like have you seen MI 2? Anyway just like my review with Fallout, I can easily say that both of these films are at the top 2 for a reason and I could easily put both of them at number one if I had the chance. Dead Reckoning like I said in my first review doesn’t feel like a two parter but rather its own stand alone film and a now what? to the franchise. If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times, Tom Cruise is a legend among actors and there will never be another version of him in the next few years or maybe ever that could beat his daredevil status. Rewatching that cliff scene near the end of the film proves why he won’t stop leaving audiences satisfied, and why he cares so much about the film industry and the stunt community as well. It will be so hard to not see Tom Cruise play Ethan Hunt after Final Reckoning because (I hate to paraphrase Deadpool right now) he can literally do this till he is 90 and still keep people coming back into theaters. Christopher Mcquarrie like I said with Fallout has taken this franchise in directions that have changed the franchise for good (and seeing by how early review for Final Reckoning are panning this film with negative or mixed reviews, I hope this last film makes him 4/4 on directing great films for this franchise). The cast ensemble is still phenomenal with Hayley Atwell and Esai Morales being great newcomers (and I respected Henry Czerny as Kittridge in this third viewing), the action and stunts are still top tier (proving why we need a stunt category at the Oscars), the cinematography and editing are ferocious, and the sound design and visual Effects are the best in this film. It still drags a bit in some scenes but after nearly two years it still entertains the hell out of me. Bring on Final Reckoning!

9.9/10

(Rewatch)

(In French) “Ladies and Gentlemen. Excuse me.”
“Everybody out!”

Got to rewatch this film on my birthday. Check my previous review since it still holds up and because I have not much else to say, but I can’t wait to see how this franchise wraps up. If I know Mcquarrie and Cruise, they are going out with a bang and will know how to wrap it up.

9.9/10

“His fate is written. Shall we write yours too?”

I got to see an early screening of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning: Part One and it is a fantastic follow up to Fallout and was way worth the anticipation for years. This part one isn’t the crowning achievement for the Mission Impossible franchise and sure it may have flaws, but the fact that it was able to raise the stakes for the franchise, have an incredible story that has consequences for Ethan Hunt and the crew, and the fact that it involves the dangers of AI is proof of why I’m invested with these films. Tom Cruise might as well be called one of the greatest of all time in the film industry, because the fact that he is in his sixties now and is still doing stunts for films like Top Gun Maverick and this franchise proves he must be respected by audiences for a long time, and he may have an amazing character like Pete Maverick, but Ethan Hunt is my go to Tom Cruise role for the fact that he is a daredevil spy risking he and his friends life’s to save humanity from the dangers that are lurking upon them. Hayley Atwell is a fantastic new addition to the franchise as Grace, Esai Morales as Gabriel is a great villain even if he isn’t on par with Henry Cavill’s Henry Walker or Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Owen Davian, and the rest of the cast Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, and Simon Pegg are still fantastic. The action and stunts are still amazing with some of my favorite scenes being the Rome car chase, the Orient Express train, the cliff jump, and the airport scene. The writing and directing from the marvelous Christopher Mcquarrie is genius, and the ending cliffhanger is perfect doesn’t feel like that at all and more of like a we made it through but at what cost? My one complaint is it is a bit long and pretty plot heavy in some scenes but that’s basically it.
Overall a perfect part one for the conclusion of this franchise and let’s see what happens next.

9.9/10

“I’d hate to have your nerve in a tooth!”

The greatest show on earth is the most perfectly fine film. I don’t have much to say about it. It entertains you for most of its runtime, some parts of the film don’t hold up today, out of all the cast ensemble James Stewart gives the best performance, and the direction from Demille is ok. Overall a ok film/best picture winner that isn’t offensive but doesn’t do much to please you in the end. 

5.9/10

P.S this was the first film that made Steven Spielberg love films, I can’t blame him for loving it at a young age, but it definitely doesn’t hold up for audiences now a days.

