4v291o

truly lives up to its title!

best example of “pure popcorn fun” I’ve seen recently

feels like a test run for The Nice Guys. Shane Black is the only writer to pull off those 4th wall breaks without it being cringey.

A little long.

Holds up! That ending still hits all these years later. Perfect conclusion to the trilogy and I’m so happy nothing happens after this 😊

watchable, yet a bit flavorless. George and Brad’s dynamic didn’t really kick in until the very end, and I wish we got more of that throughout the rest of the movie. 

If this came out 20 years ago, it would’ve made $200 million easily. Now it’s completely buried on streaming and was instantly forgotten. Movies with this kind of star power need to get back to theaters.

well, I just found my favorite Tim Burton film

a multi-faceted exploration of the artistic pursuit and a celebration of the abnormal. I’ve always had a soft spot for “so-bad-it’s-good” movies and Ed Wood beautifully shows the sincerity that’s often behind them. Reading the trivia for the film, it’s clear Burton depicted an incredibly idealized version of Wood’s life, but I’ve never been one to think a biopic’s job is to accurately recount the events of the subject’s life. Rather, to use their story as a basis to explore something resonant about their spirit, and I thought this did so wonderfully.

I’ve had many nightmares with the exact same vibe.

legendary “Blue (Da Bee Dee)” needle drop to open the movie but it’s diminishing returns after that.

Just walked out of a packed theater for a new comedy movie that was genuinely hilarious; the homies and I already quoting our favorite lines on the way back to the car. Watching Tim Robinson in this must be similar to watching Steve Martin in The Jerk back in the day. Life is good right now.

can Matthew Libatique shoot more Marvel movies pls

Absolute classic

satisfied my craving for a low-stakes, open and shut Marvel movie that felt independent from the rest of the franchise, and just focused on telling its own story. Florence Pugh and David Harbour are the standouts with their dynamic being the strongest aspect, and at times I kinda just wished this was a father-daughter story. Also this looks like an actual movie! Still a lot of grey scale but at least there was some contrast. 

however, despite this being a course correction for MCU’s filmmaking, the story didn’t leave much of an impact. Kinda felt like a big filler episode. Outside of Yelena and Alexei, I don’t feel much of a connection to any of the characters. If this is Marvel’s next team up, then I hate to say I’m pretty underwhelmed by this ensemble. lacks the group chemistry and character insight that the OG Avengers or GOTG had. 

A lot of movies are going therapy-core, where everything is a metaphor for emotional trauma and you just gotta hug it out to defeat the big baddy. I thought it was contained mostly to modern horror films, but it’s starting to creep into other genres and personally I find it rather redundant. That being said, the climax felt like a wet blanket. I enjoyed when it became a Nightmare on Elm Street movie though. 

kinda wish this was the one to win me back! Still hopeful for Fantastic Four!

“Hahahahahahahahaha…summertime.”

certified classic at this point. all-timer hangout movie and a great reminder that no matter how old you get, keep your buddies close. we can all learn something from the Sandman.

This does a great job showing what it’s like to be unemployed in LA. The car caravan bit was good, but how the fuck did they all find parking right next to each other in Los Feliz on a weekend night??

this movie asks the ultimate dramatic question: what will these friends do when they have all summer to hang out and have fun?

What I learned: the world is run by a secret society of autistic children.

Seeing this back on the big screen felt like a full circle moment for me. This was one of the first movies I distinctly seeing as a child; my 6th birthday back in ‘05. My parents told me some time later that they thought I would be traumatized by the Mustafar fight, but I just being absolutely entranced by the grand scope, incredible music, and iconic imagery. Definitely a formative moment that sparked my fascination with movies. Now I’m an adult living in LA, chasing that Hollywood dream, and this movie still has the same impact it did 20 years ago. That’s something special.

Round 2 at the Chinese Theater! Got to see those aspect ratio changes in all their glory. Not on 70mm tho :(

A rewatch made me appreciate the positives even more, however some moments still don’t totally land for me. Regardless, for obvious reasons I am rooting for this to succeed. A really special film during a bleak time for cinema.

love humanist stories like this. one of the most raw, honest depictions of addiction I think I’ve seen. however the craziest part was seeing that 20th Century logo at the beginning. imagine them putting out a movie like this today lol

another great addition to the “one crazy night” genre

I have a feeling this is gonna play even better on a rewatch!

if i was smoking as much as Joaquin in this movie i would have absolutely no idea what the fuck was going on

It’s been years since I’ve seen this and rewatching left me absolutely floored. I’ll go on a limb and say this is an under appreciated Spielberg masterpiece, and that is a hill I’ll die on. As a 9/11 reactionary piece, this hits so much harder now than it probably did back in ‘05. The ripples of xenophobia and paranoia are only growing stronger, and this film perfectly captures the downfall of American society, or at least the image of it that had been slowly crafted throughout the 20th century. 

