4v291o

Watched on Monday February 3, 2025.

Watched on Sunday February 2, 2025.

Watched on Sunday February 2, 2025.

Watched on Sunday February 2, 2025.

Watched on Saturday February 1, 2025.

Watched on Sunday January 26, 2025.

Watched on Sunday January 12, 2025.

there are some movies where you sit and try your hardest for them to get better until you can't anymore, and Prom Dates (2024) is one of them. my interest in this film completely dwindled after several walks away from my laptop, though i still persevered until i caught onto the charcaters' faults. once i realized that both main characters were never going to own up for being shitty people, this movie instantly became background noise. yes, the whole point of this film is about two friends trying to work things out and stay true to the friendship their younger selves want to cherish, but it's like Hannah (Julia Lester) & Jess (Antonia Gentry) don't want to. these two girls who make their dating lives their only personalities constantly look for trouble that shifts them further and further apart and neither party seems to care until the very end.

the entire movie is spent showing Jess whining about her boyfriend who is a jerk, searching for other guys who are no different from him, and being rude to Hannah when she calls her out on it. funnily enough, Hannah is no better despite her efforts to combat Jess' impoliteness towards her. Hannah throws snarky remarks back at her and is just an overall annoying person. there is not one scene in this movie where she isn't groaning in despair about not having a girlfriend, which isn't a way to represent queer women at all. sure, some queer women may feel this way on the inside, but most surely don't revolve their entire lives around who they date. as if the insufferable main characters weren't enough, the side ones were too. there is no one in this flick to root for, making this watch even more of a drag to finish.

the only thing the crew of this film portrayed somewhat correctly was the way everyone sent messages in this film. that piece was pretty accurate, but everything else here is a mess. i feel as if i've been begging Hulu for the longest to stop making these trashy coming-of-age flicks and they just won't stop. how many times do we have to say enough is enough? Prom Dates (2024) was a waste of a good budget and recording team. these actresses deserve much better roles because, man! these movies about school just aren't what they used to be.

unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know about the rise of a lesser known actor, Nicholas Chavez, and how he's won over everyone. there is nowhere to turn without seeing his face or hearing about him since his appearance on Netflix's Monsters and Hulu's Grotesquerie. since i have been sucked into his media and pretty much everything about him for the past week, i decided to give this film a shot. while this aimless flick isn't anything to write home about, Chavez is, despite his lousy, poorly-written character.

having seen a few episodes of Monsters, being fully up to date on Grotesquerie, and viewing Crushed (2022), i can certainly say that Chavez is an actor of versatility. he is amazing at being able to play different characters with such contrasting personalities, and i don't mean this as a bias because of his attractiveness. i can say, however, that his portrayal of Jason Curtis, a typical drug addict in high school, is not as good as his others, but he was able to work with it well enough to keep this film interesting, or to some degree as this movie is pure trash. Crushed (2022) has a strong desire to be something edgy, while also trying to be serious and "deep" at the same time, which leaves the audience confused about what this movie is trying to convey. there are films that can successfully execute this, but Crushed (2022) never took off as its weak writing and low budget held it back. i think that it is safe to say that a plot containing both shock humor and profound emotions within its characters doesn't mix well under the hands of a director like Koss.

overall, i wasn't going into this expecting it to be a masterpiece so this is another "oh well" sort of watch. though most of it lacked structure, i it that some of the aspects of this film are remarkably accurate in regards to what being in high school and having a crush felt like only to later realize they were the worst humans on the planet. besides that, this movie is pretty offbeat and has nothing good in store for its viewers. i would never recommend this film to anyone under no circumstances. why are thirst watches always the most horrid movies you've seen in your life?

MY REVIEW FOR:
BEETLEJUICE (1988)

as i expected, the theater was packed with a much older crowd as fans of Beetlejuice (1988) have aged and are looking for their next fix of nostalgia, though i am not complaining. i'd rather sit in a theater with an older group than one filled with crying babies and mucus-ridden coughs as i was able to focus on the movie a lot better. from analyzing and observing directors who are currently remaking their past oldies, i have found that they love modernizing their sequels. i'm not a fan of that because it usually doesn't work, and it just barely does here. if some of those jokes and gags about social media didn't land, this would be a complete cringey mess, though instead, it's only half of that.

with the help of how Keaton delivers his lines along with a few of his cast fixes up some of the bad modernization here, though it couldn't save all of this film's faults. unlike the first Beetlejuice film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)'s plot is all over the place. between Lydia (Winona Ryder) getting married to a new fellow, Astrid (Jenna Ortega) falling in love, some unexpected deaths, and Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) being chased, it was just way too much. at one point, i completely forgot about Beetlejuice's dilemma as i got too caught up in the other side plots. having too many stories going on at one time pushes the viewers away as no one wants to sit down and watch a movie like Beetlejuice, trying to solve its plot as if it's a riddle. as the mind boggilng plot stuck with me after leaving the theater, so did Jenna Ortega.

she is an incredibly talented actress, but she should stay away from typecast roles before they become her career. she is much too versatile to be confined to such roles. she did great here, but i don't want to see her playing any more characters that are emo/goth, depressed, or lascivious. she does okay in them, but i don't want that to end up as her legacy. besides that, i think Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) is an okay movie, and not much better than the first. the only reason why i have this one rated higher is because the CGI & green screening have improved as technology has been updated a lot since the initial film. so, would i say this is worth seeing in theaters? probably not. if you want the experience, knock yourself out, though i would recommend you to stay at home.

MY REVIEW FOR:
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE (2024)

i am, unlike others, not afraid to say that most cult classics suck. firstly, i should say that some are bad (IMO) because every cult classic belongs to the "you had to be there" category, and unfortunately, i was not there for the majority of them. the followers of cult classics are biased because they grew up with those movies and who's to say they are wrong for that? over time, some flicks i like now will probably become cult classics, and guess what i'll do when younger folks voice an opposing argument? i'll defend them in the name of little ole nostalgia and preach about how different the times were so newer viewers just wouldn't "get it", which is another thing about cult classics. they're all products of their times, just as Beetlejuice (1988) is, and that's okay!

it's all alright because Beetlejuice (1988) still holds up as a decent film today as long as we aren't mentioning the horrid green screening. overall, this is an average movie that the whole family can enjoy as long as the smaller ones can bear some of the cursing and adult jokes tossed in a few lines. i found this picture to be quite funny at times, but only with the help of one actor. what ultimately saves this close-to-sleep-inducing film is Keaton's act. his performance was just out of this world, and surely good enough to keep the audience reeled in. seeing that he will be in the 2024 film makes me very happy because otherwise, i would not waste my cash in theaters if the producers changed actors. i find it beyond unnecessary when a follow-up film is made for such a popular movie and an entirely new cast is introduced. it defeats the purpose of everything, so seeing that the director was smart about that gives me a lot of hope for the new film.

though i don't believe Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) will sur my thoughts about this movie by much, i still think i'll be able to get with the newer one just a tad more. Beetlejuice (1988) just wasn't my thing, though i can see why lots of people adore it. the pacing is great, the ending is cute, the cast can act pretty well, and for some, it's filled with childhood memories! i can't relate to most of what i just listed so that would explain why i couldn't connect with this much. to be frank, i'm not a huge fan of Halloween flicks for kids (hence my Hocus Pocus review) or adults, so my dislike for this movie shouldn't be surprising. let's just hope the second film has better in store for me!

P.S. why did it take me the last 15 minutes of the film to realize that Nonna (Maree Cheatham) from Sam & Cat is in this lollll

MINI-REVIEW (first official one ever!)

MY REVIEW FOR:
BACK TO BLACK (2024)

after watching Back to Black (2024), i read some reviews that recommended viewers watch Amy (2015) to gain a broader perspective on Winehouse's life. while i somewhat agree that this documentary does, it still pokes around the same narrative as BTB (2024). both pictures about Amy highlight her drug abuse rather than her love for music or life outside of substances and performing. as someone who came here to learn more about Winehouse, i am quite disappointed! upon reading a review that said all of the clips shown here were already available on YouTube or other various blogs, i became even more heated. what was the point of this? just people talking over the sad bits of Amy's life. come onnn, i want more! this can't be all people have to say about Winehouse because i know she was so much more than this. what about interviewing people about the good times they spent with Amy and not the ones where she was calling them while on her deathbed? will anyone be able to tell her story properly?