“What’s wrong?”
“Frank is gettin a lickin.”

Places of the heart is an ok film that tries to make me like it at first but then loses my interest the third act. This is a pure Oscar bait film that does its job well. Sally Field, John Malkovich, and Danny Glover are great, and the dialogue/script from Robert Benton is good, but Benton’s direction isn’t engaging enough and the film just doesn’t work as well as it should. Overall a fine film but I got not much else to say.

6.5/10

P.S RIP Robert Benton. Thanks for making the incredible Kramer Vs. Kramer.

(Rewatch)

“What’s done is done when I say it’s done.”

So I was planning on rewatching the whole Mission Impossible franchise before Final Reckoning comes out, but my dad wanted to introduce this one to my mom ( as it is my dad and I’s favorite of the franchise and my mom who hasn’t seen it and at the time I’m writing this review hasn’t finished the last 40 minutes of Fallout) and they wanted watch it early and I figured what the heck and abandoned my plan of rewatching the whole franchise and instead just rewatching Fallout and Dead Reckoning (who knows, I might get back to a couple of the other films before I rewatch Dead Reckoning and watch Final Reckoning.) So with all that being said Fallout holds up on a rewatch and it is still the best MI film up to now. Tom Cruise easily in the next few decades will go down in history as the best action star as he goes all in with his own stunts for this franchise and Ethan Hunt beside Maverick will be his most recognizable and important character he ever played.

While most of the other films like Ghost Protocol and Rouge Nation have fun moments and suspenseful action and stunt scenes, I feel that Fallout was able to make the film fall around potential Nuclear warfare, have this mission have more stakes then Ethan’s previous missions, clever writing and character development, and many stunt scenes from in the air work so freaking well and it really makes the film interesting and fun to rewatch even near the end when you’re on the edge of your seat wondering if Hunt is going to save the world again. I got to give props to Christopher Mcquarrie for reinventing Mission Impossible in a new light with the last three films of the franchise (and Final Reckoning) as Mission Impossible at the start with the first one was a fun campy film that was rebooting an old TV show, MI 2 was ok but a very mediocre film that didn’t know how to make it fun and suspenseful, and MI 3 and 4 was basically just showing many glimpses of what the franchise would eventually become today, and Mcquarrie understood that Mission Impossible needed to make you Trust Ethan Hunt with each of these missions without the government on his side, and having to stop all of these flawed and dangerous crime lords with very complex and fascinating motives in these past few films making plans to either steal plutonium to make a nuke to destroy the world or to get hands on two keys that have the power to access the biggest Artificial Intelligence system with the most advanced knowledge on the planet (and he also wrote The Usual Suspects and Top Gun Maverick, so if you can’t trust him, then you without a doubt have no interest in the rest of this franchise.)  

Like I said before Tom Cruise is still fucking perfect for this franchise, the rest of the cast works in harmony with Cruise, the action and stunts are perfect (and this is why we are getting a Stunt category at the Oscars in a few years because without stuntman risking their life to make these franchises possible, the action would look like it was CGI’d in or just filmed in a studio afterward, and there is no way a skydive from thousands of feet in the air, a motorcycle and a helicopter chase would look better if it was CGI), the direction and writing is perfect (even if the film can feel a little slow in the second act), the cinematography and editing is ideal, the score is flawless and gets you pumped every single time, and the ending is easily flawless in my eyes as if there wasn’t a 7th or 8th film greenlit, this would have felt like a perfect way to end the franchise (but I’m glad we have two more films after this one.)

Overall, this is the Mission Impossible film that I think about all the time, and I couldn’t think of a more satisfying story than this one for them to tell. Tom Cruise, don’t ever change what you are the best at.

9.9/10

“Hello Monkeyface.”