And outside of all that, it is just an absolute thrill watching how Spielberg choreographs a camera. That cellar scene…oh my god.

a movie so baffling and misguided it needs to be seen to be believed

really enjoyable yet instantly forgettable, and there’s something really refreshing about that. we need more movies like this.

“Well, I’m ready.”

“For what?”

“The rest of it.” 

fucking beautiful

feels like the masc counterpart to The Edge of Seventeen! does a great job capturing what it’s like being on the cusp of adulthood: simultaneously hopeful and arrogant. The main character can be challenging but there’s something really honest about that. Brought back a lot of memories of being that age. Really enjoyed this!

this movie is one giant “hell yeah” from me

Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden cashed in their Marvel paychecks to make this and it was so fucking worth it

effective in creating an immersive depiction of war; the film allows the audience to draw their own conclusions and I appreciate that. Absolutely torturous sound design (complimentary) that really brings you into this awful environment with these characters. can’t say this is a holistic dissection of the effects of war, but I don’t think that was the intention here. it wants to show the audience one singular, horrific experience straight from the source (co-director and veteran Ray Mendoza) and for that it succeeds.

Cozy! Happy to this in theaters, but this would also go so hard at home under a blanket with a hot cup of tea.

The ending should be taught in screenwriting classes!

wish i could’ve seen this with my buddies back in high school and been a part of the meme culture but I’m afraid those days are behind me. this was just really sad.

it’s the best Disney movie

Crazy a Bay Area movie releases the same weekend I’m in town!

I had so much fun but I’m also incredibly biased. I can’t imagine how someone who isn’t from the bay would react to this. It’s filled with deep cuts for locals and is tonally all over the place, so it’s definitely for a niche audience. I fit the demographic this would appeal to so I don’t have anything to complain about!! The cast is great and features so many local legends, and I just love the fun, creative vibe throughout! A total love letter to the East Bay which was the perfect watch while I’m visiting :)

and and AND the Warriors got the dub over the Lakers tonight! Seriously couldn’t be more perfect

Due to some unforeseen family things that have come up recently, I’m in an emotionally vulnerable place and was craving a dose of Zemeckis saccharine. Sure there’s plenty of dad jokes, odd historical references that don’t amount to anything, and some uncanny de-aging, but amongst all of that is a poignant exploration of time and the significance a place can have over the course of a life that I found quite moving. 

Had a good cry to this one. Can’t imagine many will be as affected by its corny sentimentality, but it’s kinda exactly what I needed right now.

this is what conservative men daydream about while they lay in bed twisting their beard hairs and wiggling their toes one by one

35mm at the Los Feliz. No other film better captures the teen experience imo.

2nd time seeing this in a theater! My first time was the summer of 2017. I was in a similar place as Brad at the beginning of this film: cocky, relishing in my youth and crushing a minimum wage gig. Out of the blue, a guy I went to high school with hit me up and asked to catch a movie. He was a nice guy; very bookish (took all AP classes and was about to go to a fancy college for a degree that’s actually useful). I guess he was trying to make up for all the social time he missed out on in high school because he was too locked in on his studies. He didn’t know much about movies so he asked me to pick. I saw our local Century was playing this and I immediately took the chance to introduce this guy to one of my favorite movies. Long story short, he seemed pretty rattled by the amount of sex and drugs. He didn’t have much to say afterwards, we parted ways and we haven’t spoken since. He’s probably making 10x more than me. Hope he’s doing well.

Personally found this to be incredibly uninteresting but this kind of flick is not my thing. So much of the plot unfolds through dry dialogue scenes set in sterile corporate environments. Just didn’t care about anything that was happening.

Those pro-mist filters were going crazy tho.

I love baseball and I love this movie. 

Giants are 1-0, this is our year!

incredibly heartbreaking and poignant. gotta be honest, I wasn’t a fan of the editing. some of the points of emphasis were needlessly sensationalized which felt inappropriate for such a delicate story. Could be a personal preference (but like c’mon, add some cross fades to the audio cuts pls). I’m glad a friend got to make this with the inclusion of loved ones, because otherwise Netflix would’ve made a 3-episode docies featuring AI-generated clips of Zachary accusing his mom of killing his dad or something.

Yeah this hits.

$320 million.

I dig the spooky vibes. Another movie that would be perfect to have on in the background of a Halloween party.

Made me really happy to see these characters on the big screen! Just a wholesome, fun time!