"Ladies don't sip, they gulp." - Amy Winehouse (Marisa Abela) , Back to Black (2024)

MY (MINI) REVIEW FOR:
AMY (2015)

TW / ED + DRUG ADDICTION
the trailers and hype for Back to Black (2024) may have attracted Winehouse fans before it was released, but once it was, i'm sure it scared them away. my take is that since i'm not a huge fan of Amy Winehouse, it explains why i liked this film more than others, though if i were, i'd be just as let down as the majority. this movie feels a bit off-key because of the period in Amy's life in which it started. a good story like Winehouse's shouldn't kick off on a sour note, and that's exactly what the director and writers did, so i don't blame anyone for being upset about that.

the strange way this movie starts makes the viewers feel like they've missed an hour or so of it. in addition, with the bad introduction that jumps so far into Amy's life, it seems as if Sam Taylor-Johnson just wanted to highlight the bad. why begin her story just before she es? everyone, fan or not, is aware of Winehouse's troubles with addiction and food, so why make that the only thing we know about her? with Abela being a decent actress, she is (thankfully) able to make the audience forget about Taylor-Johnson's faults, though this may be a controversial take. according to the reviews, many weren't impressed with her acting, which i agree with, but her voice is beautiful. nothing like the ion of Amy's, but still chilling. it's not too often that i compliment the singing of someone doing the vocals of an artist they are acting as, so i will give Abela her props there.

along with Abela's voice, i enjoyed the way music was incorporated here as it added a lot of joy to such a dreary film. the soundtrack is definitely an underrated piece of this movie which i think should be awarded its credit. if Back to Black (2024) weren't so focused on the negative aspects and made with the permission of Winehouse's family so they could up the accuracy percentage of the content being shown, i would've loved this flick. my profile and favorite films indicate that i love biopics, and i'll always seek out biopics that tell the story of a person properly, so as some light eye bleach, i'll watch Amy (2015) this evening. overall, Back to Black (2024) has some downsides without a doubt, but it isn't horrible as long as you can look past them.

"Hey, Benj, is it weird that I'm here?" - Bobby Cannavale (Mr. Studebaker) , Incoming (2024)

yes, indeed it is! your adult presence at a teen party is surely peculiar, just as the rest of this movie is. the synopsis of this film posted on Google puts Incoming (2024) under the light of your typical high school party film, which okay.. yeah.. but it's somehow worse than the others. the acting is mediocre, the jokes don't land, and worst of all, the plot is just all over the place. this movie can't decide if it wants to be for the audience it tends to or grown-ups as I couldn't imagine this being appropriate for an actual high school freshman unless they are mature enough.

Incoming (2024) began quite tame and exactly how I imagined it. a teen boy making out with some random object to practice for his first kiss and arguing with his sister until we took a full 360 with random nudity and a so-called "wild" party that was rather underwhelming. for this film to be about kids, i could've gone without the nipple story that was added for laughs which i can guarantee no one found funny. seeing the science teacher encourage his students to drink underage was also distasteful. you're probably picturing me as some stuck-up person who can't have fun, but if you saw this monstrosity of a movie for yourself you'd agree with me because these moments are supposed to be humourous though they fail to be that. with the lukewarm acting, it ruins any possible chance for the audience to get a good laugh in.

i watched for Loren Gray and stayed for her character whom i almost didn't like but grew on me as the story went on. Connor (Raphael Alejandro) & Eddie (Ramon Reed) were also some characters that made up for this trash. besides that, Incoming (2024) should've never came. i beg the producers to send it back because we don't want it! no, thanks!

Gru (Steve Carell), Lucy (Kristen Wiig), & the gorls are back this summer, including a new baby boy! it's time for Gru to take down another villain whom he attended school with by the name of Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell). Le Mal is coming with a vengeance and is banking on stealing Gru's new baby boy to get at him. in an attempt to keep the family protected, the AVL takes Gru & the family into a safe home, leaving some minions behind to be transformed into greater beings to fight against crime in the city. Despicable Me 4 (2024) is not only an entertaining film, but suitable for the entire family.

this movie has many gags that adults will chuckle at, as well as some targeted towards kids. despite the fact that some viewers hate their style, i absolutely love Illumination. one of my favorite aspects of Illumination would be their drawing techniques. the character designs for this movie were wonderful, specifically, the animals! the dogs & cats stole the show for me here as they were just as cute as the minions! i didn't care for the new villain, so thankfully, the animations and pacing made up for it. there were many other parts of this movie i loved, such as the K-Pop songs that made it onto this beautiful soundtrack, and the ending scene which featured all of the past villains.

i haven't been too focused on films this summer, but when school returns, i plan to get back on them to have something to spice up my evenings. in the future, i want to view more animated films in hopes of seeing something as enjoyable as Despicable Me 4 (2024)! this movie was everything i expected it to be and more! after all, it is a cartoon, so you can't hate it unless it's some true garbage, and this flick is far from that.

Riley (Kensington Tallman) returns to Pixar's big screen, being led by the same emotions, plus some that try to "fix up" Riley in attempts to make her "fit in". Inside Out 2 (2024) welcomes Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Ennui/Boredom (Adèle Exarchopoulos), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Ha), & Envy (Ayo Edebiri). while Riley undergoes personality changes in this film, console leader Joy (Amy Poehler) and the original emotion crew (Sadness, Disgust, Anger, & Fear) learn to adapt to their new teammates back at headquarters.

what the team of Inside Out 2 (2024) nails is Anxiety's presence. she is, by far, the most well-described emotion. by trying to make life better for Riley, she simultaneously ruins it. while she can get away with controlling the console for a while, it goes bad, just as everything does when experiencing anxiety as it leads up to the big attack. another piece of this movie i loved was the animation. there's a lot of fun and fresh side characters, which clash well with the usual Pixar cartoon style. despite its negatives, this film is an easier watch than the first Inside Out film released in 2015, starring a much younger Riley, which is extremely hard to watch if you are not a 4-6-year-old child.

in addition, considering Riley is much older now, i would expect them to dig deeper into Riley's life and maybe be a bit more precise about how her emotions affect her. with Anxiety they do this perfectly, but what would this look like with Disgust, or perhaps Envy? i am well aware that Anxiety is an intense emotion, but let's it that we've all undergone moments of extreme disgust/envy before! circling back to my main agenda, Inside Out 2 (2024) is an above-average film that easily sures its first. nothing too mind-blowing, but definitely a movie that will kick off my binge-watching again!

P.S. wasted SO much time for the weak “dark secret” at the end.. & joy is really fucking annoying!

Watched on Friday May 17, 2024.

JEREMY: "Who is he?"
CLAIRE: "That's Hayes Campbell from August Moon! Where have you been?"
JEREMY: "Being in my 30s, obviously."
- Cheech Manohar (Jeremy) & Meg Millidge (Claire) , The Idea of You (2024)

my reaction to this film is summed up by two lines of dialogue spoken by characters from it (listed above), which in short would be disconnected. i'm not sure where the target audience for this flick lies, but regardless, this is not my cup of tea. this may appeal to some, but based on my understanding, that demographic is 35+-year-old women who peaked in high school and don't have a life outside of Twitter. The Idea of You (2024) is beyond offbeat and quite literally a dusty pile of secondhand embarrassment ready to blow onto its audience as the second wind rolls around.

there are many things to pick apart about The Idea of You (2024), so i'll begin with the most disappointing feature of this film which in my opinion was the music. for a movie to be about a musical band, i'd imagine the tunes for it would be bearable to some degree, but this is just a disgrace. i get teenage music sucks nowadays, but man the group everyone is fangirling over here sucks! furthermore, i couldn't get on board with the mother falling for a pop star storyline, so the wack music additionally contributed to my dislike for this as well as how unrealistic this was. the romance between popstar Hayden Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) & mother Solène (Anne Hathaway) began because Campbell liked that Solène noticed him as a person and not a celebrity, but after all she is 40... i mean, what typical 40-year-old is thirsting over a celebrity that isn't even from their era besides chronically online ones? that scene alone told me all i needed to know about this movie!

if you're like me and tired of seeing directors make rom-coms with no chemistry between the two leads whatsoever, take my review into consideration and avoid this mess. this movie is a complete waste of cash and Hathaway. the only respectable feature of this film would be the art as i've seen some lame excuses for "art" in movies. besides that, what is this? why was this even given the time of day, and who gave the green light? i'd love to hear their reasoning!