I was definitely expecting Suspicion to satisfy me more as it was a Hitchcock film, but this is by far his weakest made film from him that I have seen. The plot is fine but it takes so long for it to get to the suspense and the mystery thriller aspect of the film. Hitchcock’s direction is fine for what it is and the writing is ok. Joan Fontaine and Cary Grant give very good performances, and the score is very nice. Yet there is not much else I can say about the film that hasn’t been explored and explained in other films. It may have been very great back then but it almost felt stale mostly in the second act as it was just filler and more character development. Overall an ok film that you like in the first act but one that doesn’t leave you with much to say after watching it.

6.5/10

“All hell done broke loose now!”

Guess who is coming to dinner is such a great story of acceptance, racism, changing the norm, and of two families trying to come to a conclusion that their children should marry or not. The writing in this film really works well for the type of film made in the 60’s because if segregation was still happening, this film probably wouldn’t exist due to so much backlash and racism from studio executives and audiences, but the films writing makes it feel like it was trying to get the message across the audience about how we shouldn’t treat people with bigotry and hate. Spencer Tracy gives a fascinating performance on a father given only a few hours to decide on his daughter’s marriage and he performs in the most insane ways possible and Katharine Hepburn gave a powerful performance as the mother overwhelmed with not hurting her daughters feelings but also respecting her husband, and her first scene speaks of all of her emotions, and Sidney Poitier is a powerhouse in this film as the fiancé that is making these decisions for his fiancés parents. 

The direction is good from Stanley Kramer but isn’t his strongest or his worst. The pacing is strong but slows down near the end of the film and around the second act and they could have cut 10-15 minutes off, and the ending is great but will say felt a bit rushed and the film definitely doesn’t hold up years later in some scenes.

Overall a very well made film that likely changed societal norms for the better.

7.9/10

“You forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive Sydney. Nothing.”

The Killing Field is a raw and rough depiction of what went down in the Cambodian civil war. It’s definitely not an easy film to sit through and it can take you out of the film for a bit of its runtime especially in the third act. Haing S. Ngor gives an astonishing debut performance as Dith Pran, a translator who gets enslaved in the middle of the film trying to make it back to his friend and partner Sydney Schanberg a New York Times journalist also greatly played by Sam Waterson. The writing was a bit slow and all over the place but doesn’t make things complicated for the viewer but it works to show you the struggles of our characters in the beginning and showing Dith’s struggle to survive in hard treatments, the direction is great but wish Roland Joffe could have put more of his own spin to the film, the cinematography is haunting, and the editing is sharp, but I do wish it was paced better and was shaved down to 2 hours instead of 2 hours and 21 minutes. Otherwise a very nice film that leaves somewhat of an impact on you after you finish watching the film.

7.6/10

“I ain’t gettin mad, Joker. I been mad all my natural life.”

The Defiant ones is a fascinating film about two convicted man, one a racist white man and, the other a Black man escape and go on the run while learning to get along with each other and learning more about each other along the way. If any of y’all saw Nickel Boys and one scene where there is footage from a film playing in Elwood’s head that has Sidney Poitier singing in a cop car, the defiant ones would be that film (and it took me a minute to realize that it was the same film.) I definitely like this film a lot, sure their are scenes that definitely don’t hold up, and it definitely loses you in the second act, but it definitely hits the mark on what it was trying to get across with you about how life was back then. Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis work really well together as the co-leads, and you really connect with both of them and come to like both of them near the very end of the film. Stanley Kramer direction is very ambitious but manages to satisfy you with its high stakes and gripping characters. The screenplay is spot on with giving you an incite of two different ethnicities working together to get along and escape from the cops, and the cinematography is very grand and well shot and structured.
Overall a very well made underrated film that not many people talk about. Highly recommend it.
7.9/10

“The rooms a wreck but she folded her napkin!”

