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Watched on Sunday June 1, 2025.

Watched on Friday May 30, 2025.

Watched on Thursday May 29, 2025.

I have new fears unlocked that will presently be lingering in the background of my mind. Thanks again, Final Destination. 

RIP TONY TODD

Nothing gets as worse than being pretentious with a story that deals with black trauma. It’s very easy to depend on the terrifying moments of racism and white supremacy than actually telling an engaging story that goes further than a slideshow of brutal physical and mental torture. The POV style direction and cinematography is a nice gimmick; that’s the biggest compliment i can give it. Other times, it feels like a Fallout style dialogue prompts with the delivery of the dialogue and the unnecessary camera tricks. I don’t have an answer for why the editing is this bad. Random splices of footage being interjected within dramatic scenes knocks the film of its equilibrium. There’s no structure or compelling thesis to take in. Acting performances are good but yet again is tainted by misguided creativity that pulls away from the strong moments. I think I’m better off just reading the book.

Watched on Saturday May 17, 2025.

Watched on Saturday May 10, 2025.

Watched on Thursday May 8, 2025.

It’s an interesting social experiment going back and rewatching some of these MCU films. Every year, Scorsese’s quotes about amusement park rides feels more like a prophecy rather than an old man yelling at the clouds. A certain formula drives most of these films and it becomes very apparent when you strip off the plastic wrapping and start looking at each and every ingredient. This is what happens when you become a victim of your own success. The films that are able to break past the government mandated algorithmic formula put in place by the studio heads are such a welcome sign of relief when they happen. The good thing is that there is always a chance for a MCU film to be more than its brand but there hasn’t been enough incentive to switch things around; that will only happen once these films stop becoming cash cows. The serious moments in most of these films are just another springboard for a wisecrack or blatant nod to the audience, it becomes deflating to see films like these unable to strike a balance and become more mature in its storytelling. If it’s all about selling toys and adding billions to the pockets of higher ups, then so be it. I will still hold out misguided hope that the MCU can find a way to change its ways and get back to making a superhero film with ion and fun in equal measures on a consistent basis.

The good action moments can’t disguise the scatterbrained story from being a big distraction. Simple is better and having all of these different side characters in a story (especially when they are barely developed) adds too much oxygen to the room. Less is more haas never been a more apt lesson to follow.

Watched on Saturday May 3, 2025.

Watched on Saturday May 3, 2025.

Watched on Thursday May 1, 2025.

Watched on Sunday April 27, 2025.

Watched on Friday April 25, 2025.

Watched on Monday April 21, 2025.

Watched on Sunday April 20, 2025.

The sequel not needed but a great return to the stomping ground of one of Black Mirror’s best episodes. Venturing into toxic online gaming and incompetent CEO’s, the laughs and horrors haven’t changed; they have only been magnified. There seems to be an obsession with television shows having episodes that might as well count as being self contained feature films. Nothing is a problem if the episode strike gold but there is also a mourning for the mid budget films that don’t get made anymore so they have moved onto the small screen.

This review may contain spoilers.

The more I have rewatched this film, the less goodwill I have for it. Ask yourself this when watching this film; Outside of the pop culture references and the god worship for anything 80s adjacent, what is there to bite on?There is a important story about the sorry state of dystopian society where everyone would rather escape into virtual worlds instead of trying to fix the outside world controlled by Faustian corporations but instead it gets hand waved by cartoonish quips and an insufferable need to wink towards itself. It’s a safe space for anyone to not be judged for their culture of shunning away hint of meaningful representation in gaming/nerd spaces. Does anybody not find it terrifying that the hands of the Oasis eventually falls into the hands of kids who can control it by any means they imagine? No attempt to explore than angle either, just another finale where the guy gets the girl and everything in the world is just fine. I have fallen out of love with this film and I’m okay with this breakup.

Watched on Wednesday April 16, 2025.

Watched on Monday April 14, 2025.

Watched on Monday April 14, 2025.

Watched on Saturday April 12, 2025.

Watched on Friday April 11, 2025.

Watched on Thursday April 10, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday April 9, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday April 9, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday April 8, 2025.

Watched on Sunday April 6, 2025.

Watched on Saturday April 5, 2025.

Watched on Saturday April 5, 2025.

Watched on Friday April 4, 2025.

The best of the best in the series, no questions asked. A perfect mixture of comedy, satire, darkness, and tragedy rolled into one fine hour. A stark reminder of how people who believe they are small will do anything to feel big in a cold and harsh world.

Watched on Thursday April 3, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday April 1, 2025.

Watched on Sunday March 30, 2025.

Watched on Sunday March 30, 2025.

Watched on Thursday March 27, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday March 25, 2025.

It had me in the palm of its hands until the dragged out fighting hard to be symbolic ending occurred. Nice to see the tables turned in this subgenre of thriller films. A breath of fresh air for different depictions of antisocial characters. Violence is brutal with no hints of a comical nature; the intense moments really do leave a mark. The non linear storytelling is used with a purpose and not as a cheap prop. Echos of grindhouse cinema and Tarantino homage, a lot to like about this film.

2023 RANKED 

Watched on Tuesday March 18, 2025.

Congrats for winning the biggest prize a film can achieve but I don’t see it. It’s good, has a good leading performance, and has a good handle with paying homage to certain aspects of the famed screwball comedy aesthetic. The breakneck editing drives up anxiety levels but yet also does damage with story consistency. Moving from one moment to the next leaves you breathless and unable to catch up with its bouncing off the walls. The ambition should be revered but also controlled; the wheels come off once the second half really trails off to random moments. Unable to measure what this film wants to say or does it say anything at all? Sean Baker has a creative mind but he may have went too audacious with his choices on how to craft a story. Screenplay feels very sparse and simple; nothing wrong with simple but the simplicity doesn’t have any hidden subtext available to stretch out more dimensions. I can name you more than 10 films that I think could state a better case for being the Best Picture but I’m not going to strip away its awards and acclaim. It’s wonderful to see that the Academy would be willing to shine a light on this film where it would’ve been obsolete 20 years ago.

2024 RANKED 

Watched on Sunday March 16, 2025.

Watched on Saturday March 15, 2025.

Watched on Saturday March 15, 2025.

Watched on Saturday March 8, 2025.

Watched on Thursday March 6, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday March 5, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday March 4, 2025.

Watched on Monday March 3, 2025.

1. Final Destination
2. Final Destination 3
3. Final Destination Bloodlines
4. Final Destination 2
5. Final Destination 5
6. The Final Destination

The films I own in my collection (DVD’s, Blu Ray’s, 4K’s)

• Blade Runner
• Blade Runner 2049
• Ex Machina
• Queen & Slim
• Ready Player One
• American Psycho
• Apocalypse Now
• Minding the Gap
• Do the Right Thing
• Toy Story 3

...plus 197 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.