Dianne (Kelly Lynch) & Robert (Matt Dillon) have known each other for years and share a similar love of drugs, which ultimately tears them apart when Robert decides to leave her and two friends to recover from drug abuse and an existence that consisted solely of stealing from drug stores. the bad luck and the repercussions of Robert's past finally catch up to him when he sets out on his own to get a job and a place to live, ending up in the hospital on the verge of death. in of this film itself, Drugstore Cowboy (1989) presents the downsides of drug abuse and addiction quite well, and if you have the patience, it serves as an interesting watch.

when it comes to the pacing of this picture, the second and third acts of this movie are pretty tedious, which may disappoint some viewers, but if you can get past that, this is an excellent film well worth your time. the cast not only delivers wonderful acting performances but the production is of high quality and serves as the eye candy for when this film can get a little dry. having said that, the camera work is smooth and flows perfectly with the aesthetic of the film. i also thought that the soundtrack was fitting for this picture and exhibited the proper emotion for whatever was being displayed on screen at the time. music is important in films, and if the soundtrack is good, the audience should be in for an amazing movie. overall, Drugstore Cowboy (1989) is an above-average film with a first act that stole my heart.

the beginning of this movie is unforgettable and the reason why my rating is a bit higher than what i assumed it would be. from the high tension to the score playing in the background, i was all in! though i wish the rest of the film after that point would've been a bit more entertaining, i still love what this movie offers. i believe this is something everyone should see at least once. it has a purpose to it and could possibly become a new favorite!

Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) depicts the trial in which Myrlie Evers requested a second chance in court in hopes of serving justice for her husband Medgar Evers who was murdered for helping in the Civil Rights movement. Whoopi Goldberg plays Myrlie alongside Alec Baldwin who acts as Bobby DeLaughter, the defendant on the Evers' side. this film shows its audience the large impact racism had on Mississippi during the '60s up until the '90s. while i wanted to be able to write a positive review of this film i cannot. unfortunately, this movie fails to portray the significance of this court case that led America a step closer to banishing unjust laws.

this picture does a horrible job of giving the Evers' story any meaning. all we see Myrlie as is a woman who is exhausted with barely any dialogue as the movie follows a bunch of racists whose stories we've already heard. i wanted to see an insider on how Myrlie felt after her husband died as well as how her children coped with it and how the public treated them when they went out, not DeLaughter. i understand that showing DeLaughter's growth may have been necessary, but why base the entire film around him? enjoying this was entirely impossible due to the imbalance between Myrlie & Bobby's screen time. getting evidence on the case was somewhat interesting to see, but if the writers threw in more about the Evers' in between, i would've loved this picture. a higher budget would've done this film some good too as it lacks in quality.

it is expected that a movie featuring Whoopi Goldberg & Alec Baldwin be of decent quality and produced at a high level as they obtain a status of fame that some other celebrities don't have. seeing this film made me shake my head at how poorly recorded a few pieces of it were. some of the camera work was fine, but i knew it should've been better. this story is way too deep and emotional for a movie based on it to be this dry and time-consuming. i felt as if this Sahara Desert of a film was never going to end! not looking forward to having to rewatch the rest of this in class tomorrow... a disgrace.

after losing his wife Dawn (Elitsa Rajeva), Liam (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is left searching for something, or possibly someone, who resembles her again. in a desperate attempt to impress a bank teller who looks similar to Dawn, Liam stages a bank robbery, which backfires, ruining his hero reputation gained by saving the life of a young girl in a fire and his life as a whole. off the bat, Hero Wanted (2008)'s storyline isn't too promising. it follows a character whose motives are beyond unrealistic, making this watch very difficult before it even gets rolling. it took forty minutes for some real action to appear and some plot pieces to be clarified before i became engaged with this movie.

for the first bit of this flick, not only is it slow but it's incredibly confusing for no good reason. why a movie like this needs to be told out of order doesn't make sense to me nor does it make me want to give this film bonus points. i feel as if the director added off-sequence storytelling just to spice up this lame film, but it only ended up doing this movie a disservice. i could say the same for the acting performances as i thought Gooding's act was dramatic and his character was overwritten as this "tough" guy who can't choose between good and bad. the only thing Liam appeared to be was an emotional mess who should be placed in a mental hospital or undergo therapy rather than being sent to prison. the only sensible aspect of this movie is the score as it actually fits the film.

i was not expecting to like the score here, but i might even say that i loved it. the score one hundred percent raised my rating, and without it being as nice as it was, this movie would've been another forgettable evening flick placed with the other trash bags i rated one star. other than the score, i'm not really interested in this. nothing exciting happens for a long while, the storyline lacks depth, the cast is weak and there wasn't enough Liotta to make up for it. after all, Liotta was the reason why i put this on my watchlist so to see him as a side character getting less screen time than the antagonists here was disappointing.

The Conversation (1974) has been hailed as a critically acclaimed masterpiece that is bound to scare its viewers with its eerie aura. despite its reputation as a perfect piece of art, i see it as something more simple and one-dimensional with a chilling score rather than a haunting narrative. there were plenty of times when i found this film to be a bore, which led me to wonder what film critics see in this that i do not. i mean what's the big idea about a man being paranoid from the thought of being bugged? sure, it displays an accurate show of being paranoid, but that's only with the help of the score.

without the absolutely outstanding yet terrifying score, The Conversation (1974) would be nothing. every review under this movie mentions the music and how it adds to the scariness of this film, proving that it is the backbone of this weak picture. aside from Hackman's occasional screaming that gets him points from critics, the storyline is boring and only peaks at certain moments, while the score steals the show altogether. i couldn't imagine what this film would be without the frightening tunes behind it and the somewhat decent pace at which this movie runs. in addition, Cazale made some of this up for me which i appreciated. however, the film itself doesn't seem to appeal to me.

i partially see myself liking this on a second watch, but i highly doubt that my efforts to return to this film will be strong as i don't care to reanalyze this. i'll just go from here and say that this wasn't for me and i don't believe it ever will be. my rating may go up on a rewatch, but not drastically. having had this on my watchlist for years, i am quite disappointed that it ended up being bland to me.

Cecilla (Sydney Sweeney) has now become Sister Cecilla as she has decided to devote her life to Christ and take on as a nun. now living with her fellow sisters in Italy, far from her home in Michigan, she is committed entirely to the nun lifestyle. upon arrival, Cecilla realizes that this church may not be exactly what she imagined it as. there is a strange feeling among the nuns, some of whom are warning her, and the overall atmosphere is off. it is only after Cecilla is pronounced pregnant without conception that she fully realizes something sinister is at work within the church behind this so-called miracle.

despite its potential to depict the horrors of false claims and practices within churches, Immaculate (2024) fails to do so due to the writers' reluctance to be in-depth about religion. i would've appreciated a larger background about Cecilla's upbringing and why she chose to focus her life on Christ so heavily besides the incident that occurred when she was twelve. the movie would've been a lot more detailed with this, and that's something that this film lacks a lot of. we don't get any insight on why some of the nuns aren't mentally stable or any slight history of the church. while this film isn't the best at detail, it is great at providing the audience with rewarding moments. the ending holds a lot of power and seeing Gwen (Benedetta Porcaroli) speak out against the congregation was satisfying which partially made up for the features that failed here.

another obvious plus to this film is that it was produced and made well. thanks to the large budget and realistic gore, this movie wasn't a complete failure. a budget can make or break a film, especially when the groundwork is already weak, so to see that this movie succeeded in that aspect was nice. the acting performances were okay, and Sydney did well with what she was given. a rewatch might do me some justice here so once this hits the streaming platforms, expect to see this re-logged.