The Miracle Worker is a surprisingly good biopic about Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan as she learns from Sullivan on how to use sign language and to overcome her struggles with her disabilities. I thought Anne Bancroft was excellent as Anne Sullivan but Patty Duke was unbelievable as Helen Keller and is up as one of the best performances ever. The writing can get a bit repetitive but it makes sense for the film when you view it, but was definitely well written especially in one long scene where Sullivan fights Keller to use a spoon when she is eating as it is supposed to be serious but is played out to be comedic. I do feel the film was a little too long and could have cut out a couple of scenes, but it overall is a really great film to watch if you want to learn more about Keller and feel inspired by her story. 

7.8/10

“Look at me.”
“Sure.”
“Look at me!”
“Sure.”
“I’m the Captain now.”

Captain Phillips is a horrific true story about Richard Phillips and the hijack of the MV Maersk Alabama from Somali Pirates. The film is engaging and interesting for most of the film except for the second act where it slows down with its pacing. Tom Hanks is great but has a very weird Vermont accent that is pretty distracting but overall was pretty emotional and good in this film, Barkhad Abdi gives a phenomenal first film debut performance and I really wish his career skyrocketed after this film, Greengrass’s direction is gripping but isn’t as strong as it is in United 93, the editing is great, the sound is bombastic, the stakes are high, and the ending leaves you satisfied after witnessing what Captain Phillips and his crew had to go through and throughout the film leaves you wondering is he and his crew going to make it out of this alive. Overall not a perfect film but a film most certainly worth checking out.

7.6/10

“Have a drink with your old man. Be somebody!”

Is it just me or is this a sequel to Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul? All jokes aside, I thought Nebraska was really well made. It’s feels like a more depressed version of what would become the Holdovers. I think that Alexander Paynes direction while not his strongest, definitely left an impression on how the film should be made, plain and simple. The writing was heartlfelt and executed greatly, and the editing was also really good except I wish that it was paced a little quicker for the 1 hour and 54 minute runtime. Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb, and Bob Odenkirk each give amazing and unique performances and the cinematography was beautiful to look at especially with it just being black and white. Overall a nice and moving film that I wouldn’t mind rewatching.

7.8/10

"Keep your lovin' brother happy."

for those who have been with me for a while know I think the western is one of the weakest genres in cinema, but Once upon a time in the west makes it feel more exciting. Sergio Leone's The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is a movie I definitely ire as a film with its direction and storytelling, but the pacing and it being a western took me out of most of the viewing when I first watched it, but I watched Once upon a time in the west on a plane to kill time, and I didn't feel bored once while watching it. Sure it drags a bit in some of its scenes and some scenes are very flawed especially for today, but it made for an enjoying experience I'm fond of. The opening scene is very iconic just based of the sound design and editing alone, but to add suspense when our main character shows up in a shootout is what Westerns are meant to be. Sergio Leones direction and storytelling is great as usual but this had a sort of POP that is shown throughout the film that keeps you engaged. Henry Fonda is phenomenal and chilling in this antagonistic role as Frank, the actor who played Harmonica was incredible, so was the actress who played Judy. the editing is well paced, the cinematography is beautiful to gaze at, the production design and costumes are great, the sound is suspenseful, and the score from Ennio Morricone is fantastic as always.
Overall while I probably wouldn't rewatch it again, I certainly am surprised that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and Sergio Leone has created his best film.

8.6/10

The ant 2 is what I wanted from the first film. A story that doesn’t rely on too much exposition, features more action, and got me more invested in the characters and the plot. Affleck is still great giving a more comedic turn on the character while getting his mannerisms right, and Bernthal is the MVP this time around giving me my new favorite character of the franchise. The action is great, the plot is thrilling, and the stakes are higher. I do wish it was shorter and less repetitive, but overall a worthy sequel worth checking out.

7.6/10

“We own you now.”

Can’t really say this is a rewatch as I missed the first 30 minutes of the film and watched right after the Vault scene where the Thunderbolts are climbing up to escape. Whatever, I’ll count it. The film still hits on a rewatch, Yelena and Bob are still the MVPs, the action and story is still perfect. Go see this in a theater if you haven’t already and read my other review of the film to get my full thoughts. 