P.S. i think my watch experience was ruined a bit because the lights never turned off in my row... not such a scary watch for me as the people sitting a few seats in front

Dream Scenario (2023) combines the infamous "Have You Seen This Man?" & Freddy Krueger into the tale of a guy named Paul (Nicolas Cage) who has been appearing in the dreams of everyone in his town. while they start off small with only Paul appearing as a bystander in the dreams, they become more violent, turning into nightmares, making the dreamers upset with the existence of Paul. Dream Scenario (2023) follows the themes of cancel culture, the downsides of being a celebrity, and loneliness. this seems good on paper, but when this creative concept is paired with mediocre acting performances and weak writing, the cleverness fades away.

i found it hard to decide whether i liked this movie or not because there is no denying that the potential was there. i haven't seen a film this unique in a while, which i can appreciate, but the filmmaking qualities displayed here are hard to enjoy. seeing Cage perform in such a weak manner was hard to sit through and made this movie feel longer than its short runtime. the way all of the characters act in general ruins the watch experience as a whole. the awkwardness takes up so much space on screen that its difficult to take in all at once. the camera work is also a bit dull and doesn't add anything to this film to make it better. the grainy effect is there for no reason as it doesn't suit any aspect of this film, so i can't even say that this movie is visually pleasing. all i can it is that the idea was smart, and that's all i can give this picture credit for besides being genuinely terrifying at some points.

i nearly jumped when Cage charged into his daughter's room in the dream, leaving me paranoid as to whether they'd show another scene like that without warning. outside of the uncanny scenes and the concept, i don't like anything about this picture. it didn't use its brilliant plot to its full potential, making Dream Scenario another forgettable 2023 production. i can see why this went straight to MAX after being in the theater for such a short amount of time.

oh please free Lindsay Lohan before the rest of her career becomes starring in these Hallmark wannabe movies! first, we were handed Falling for Christmas (2022) which turned out to be a complete disaster, and now two years later we have Irish Wish (2024) which is essentially the same film but with a different holiday. the two movies are so similar and formatted, doing no justice for Lohan whatsoever as a talented actress, proving that it is time to put work with Janeen Damian in the dust. though Falling for Christmas (2022) was a failure, based on what i can from it, i like it better than this garbage.

i mean to be honest, is any St. Patrick's Day movie vital? especially a romantic one? the storyline is so basic and while the message of having the same soulmate in every universe was creative, it was displayed in such a dull way. in movies like this, there is usually someone with magical powers who grants a person their wish, and that's how it plays out here, but why not strive to be different and spice up this weak script? the cast is already lacking in being able to provide decent acting performances, so why take the risk of going down the one-dimensional storyline route? i can't explain how much potential was wasted here not only because of the writing but once again, the director. Damian & Lohan aren't a good pair, and they continue to stand as examples of this statement with every new film release.

all i can say is that i hope this is Lohan's last movie with this lousy director. the romance and chemistry were at an all-time low, the pacing was slow, and the overall watch experience was mediocre. Lohan doesn't need to do anything else with Damian ever again. i'd hate to see her go downhill and continue to star in these lame pictures. someone tell Lindsay that she deserves better than this!

MY REVIEW FOR:
CRUEL INTENTIONS (1999)
CRUEL INTENTIONS 2 (2000)

this may come as a surprise, but Cruel Intentions 3 (2004) easily outdoes the previous two films in this trilogy because of how problematic and cheap the last two are. though this movie has the characteristics of a low-budget early 2000s production, it works better here as the storyline is far more interesting and less disturbing. the change in director is obvious as well here, proving that Cruel Intentions is a decent movie idea as long as it is placed in the hands of a skilled director. the camera work and recording style say it all, showing that Ziehl is much more talented than twisted Kumble.

not only did this movie keep my interest, but i liked that it didn't use shock humor to persuade its viewers to enjoy the movie more. though the humor wasn't funny to me, it wasn't controversial or unsettlingly inappropriate. i smiled a few times, but nothing that made me laugh. the acting performances weren't my favorite but were better than the ones in the first and second films. i also didn't care for the soundtrack this time, but the camera work and ending alone made up for everything. the ending was so satisfying and wasn't petty for once. the characters playing the cruel games finally did something useful, which made me like this movie a lot more than i initially thought i would. without the ending, this film would've ended up on the same level as Cruel Intentions 1 & 2 for me because outside of the last twenty minutes, Cruel Intentions 3 (2004) is just as weak as the rest.

this is obviously not a trilogy that was needed as the first movie shouldn't even exist in the first place, but this was a great way to finish this off. i'm glad i didn't have to sit through any incest scenes or moments filled with horrendous CGI. i definitely won't be returning to these films, but it's nice to say i've seen them i guess? i must say, i need a medal of some sort for making it through these movies for three days straight!

MY REVIEW FOR:
CRUEL INTENTIONS (1999)
CRUEL INTENTIONS 3 (2004)

i'm glad that Cruel Intentions is only a trilogy and not a film series because i don't think i'd be able to make it past the third film. so far, i hate all of it. the weird incest trope, the controversial humor, and the bad acting make this trilogy look like a joke. while it may be with its witty sarcasm, it comes off as genuine in the second installment that is filled with terrible acting performances and trashy CGI. i thought Amy Adams would carry here, but she was just as horrible as the rest of her crew which shocked me, though, after all, the script is to blame.

the writing here is a complete nightmare. the dialogue makes the characters talk and behave as strangely as ever, and the "humor" that pairs along with it isn't even funny. if anything, all it makes you do is shake your head. i swear that after every "joke" made, i checked the runtime to see how much of this garbage i had left to endure. this film moves as slowly as a snail, making the watching experience ten times worse, which all roots from once again, the writing. a Cruel Intentions prequel might have helped the reputation of the first one, but i think every person who has watched this film knows that this was the wrong way to go about writing the backstories of Sebastian & Kathryn. nothing important happens in this movie besides the ending which explains how Sebastian & Kathryn became so "close". as for the first and second acts, it was a bunch of BS that could've happened in twenty minutes.

i don't know why i bother with these sorts of films, but once i start a movie series/trilogy, a huge part of me is determined to finish it, though Cruel Intentions might have been the exception under certain circumstances. if these movies were longer than their usual hour and thirty minutes, i would've left this trilogy incomplete because these are truly hard to sit through, and that's not an exaggeration. i would say try watching the first installment to find out, but i wouldn't want you to go through the pain!

MY REVIEW FOR:
CRUEL INTENTIONS 2 (2000)
CRUEL INTENTIONS 3 (2004)

watching any film from the early 2000s makes me realize what a truly different time it was. any line from this script wouldn't fly today let alone the storyline itself, and by this, i am not siding in favor of the "everyone is so sensitive today" argument. Cruel Intentions (1999) is a problematic film that struggles to have a creative source of entertainment and instead relies on controversial statements and shock humor to "keep the interest" of its viewers when in reality it does the opposite. though this may have attracted an audience around the release date, it surely doesn't do that in the 21st Century. 

the problems with Cruel Intentions (1999) stretch on forever. for starters, the plot of this movie is creepy as it is built around incest, and for the majority of the runtime, it is heavily romanticized. Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) & Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) are step-siblings who love each other more than they should, flirting with one another and making a bet that involves sleeping with each other as a prize if the other wins. while playing this "game" to see who can win first, homophobia and racism are used as humor for "plot twists" and to make fun of other characters. to make everything worse, the movie itself isn't even enjoyable. when it comes to the filmmaking aspects, they seem cheap and lousy. the camera work is mediocre, the acting performances are laughable, and the aesthetic sucks. nothing good came out of this production except the soundtrack which can be debatable considering that it isn't all that special either.

in all, these movies from the early 2000s haven't aged well whatsoever, proving that "edgy" humor isn't always something that'll be in style. not surprised that this turned out to be one of those watches considering the cast and title, but some of this took me aback and disgusted me. it's crazy to think this got approved and almost twenty years later anything even remotely obtaining the qualities of this movie wouldn't even be considered twice. the times have changed for the better!

King Cobra (2016) focuses on Sean (Garrett Clayton) who works in the adult film industry as an actor, looking to be a filmmaker of his own someday. when hired and taken under by Stephen (Christian Slater), owner of Cobra Films, Sean makes money and is content with life until he realizes how possessive Stephen is. to break from him, he tries ing other companies, though his contract with Stephen doesn't allow him to do so, leaving a company interested in Sean with murder on their minds. usually, i wouldn't go to watch anything like this but this was recommended by one of my mutuals and to say the least, i hate it!

every bone in my body despises films that have no plot structure outside of sex. this flick has nothing to offer besides a bunch of peculiar dialogue, actors with zero talent (minus Silverstone), and a trashy storyline. this movie feels like a bad adult movie with all of its hideous sex scenes that are supposed to be "erotic". seeing Franco in a movie is creepy enough, but it's even worse hearing him talk so explicitly with such strange vocabulary. i couldn't help but cringe at everything Franco's character said, even when exchanging a normal conversation. Clayton's performance was also disgraceful and made me wonder why Disney actors take down the road of doing movies like these knowing that they were given a platform to work with more talented directors. the only performance that i found decent here was Silverstone's, and she didn't even have a large role in this film which says that King Cobra (2016) is garbage.

a five-star movie wasn't what i dreamed of this to be, but a half-star wasn't quite what i was thinking of either, though this film truly deserves that rating. it's weak, boring, and doesn't have an important message, so what's the point? this was a waste of Silverstone and nothing more. i need to see better LGBTQ+ films immediately because i can't stand to see the fetish flicks or the ones with negative stereotypes anymore!

Lola (2024) has every quality you'd imagine your ideal movie to have. it has a decent cast that provides touching performances, an interesting plot, and briefly tackles a handful of critical issues that affect society and homes today. this movie covers the topics of religion, sexuality, and neglect through music, and behavior. the score radiates the perfect amount of emotion to display the mood of each character on screen along with the actions of others that further help spread awareness of the message that pairs with this picture. sadly, the only thing this beautiful movie is missing is depth. although Peltz does a great job performing and directing, this film is far too short and doesn't dive deep enough into the messages that this movie is built on.

though as i stated before, the score and actions of side characters help expand on the topics presented here, but with the pace this film moves at there isn't enough time to properly address them. i felt as if Lola's story ended too quickly and that there should have been more time allowed to show her growth. Lola goes from being at her lowest to her best within fifteen minutes which i thought wasn't logical. the six-month time skip was such a far jump and made me feel like Peltz rushed the production of this. i wouldn't have minded following these characters for another thirty minutes as it would've given Lola's story a more natural feel. i also would've appreciated more light shed on the religious part of this tale as it affected Lola & her brother Arlo's (Luke David Blumm) relationship with their mother heavily, standing as another reason why the runtime should've been longer.

with more time, the potential this film has would have shined at its fullest. i see a lot of talent within Peltz as both an actress and director. i believe that she should keep going as it'll get her far, and possibly link her with more experienced writers who can help her be more detailed when scripting films. overall, i liked this one, though i know it could've been better! i'm looking forward to seeing more from Peltz as i'd be excited to watch another one of her films considering that this wasn't too far off from being something i liked.

trust me when i say this, i hate rating this film so low, but in my opinion, it sits on the same tier as Stand By Me (1986). they both depict children with struggles at home, except in this film the kids are a bit older and class ranks are a part of the main conflict as the Greasers and Socs are against each other. this causes problems between two groups of boys, starting at a movie theater and continuing until further events make a turn for the worse. knowing that Coppola directed this raised my expectations, and while some were met, i felt as if he fell short in certain areas.

the camera work was up to par as well as some of the cinematography, but this film is missing the true Francis Coppola feel. there aren't any parts of this movie that are boring, but rather ones that make you check the clock wondering when it'll be over. i found myself looking at the time more and more as the film progressed, which i didn't expect to do while watching this. when this film first began, i told myself that this would be a new favorite, but as this went on i became disinterested by the second as it wasn't up my alley. nothing about this movie sticks out to me besides the acting performances from the unforgettable cast. each actor here delivers flawless acts which i'd consider timeless, unlike the movie itself. if you were to ask me anything about this film a year from now, i probably wouldn't be able to answer you as i wouldn't it.

The Outsiders (1983) isn't a notable piece for me, and i truly am saddened that i don't see the beauty of this. my high expectations are to blame, but at the same time, there aren't many redeemable qualities here. every imperfection is easily recalled as there are little to no good aspects of this picture. not sure if a rewatch could help considering that i just don't like this, but i'm willing to return on a rainy day. this is a bummer!

i've deemed myself a person who doesn't like 50s cinema a long time ago, but recently, i've been wanting to revisit this era in hopes of finding a favorite from the decade. i started with this flick because of its famous reputation and fanbase, though it is safe to say that Rebel Without a Cause (1955) won't be a new Top 4 for me. what i'd call this is as the phrase goes, "a result of its era". every part of the storyline has the 50s written all over it, in the worst way possible. Jim's (James Dean) need for his dad to be more of a "leader" in his household and the annoying behavior of the "kids" group all made this so-called "loveable" film age like milk.

films having some characteristics of their release period isn't always bad, but since Rebel Without a Cause (1955) is outdated as a whole, it doesn't work here. besides the negative 50s household expectations, the dialogue is wonky and the school scenes aren't realistic. for a movie that is trying to relay a message to actual teenagers to obey their parents, no aspect of that film should be fictional or cast men who look thirty to play the role of "high schoolers". i found it hard to believe that teenagers in this period drove cars off of cliffs to challenge one another. the only believable part of this story was whenever the teens left home without the permission of their parents and smoked. besides that, there isn't much to this film except for James Dean's face because that's all people about it.

without Dean, this would be another "nothing" film from the 50s that no one knows about. i wish i would've connected with this more, but this movie doesn't have much in store for its audience or something important to say. the ending of this movie doesn't reveal anything or assist the meaning behind this movie. all it says is that Jim has made a friend for once, and doesn't clear up the lives of the side characters who the movie follows for the longest and forgets about in the last ten minutes. in other words, this movie is all over the place. i don't understand the point of it, but at least i can say i've seen it cause that seems to be the coolest part of this whole experience!

MY REVIEW FOR:
SPEED (1994)

Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) takes place about two years after Speed (1994), and Jack & Annie (Sandra Bullock) are no longer together. Annie is now dating Alex (Jason Patric) who works with L.A.P.D and takes Annie on a cruise to propose to her. though this trip is supposed to be the perfect getaway, terror lies upon them as an upset man onboard decides to crash the ship because he was fired abruptly by the cruise company he'd worked for due to his illness. the crazed ship enger is played by Willem Dafoe, who delivers one of his worst performances in this lousy, flat sequel.

Speed 2 isn't too far off from being on the same level as the original, though the two films are much different entertainment-wise. Speed 2 lacks the excitement provided for the audience in the first film. there were many boring times during this movie that made me think, "Why was a sequel necessary?". i'm much better off imagining that Annie & Jack lived a perfect life after escaping Howard's games of insanity rather than being given this cheap excuse of a follow-up. i mean what even is this? the storyline is somewhat creative but falls short of suspense, the dialogue is hideous and lowers the performance quality of the cast , and the ending is just so cliche. Speed (1994) had its plot pieces that were done before as well so i guess the films match in that area, but Speed (1994) takes the cake by a long shot.

if a movie can keep me entertained for its runtime, i'll cut it some slack, but if it doesn't, i'll rate it accordingly. unfortunately, Speed 2 wasn't something that kept my interest for its two-hour run, so it was hard to fully enjoy this one. i didn't expect this to be any better than the first, but this was a tad bit disappointing. seeing Dafoe here was so random and unfitting for this movie which is why i believe his talent didn't shine through in this role. Bullock & Patric's performances weren't memorable either, adding to my reasons for disliking this picture. overall, this was a waste of actors and time. i wish i never knew a sequel to Speed existed.