9.7/10

“Your son is different.”
“Sooner or later different scares people.”

The ant is a pretty ok film. It’s about a man on the autism spectrum who is an ant that hunts and kills people on the side. The story I feel is a little lackluster in the second act but is a good time during the first and especially the third act. Ben Affleck does a good job as Christian Wolfe, Jon Bernthal is great, and J.K Simmons is the MVP of the film. Overall it’s a bit disappointing compared to what I heard from people online saying it was great but I still feel it was a very decently made film, and I hope the sequel is a little more entertaining and better paced and written. 

6.5/10

“We are the Thunderbolts!”

Thunderbolts* is a complete winner for the state of 616-based Marvel. If any of y’all read my review of Infinity war and Endgame saying I was worried about Marvels future after cameo filled, CGI slop mess, over the top goofy comedy instead of serious moments, non character driven arcs, or at times fully well executed storylines after most of the MCU’s films either disappointed me or pissed off an entire fan base? Well Thunderbolts* will hopefully ease your worries, as this film makes a bunch of characters who are either forgotten by some, very underrated characters loved by many, and people who are very different from each other and unlikely to work on paper, into one of the most fleshed out teams I have seen in the MCU and made me care about each of them (especially John Walker, who makes me forgive him after his attempt to become my favorite superhero ever by being a narcissist asshole in Falcon and the Winter Soldier). I want to point out of all the MCU films, that this has the darkest atmosphere for the franchise, and I love how the writers made the antagonist an allegory on mental Health and Anxiety. The cast is great and very entertaining. Florence Pugh as Yelena is a scene stealer like always and gives the strongest acting performances out of the cast more than she did with her other projects, Sebastian Stan is still incredible as Bucky, David Harbour brings the comedic but heartfelt relief as Red Guardian, Hannah John Kamen and Wyatt Russell give redemption arcs to their characters Ghost and John Walker, and Julia Louis Dreyfus plays the very unlikable Valentina so well, but my favorite performance came from Lewis Pullman as Bob/Sentry/The Void as he gives this shy and kind personality, but a dark intense energy to him and I honestly want to see more of him in Avengers Doomsday as he has potential to become a top ten hero as Bob/Sentry (he’s already in my top ten as The Void). The action is great and I love that it is more stunt work than CGI to make it feel more different from modern day MCU, the stakes are very high, and it leaves you very satisfied and fulfilled at the end of the film. My biggest Complaints are that Taskmaster was so underwritten (that’s all I’m going to say on that, you fill in the gap if you haven’t seen the film, so I don’t have to spoil anything) I felt the end of Act 1 was a little stuck and that it took a while for it to get back to the pace it was trying to reach (thankfully it picked up after the end of Act one and still enjoyed it overall) and I did feel that Valentina’s plan wasn’t super convincing at times (but it overall worked after act one beginning of act two.) Overall I’m so glad that Marvel is continuing to make films that focus on the characters and the story’s, rather than just spoon feeding us a lot of problems that we have seen multiple times, and I can say that this almost felt like an independent film that a smaller company would make and it almost doesn’t feel like an MCU film. Is it better than Sinners? Absolutely not. Is it top five or top three Marvel? No! But it’s a hell of a great time that will suck in average Marvel fans including me into a theater to watch it. So with all that being said, Bring on F4, Avengers Doomsday and Secret Wars. 

9.7/10

Some minor spoilers

3

2

1

I can’t believe they brought in MatPat and Mr. Sikowitz from Victorious in the opening scene of the film. My inner child is happy.

“ our aim: Find the microbe, kill the microbe.”

The Story of Louis Pasteur is a nice story about the man who discovered the cure for many viruses back in the 19th century such as the one for rabies and Anthrax. I thought the screenplay is well executed, and Paul Muni as Louis Pasteur was phenomenal and the acting overall was pretty. I do wish it was a bit longer and wished for more in the direction of this film. Otherwise, nice film I recommend to the average Oscar fan.