Gwen (Sandra Bullock) is a New York writer who spends most of her days drinking, and never suffers the consequences until she attends her sister's wedding drunk. on her quest to replace the cake she'd ruined at the wedding, she crashed into a house, ultimately landing her in a rehab facility for 28 days. during her stay at the rehab center, Gwen discovers how to overcome her addiction to drinking, makes friends, and improves her relationship with her family. there is a fair amount of detail in this film about the process of recovery, but it is not the most accurate.

in 28 Days (2000), Gwen's recovery journey is quite simple and linear. while she does experience moments of withdrawal, they last for maybe two days before she decides to ditch her pills and go cold turkey. drugs can't be obtained in rehab centers, so everyone must go cold turkey, but Gwen's withdrawal stage ends too quickly. this movie paints addiction as something any person struggling with drugs can easily overcome when we all know that isn't the case. it was not realistic to see Gwen's personality change so suddenly after being at the center for about a week, despite this film's obvious good intentions. the ending says that every person abusing drugs should seek help and leave people in their life who enable them, and while i appreciate that message, i can't get over how painfully impractical this is and maybe not the best film to show students in a health class.

i decided to finish this on my own instead of in class because this movie was of my interest, but i'm now realizing that with the smooth transitions in Gwen's recovery, we shouldn't be shown this. it displays the opposite of what addiction truly is and underplays how long it takes to become sober after long periods of drug usage. no matter how much of this was entertaining, i still won't brush over the fact that this isn't a precise story about addiction.

MY REVIEW FOR:
SPEED 2: CRUISE CONTROL (1997)

clearing out my watchlist is something i dream of doing but never get close to as i add more films to it every day, but to try to limit some of the build-up i return to the bottom and review at least three movies from the list a month. starting with Keanu Reeves' Speed (1994) was an okay choice, but not the best as even with its high entertainment level, it still underperforms. the sudden plot twists that seemed to get dumber as the story continued laid as evidence that towards the end of this film, the writers just gave up. not only that, but the acting spoils a great portion of this movie which came to me as a surprise.

whenever Reeves stars in a movie, i expect him to outdo his cast , but in this film, he performs about the same as them which was quite disappointing. for me, Bullock was the true star here and added a bit of spark to the story. her act was convincing and the most realistic out of everyone cast here. besides Bullock's performance, the humor is another redeemable quality. it makes up for the hostage's unbearable personalities and moments where the plot can become a bit dramatic or far-fetched. hearing that another pathway wasn't finished or the bomber threw in another plan was quite unreasonable, but with the pieces of comedic relief, it all works out... at least to an extent because after all, Speed (1994) is an average action flick.

there's not much to say about a film belonging to a category that is known for being formatted. in action movies, the hostages are freed, the bad guy dies, and justice is served regardless of all the risky situations everyone has to dodge. so, my advice is if you're looking to watch this film for a source of entertainment, go ahead. if you're reviewing this in hopes of seeing a clever movie of high quality, take your expectations down about ten notches!

if internet brain rot were a movie, Samantha Jayne & Arturo Perez's Mean Girls (2024) would be it. this movie is the product of a bad music video and a makeup commercial having a baby. it didn't take much for me to pick up on the clues that i wouldn't like this, but this movie is much more cornier than i thought. the characters are insufferable, the songs are garbage, and the dialogue is just God-awful. the only thing good this film has going for itself is the camerawork. so far, you may be thinking that i just don't like musicals and that would be the case for any other flick belonging to this genre, but in this scenario, it isn't.

i don't particularly enjoy musicals, but I'm willing to watch them. i do like a few and have a personal favorite, so the fact that this is a musical doesn't bother me but rather the execution does. the horrible lip-syncing and cringe lyrics are hard to get through and make me wonder why any of the producers gave this film the green light. i understand popular movies going to Broadway, but to be adapted into a musical afterward is pushing it. Mean Girls (2004) is a perfect film that doesn't need a musical retouch. i feel as though this movie would have been bad regardless of the director's skill and experience, since this simply isn't a clever idea, though none of that matters. after all, it is clear that Mean Girls (2024) wasn't made in the interest of its viewers.

Samsung and E.L.F made their money, and that's all the producers cared about because there was no way anyone was taking this film seriously. to anyone reading this who hasn't seen this movie, don't waste your time on it, especially if you've seen the original. the only individuals bound to like this film are theater lovers. if you don't fit that demographic, stray far away from this garbage.

i took a short break from movies to get caught up on schoolwork, so to return i wanted to watch a newer flick. while i can appreciate what this film stands for, i'm not sure if i like the way the writers went about doing so. being transgender is difficult, and we can see this through the media and the way transgender men and women tell their stories, but Anything's Possible (2022) is all over the place and stands as the perfect example that the LGBTQ+ community needs better representation in cinema. Billy Porter is gay, but he isn't trans, which is why i feel that this movie is off-key.

Porter cannot properly display the experience of being a transgender woman in today's society which is why i feel this film would've been more successful if it were directed by someone who is transgender. though the crush aspect through social media was accurate, everything else felt strange and out of place. knowing that Reddit was the backbone for Kelsa (Eva Reign) & Khal's (Abubakr Ali) relationship was beyond unrealistic as anyone who isn't living under a rock knows that Reddit isn't the most accepting of individuals in the LGBTQ+ community unless you're posting in a sub that s it. also, the best friends of the main characters in this movie are incredibly transphobic for absolutely no reason. while those characters may depict people who are false allies, it feels irrelevant for a movie that is supposed to uplift trans women.

overall, Anything's Possible (2022) is why transgender individuals should direct films about being trans. their stories will be told appropriately and without any harmful content or tropes. this movie was released two years ago so i will say that LGBTQ+ cinema has improved, but we do have a lot to work on. i'd say we start with the directors and who we cast to star in these sorts of films because the acting was not my favorite, nor was the storyline!

Mrs. Crandell (Concetta Tomei) is taking a trip to Australia, leaving her five children at home for the entirety of summer break. to the children's surprise, they are met with a babysitter who soon dies in her sleep, forcing the oldest named Swell (Christina Applegate) to get a job. after one failed career at a fast food place, Swell is hired at a formal company that designs clothes and pays her just enough to get by to take care of her siblings while her mother is gone, with only one problem. she must not let her boss and co-workers find out that she faked her resume.

DTMTBD (1991) is without a doubt, a product of its time. this is no different than any other family flick you'd watch released in the early 90s. while that is usually a bad thing considering that early 90s cinema wasn't the best, DTMTBD (1991) isn't too cheesy. it's fun for a large age range and lacks boring scenes. i assumed that an hour and forty minutes would be far too long for a story like this, but it actually worked out well because of the redeemable aspects here. the humor in this was scripted wonderfully and guarantees its audience a couple of laughs. the cast does a great job performing as well, and i found everyone's acts to be genuine and convincing. Applegate's performance stood out to me the most as she is the lead actress in this film, but her co-stars did pretty good to be such young actors.

now while i think this is a decent film, do i think there should be a carbon copy remake released? absolutely not. it pained me to hear my mom say there'll be a new DTMTBD in theaters next month because the original isn't a high-rated film. it just barely made it into the 3.0 range so remaking it without any sort of twist in the story is pointless. it'll hurt to watch the 2024 version, but part of me wants to review it just to see if this could possibly be made better, though i doubt it can be.

Cheryl Dunye's The Watermelon Woman (1996) is a mockumentary meant to show the importance of finding your culture if it isn't well represented. in the film, Cheryl is looking to find information on a Black actress from the 30s under the alias of Watermelon Woman. as she studies about her to create a documentary, she learns that not many people know about Black figures in cinema from the early years of Hollywood. while finding pieces about the Watermelon Woman for her project, she also finds love with a woman named Diana (Guinevere Turner).

i appreciate the message that pairs with this film because it is essential to know about your background and where you come from, but the way it is represented here is quite dull. you can tell that Dunye tried her hardest to make this an impactful flick with the dialogue and ending, but the tone is too quiet. The Watermelon Woman (1996) says so much while also saying nothing. it doesn't strive to be different or tell a story to its audience that truly means something. the storyline has a few lessons within it that match the meaning of this picture but they aren't discussed enough to the point where the viewers understand the intentions until Dunye verbally says them. i hate to say it, but this picture is pretty aimless.

this had been on my watchlist for a while so it hurts to say that i didn't enjoy this one, though i should've known i wouldn't have been the biggest fan of this. whenever a movie holds a high rating i never end up liking it as much as others so honestly, this is no surprise to me. i believe that Dunye is a talented director and she has better in store than this. i can see her potential so i'd be more than willing to check out her other works because The Watermelon Woman (1996) was not for me!

Sugar & Spice (2001) is your typical cheerleader film with a little twist that leads the bunch of girls into trouble. Diane (Marley Shelton) is captain of the A-squad cheerleading team at her high school and is dating the football captain named Jack (James Marsden). when Diane finds out she is pregnant and breaks the news to her parents, they don't take it well leaving Jack & Diane to raise the child on their own with little to no money. after deciding that a job wouldn't be enough to pay bills for their new home and child, Diane and her cheer squad form the idea that they should rob a bank in the name of friendship and ing one another.

what makes Sugar & Spice (2001) better than most high school cheerleading flicks is that the humor isn't too corny and the storyline isn't completely idiotic. usually, these sorts of movies consist of boy-crazed teen girls competing against another cheer team that is an hour too long, but Sugar & Spice (2001) knows its place. while this movie does have a character that doesn't like the cheer team, it plays wonderfully in the end and isn't too lengthy. the movie runs at a reasonable pace and always has the audience's attention. i didn't check the runtime once while watching this, so to say the least i enjoyed this movie. i wasn't irritated by this at any point and found myself engaged with the story which was quite surprising, but still, this isn't anything golden in my eyes.

we all know this isn't the perfect movie, but it's not horrible. it's a high school film with a few aspects that make it slightly better than the rest. i do see myself revisiting this flick, but only with family/friends who haven't seen it for a good laugh. besides that, this is an average movie with its moments, but it's nice to see that i liked this more than i thought i would.

without a doubt, Players (2024) caters to millennials. i mean the storyline and characters say it all. Mack's (Gina Rodriguez) unbearable personality and cluelessness that the film's ending has millennial written all over it along with her friend group's sense of humor. the whole "play" piece in this movie was a little corny to me and i couldn't help but cringe every time they helped each other score dates for the night. i also found Nick (Tom Ellis), Mack's crush, to be annoying and cocky way before it was revealed that his looks didn't match his personality, and that's the problem with Players (2024). it is too childish and predictable, even for its target audience who many might assume would enjoy this.

i could see everything occurring from a mile away before it was shown to the viewers. i won't lie, the ending was cute, but way too cliche. the pacing also doesn't aid the plot that lacks entertaining moments. i checked the clock more times than i can count on both hands while watching this and that is never something that should happen when reviewing a movie as short as this one. i knew this wouldn't be up to my standards but i thought it could hold my interest for longer than thirty minutes. the first act wasn't the best but the second made up for it just before the third came about and screwed everything. the last thirty minutes of this flick is a complete bore.

i always try to give these Netflix original films the benefit of the doubt but they're never worth sympathizing for in the end. Netflix is good for releasing films that are wonderfully produced and shot but are as dull as an English lecture. maybe i could be too young for this one, or this is genuinely a bad movie. i don't know why i watched this anyway considering that i'm not the biggest fan of Rodriguez. Players (2024) is a total waste of time and money. booooo!

Watched on Saturday February 24, 2024.

excuse me but why is Tyler Perry still allowed to make movies? my grandma threw this on as a joke and i figured why not her? we ended up laughing at this film for the entire runtime. the plot is all over the place and it is clear that Perry was inspired by other famous movies and tried to throw in pieces from those flicks into Mea Culpa (2024) but it just didn't work. this movie stars Kelly Rowland as Mea, a lawyer defending Zyair (Trevante Rhodes) who had been accused of murdering his girlfriend. defending Zyair was no problem until Mea's brother-in-law decided to go against her in the case, which in the long run led to scandals of cheating, jealousy, and unforgivable lies.

Mea Culpa (2024) is supposed to be some sort of erotic thriller as Zyair is "painted" (get it?) as a hypersexual attractive man that no one can resist but it all comes off so poorly. the audience can't help but laugh whenever he brings up how much Mea loves him as she stares into space. the dialogue is also horrible and doesn't help any bit of this movie to be better. the random songs thrown in where they don't fit add to the list of reasons why this film is utter trash. the only thing good about the storyline is that it is so bad that it's entertaining. besides that, i really don't understand why this needed to be made. the acting is terrible and there's too much going on at once.

the movie begins with so much drama that you can tell it's written by Perry. his films always start on a high note just for the middle to be filled with garbage and the end to be a complete shit show. i knew not to expect much from this so once again, i got a good laugh and that was all i really needed. i won't lie though, Walk on By made this movie for me.

trashy cinema is back babyyyy

A Summer's Tale (1996) is visually stunning and obtained the groundwork to be an interesting film though it somehow ended up as an attractive snooze-fest. the visuals keep the audience glued to this story of complete nonsense and pointless drama. in the final scenes, we learn that all of the trouble Gaspard (Melvil Poupaud) went through to keep the interest of all three women was for nothing. the constant complaining about being a "lonely" guy who never gets women turns out to be true, so once you get through the first forty minutes of him explaining that to Margot (Amanda Langlet), you can end your watch there.

this flick is filled with useless dialogue that makes the audience's eyelids as heavy as a one-hundred-pound barbell. i tried my hardest to stay focused on this as long as i could before i went to take a two-hour break from this. i had thirty minutes left before my break but i knew i had to step away from this or else i would've fallen asleep on it and woke up with zero motivation to finish it. hearing Gaspard nag about Lena (Aurélia Nolin) when she obviously wanted nothing to do with him got annoying after a while. Gaspard toying with the other two women's feelings was also irritating and made the watch feel longer than it should've.

i thought i'd love this film but i was wrong. there's too much talking just for it to add up to nothing. if you like realistic films that follow characters doing normal day-to-day activities, then you'll love A Summer's Tale (1996). if you're like me and want to see real drama, you should stay far away from this mess. i'm sure better French films about multiple romances exist. another short review for a long boring movie!

🤍 my 500th review 🤍
at first, i was going to say that this film is controversial, but in reality, it isn't because we all know this is morally wrong. there are plenty of movies about teacher-student relationships, but the majority of them call it out as the disgusting act that it is unlike Miller's Girl (2024) which glamorizes the foul and predatory deed. the movie focuses on Cairo Sweet (Jenna Ortega) and her teacher Jonathan Miller (Martin Freeman) who begins seducing her after their first interaction yet Cairo is the one labeled as the initiator of the relationship. what makes this even worse is that all of Jonathan's colleagues and wife enable him and normalize his clearly inappropriate relationship with Cairo up until the end when they all flip on him. 

though Cairo made her own decisions that may have contributed to her relationship with Mr. Miller, they were all in response to things he had done before her such as flirting and asking her to him in events after school hours. Winnie (Gideon Adlon) is also another enabler here as she pushes Cairo to go after her teacher though in the end, Cairo still looks like the maniac trying to get "revenge" on Mr. Miller when he deserved to be fired more than anything. the insufferable dialogue scripted into this film tries to hide the pervertedness of this story but it only highlights it in big bold letters. i knew from the start i wouldn't like this, but this is terrible. i thought the writers would've gone down the path of showing its viewers the dangers of teacher-student relationships but it does the complete opposite.

Miller's Girl (2024) makes Ortega look like a joke and the writers of this picture sick individuals. there is not enough money you could pay me to think that that this isn't inspired by a 2017 Wattpad story some teenage girl made. the only good feature of this movie would be the production as it doesn't look cheap. the budget for this film was high, but boy was the money wasted. if i wanted to watch a Lifetime movie i would've gone downstairs and put one on the TV. what a huge yikes for everyone involved in this!

P.S. also why tf did their accents keep changing? most annoying aspect of this film besides the score!