6.7/10

“Your salvation will lie entirely in your attitude you take!”

The Last Emperor is your standard Oscar bait film that did better than it should have done and is visually great looking but could have done better in the storytelling aspect. The costumes, production design, and direction is very well done, the cinematography has a nice atmosphere to the film, and the editing and score is pretty nice. Yet the storytelling is the problem, as I really didn’t know much about Emperor Pu Yi and after watching the film didn’t get much about him and his history afterwards. It’s also way too bloated and long. Overall it’s a nice film and I like it but it doesn’t do that much for me otherwise.

6.7/10

(Rewatch)

“Y’all twins?”
“Nah, we cousins.”

My gosh, Sinners is even better the second time. I wanted to see it again because I thought me putting Sinners too high at #55 on my favorite films of all time was a little too soon since it is very recent and momentum and hype usually comes in my head a lot, so I wanted to see if it was still great the second go around, and it still succeeds my expectations. I’m not going to go over more of my thought in this review, since my previous review still holds up after a week of seeing it (so go check that one out if you want to see my thoughts) but I absolutely think that this film will be talked about for decades and years to come like how the Shining, The Exorcist, 1931’s Dracula, and many more horror films have impacted the film industry and filmmakers years after they released. I already see many future filmmakers (including hopefully me) use scenes like I lied to you, use a event like the jukebox club as a way to use very stellar party scenes in the future, and I easily see the Vampire genre being used more often than usual and see more period pieces like the Jim Crow era as a way of storytelling. If you told me a few weeks ago that Sinners would be better than I thought and would save cinema for the better, I probably wouldn’t have believed you, but I glad Sinners made me have hope for the film industry and future filmmakers trying to make a name for themselves. If you still haven’t seen this film, please go see this masterpiece from Ryan Coogler and give this film the recognition it deserves. This most certainly won’t be the last time I watch this, and this film certifies its spot in my favorite films of all time.

10/10

“You want to tell me about her?”
“No, no I don’t I will.”

Just like I said with Infinity War, I still can’t believe that this film is 6 years old, and it still remains my favorite film ever, and a film I’ll continue to watch for decades to come. Also like Infinity War, have not much else to say about this masterpiece, this film is perfect in my eyes, the Cap wielding Mjonir, Avengers Assemble, I am Iron Man, ETC live in my head rent free, and this is the best executed film and finale to a saga ever made. 

10/10

“I assure you, brother, the Sun will shine on us again.”

How on earth is this film seven years old? I seriously can the day clearly when I saw this in theaters opening weekend balling my eyes out at the end pessimistically thinking that our dusted heroes wouldn’t come back in Endgame, to now where I still love Marvel but am worried about how Doomsday, and if it will just be another Infinity War without many stakes and just feel like another piece of slop  Marvel is just going to put out with no story, lackluster visual effects, and a bunch of cameos just to get fans excited and bring them back to other lackluster projects after Secret Wars (not saying I hate any of the projects that Marvel has put out this decade, but they haven’t reach the heights of this or Endgame.) Because when Infinity War came out, it was sort of Original, and set up Thanos in a very specific way, and just throwing RDJ in as Doctor Doom without any scenes of him so far is concerning. Also the fact that we get memorable scenes such as the snap, Thors entrance to Wakanda, the battle of Wakanda, Iron Man and Thanos battle, and many more perfect scenes is the reason why I watch this and Endgame over and Over again year after year, and if this isn’t in your top four or ten or even your favorite films, that’s totally fine, but this film will have a special place in my heart for decades to come and I hope Marvel can keep making films like this for their next few films in their slate. I don’t need say more about this film because if you have seen my other 10 reviews of this film, you will understand why I call it a masterpiece.

10/10