“I’m not going. You don’t pick vegetables in the winter. I’m no fool. Bye!” — Lilja (Oksana Akinshina) , Lilja-4-ever (2002)

Lilja-4-ever (2002) punches its audience right in the heart. its gutwrenching story leaves you wanting more for the film's main character Lilja (Oksana Akinshina) & and her close friend Volodya (Artyom Bogucharsky). Lilja is a sixteen-year-old girl living in Russia with her mother. her mother meets a man who takes her to America, leaving Lilja alone at home and under the care of her aunt who has no sympathy for her feelings. all of these acts of betrayal lead Lilja down a path of tragedy as she trusts the wrong people out of sadness and anger. this lands her in the middle of Sweden where she'd been given a job much different than the one she was promised by her "boyfriend" Andrei (Pavel Ponomaryov).

the storytelling in this film is easily the best aspect of this picture. it helps develop Lilja's emotions, therefore the viewers are able to understand how she feels in the current moment and almost experience said emotion themselves just from watching a screen. the camerawork adds the same effect with the smooth pans and zoom-ins that usually i'd find annoying but somehow pairs well with the tone and deep themes here. religion lies heavy within the plot and is represented well so it is never neglected or forgotten about which i loved. Lilja is often shown praying and takes a piece of religious artwork with her as she moves from home to home until she breaks it, losing faith after everything she'd gone through. seeing her throw the painting was emotional and an unforgettable turning point in this movie.

Lilja & Volodya's scenes in the last ten minutes are quite tear-inducing as well, yet beautiful. despite how much pain both of them had to endure in their short lifetimes, they are now at peace and no longer have to stress about family issues or being put in traumatic situations. though my heart may have been stepped on about twelve times throughout my watch, i adore this film. it unapologetically speaks on crucial topics at loud volumes. Lilja-4-ever (2002) isn't for the weak but should be seen by the ones who can watch it. it has a lot to say and teaches you to never confide in others out of vulnerability.

Juliet (Sydney Sweeney) & Vivian (Madison Iseman) are sisters who grew up around music and play piano together. the two attend a school that caters to performing arts, and though they have many similarities, Juliet & Vivian differ in the areas of musical talent and favoritism. Vivian is known as a talented pianist and is loved by many around her. in contrast, Juliet is just there, upsetting her to the point where Juliet begins competing with her sister at school with the help of a notebook obtained by a former student with sinister thoughts and feelings.

for as bad as Nocturne (2020) was, it wasn't boring, so i'll note that as a plus, but this is a poorly thought-out film. certain parts of this story were creative such as the notebook and the way it connected with Juliet, but others made me think this is a lousy picture. it doesn't apply the same unique qualities as the notebook piece to the actual storyline. the obsessed artist trope could've been represented better instead of throwing in random scenes of Juliet crying every now and then whenever her sister advanced in something or someone downplaying her skills. i also thought the drama in this was weak and the only thing saving it from being absolutely terrible was the acting performances.

don't judge me, but i believe that the cast here is extremely talented, minus the actors who played the teachers. majority of the cast who played as students here gave great performances. i loved Sweeney's act as she was probably the most experienced actress here, but Iseman didn't do too badly either. i thought her act was convincing and kept the movie flowing as it should have, though i will it that without Sweeney's presence, i would've turned this off after the first ten minutes. if you're looking to watch this for Sydney, do it. any other reason, watch another music-based movie about an artist yearning for perfection. i'm sure you'll find one.

there are plenty of films all about what sharks lurk in the water, pushing its audience away from oceans, but Night Swim (2024) goes much further, telling the tale of a haunted pool full of evilness and wishes you'd make huge sacrifices for. while the description of this movie sounds creative, it is far from that. Night Swim (2024) is not only one of the most cliche horror films ever but its storyline is overused. whenever a horror movie starts with a family moving into a house with a sketchy feel, know you're in for some classic garbage.

once the move-in scene happened i was prepared for all of the loud noises and sounds of glass breaking to "scare" the viewers. i love horror films with genuine eerie auras. i don't need to watch a so-called "scary" movie just for it to sound as if i'm walking through a haunted house. i actually want to be frightened instead of annoyed. i will say that the family in this film was smart about noticing the faults of the pool, but it took them longer than it should've to try and put an end to the spirits attached to it. the pacing of this movie is also terrible because there is only so much a person can take watching a movie about a killer pool. i mean doesn't that just sound idiotic?

my first thought was that this would've been better off as a short film, so finding out that this was originally a four-minute picture made a lot of sense to me. i wish Night Swim (2024) would've stayed that way because to make a full-length movie wasn't necessary. the only good aspect of this film is the recording. as for the camerawork, i have no complaints. everything else was horrid and i'd never care to see this again. i like that i'm watching more new releases so i don't lack in stats this year, but i sure am paying for it.

Laura Chinn's tribute to her brother Max Chinn is titled Suncoast (2024), named after the hospice center where he ed away. in the film, Laura is played by Nico Parker, who is identified as Doris. Doris is very introverted, but with her mother Kristine (Laura Linney) being away and watching her brother Max (Cree Kawa), Doris hosts a party at her empty home, opening a door that pairs her with friends who show her how to be a (stereotypical) teenager. back at the hospice living center, Doris meets Paul (Woody Harrelson), who educates her on the values of life and to always cherish it.

i like Suncoast (2024) for what it is on the surface. it shows its audience to appreciate the people around you while you can and that there should be no rush to grow up, making this a suitable flick for teens and adults. on the inside, this is a much weaker picture. it dances around its themes and is too afraid to converse about religion despite how heavy it lies within the main problem of the story about death and where people go afterward. i also disliked the casting options considering how random they were. Parker & Linney belonged here, but as for everyone else, why? the Nickelodeon star was already enough, but the social media "influencer"? her performance was terrible and ruined a couple of pieces of this film with the cringe-worthy dialogue she was given.

you can tell that the writers lacked in the conversational aspect of this film because the teenagers talk strangely. some of the conversations held here are weird enough to make you either shake your head or say "huh?" out loud. revising the script would've been in this movie's best interest and further improved the watch experience. in all, i loved Chinn's story and found it moving, but i needed more emotion from this. Doris' change in opinion on her relationship with her brother happened far too quickly, throwing the realistic feel this movie had in the beginning out of the window and rushing something that should've happened more naturally. Suncoast (2024) feels like a rough draft of what could've been a truly successful film.

the marketing for this film was insane which pushed me to want to go see it in theaters. though i never got the chance to, i didn't mind viewing it at home today because who doesn't love good old Sydney Sweeney? i couldn't up on another one of her flicks, and since the storyline caught my interest i knew i'd find something to like within it besides her. the film is focused on Bea (Sydney Sweeney) & Ben (Glenn Powell) who meet in a coffee shop and fall for each other. they decide to spend the night together and things go wrong, creating tension between them. the tension continues to rise once the two discover that both of their families are good friends with one another, forcing Bea & Ben to fix their bond on a wedding trip.

for what this movie offers, it's not bad, but totally could be better. Anyone But You (2023) is fast-paced up until the third act which is when this movie starts to slow down. i became disinterested by then because of the snail movement in the story along with Bea & Ben who are supposed to be the "power couple" of this movie. after the hook-up, the two become incredibly annoying. i never screamed "Get together already!" so many times at a screen before. they both go back and forth with their exes and then to each other which becomes very tiring. thankfully, the humor saves this, but not enough for me to forget about how insufferable the couple is here despite their decent chemistry.

seeing the couple finally choose their sides in the end was satisfying. i also loved the end credits which i am glad i stayed for because they answered a couple of questions i had after reaching the end of this film. not to mention, the soundtrack is pretty good even with the songs that i don't like being a part of it. all of the redeemable qualities here make Anyone But You (2023) a mediocre, but enjoyable film that takes its audience on a rollercoaster with unforgettable peaks.

movies 4 the girls 
˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ note ; these aren’t all of my favorite titles

• Thirteen
• Eileen
• Jawbreaker
• Anyone But You
• Cruel Intentions
• Palo Alto
• Spring Breakers
• Buffalo '66
• Freaky Friday
• Drop Dead Gorgeous

...plus 22 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

my beloved films
˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ note ; these aren’t ranked in any special order

• Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
• Dog Day Afternoon
• The Shining
• Priscilla
• Pulp Fiction
• The Dark Knight
• The Florida Project
• Gia
• American Beauty
• Showgirls

...plus 6 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. GoodFellas
2. Taxi Driver
3. The Irishman
4. Raging Bull
5. Casino
6. The King of Comedy
7. Mean Streets
8. The Last Temptation of Christ
9. Shutter Island
10. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

...plus 5 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Scarface
2. Carlito's Way
3. The Untouchables
4. Blow Out
5. Mission: Impossible
6. Hi, Mom!
7. Dressed to Kill
8. Sisters
9. ion