I have work pretty early tomorrow and as I was cleaning up after dinner Tori started this at like 10:45pm…and what I’m gonna say no to one of my favorite movies?? Hell, I would’ve watched the extended version. 

Steve Zahn is one dynamite ing role away from an oscar nomination, mark my words.

This is what working at America’s Got Talent is like.

Had an edible and I was locked tf in.

The Muppets belong on the big screen. So inspiring.

This is really fun! Not the total knockout I was hoping for, but a great time regardless. The cast is outstanding and brings such a chaotic energy that’s so infectious. I was smiling ear to ear for most of this and that’s all that matters even though I have some slight qualms.

Grabbed dinner with some great friends beforehand and then hit up a hookah lounge afterwards (my first time). It felt great to have a night out, it made me feel nostalgic for when going to the movies felt like an event. I’ve gotten so used to booking a ticket on the AMC app, heading straight there and then going straight home, and going to the theater has lost a bit of its charm for me. Tonight reminded me how special the theatrical experience is. Not just because I enjoyed the movie, but it gave me to an excuse to spend some time with people I love :)  

Also Anamaria Vartolomei…call me

In many ways, haunting. The lengths people will go to hide their wrongdoings. Another movie that shows the dangers of not communicating your innermost desires.

I love the behind-the-scenes of news broadcasting so I was entertained by that alone. I understand the film’s neutrality regarding the divisive politics of the events within the film and the focus on the moral implications of journalism, but it still felt like this was missing an emotional centerpiece that would’ve drawn me into the action on a more visceral level. We get a small moment at the end with John Magaro’s character but it’s too little too late. Kinda thought this lost steam in the back half for this reason.

realizing Sean Baker has a formula he relies on for a lot of his films: character from a marginalized community hustles to make ends meet, usually over the course of a day, and at one point a character vomits (seemingly for real). But it works every time because it perfectly captures the pursuit to survive under capitalism. brutal, raw, and totally unglamorous. it’s so easy to feel Ming’s struggle despite only knowing a few key details about his background. 

would love Brandon Winchester to watch this and rank all the customers Ming interacts with.

• Go
• After Hours
• Project X
• Dazed and Confused
• Miracle Mile
• Superbad
• Can't Hardly Wait
• Before Sunrise
• American Graffiti
• Die Hard

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Iron Claw
2. The Holdovers
3. Killers of the Flower Moon
4. Anatomy of a Fall
5. Past Lives
6. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
8. May December
9. Priscilla
10. BlackBerry

1. Challengers
2. A Real Pain
3. Thelma
4. Dìdi (弟弟)
5. Nickel Boys
6. Saturday Night
7. The Substance
8. It's What's Inside
9. The Wild Robot
10. Sasquatch Sunset

films I’m keeping on tab to show my friends when it’s my turn to pick for movie night

• Cool Runnings
• Emergency
• High Fidelity
• Freaky
• Duplex
• Dope
• Non-Stop
• The Big Picture
• Rent-A-Pal
• Bats

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

movies where the main character wears a cool jacket

• Beverly Hills Cop
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• Top Gun: Maverick
• Back to the Future
• A Moment of Romance
• The Fall Guy
• MaXXXine

Movies I always try to watch around spooky season, whatever gets me in the vibe for my favorite holiday!

• Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
• Beetlejuice
• A Nightmare on Elm Street
• A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
• Hubie Halloween
• Monster House
• Black Christmas
• Little Shop of Horrors
• Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Movies I liked a lot more as a kid

• The Goonies
• The Sandlot
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• The Muppets
• The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
• Unaccompanied Minors
• The Cat in the Hat
• The Amazing Spider-Man
• Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Siblings are overrated!! More only child cinematic representation!

• Inside Out
• Blast from the Past
• Eighth Grade
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
• Spider-Man
• Superman
• Spirited Away
• Kiki's Delivery Service
• Super 8

...plus 7 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Bowfinger
• The Player
• Ed Wood
• The Artist
• Brigsby Bear
• Super 8
• The Disaster Artist
• Big Fat Liar
• Boogie Nights
• Tropic Thunder

...plus 7 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Spider-Man 2

   Just classic Spidey! This movie makes me feel like a kid again

2. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

   The perfect tribute to the character

3. Spider-Man

   A pretty average movie but a classic nonetheless

4. Spider-Man 3

   HOT TAKE read my review for context (spoiler: this one is much better than you think it is)

5. Spider-Man: Far From Home

   Ton of fun and they NAILED Mysterio!

6. The Amazing Spider-Man

   Takes me back

7. Spider-Man: No Way Home

   It’s a lot of fun, but very messy and trades in storytelling for fan service.

8. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

   way too overhyped. Great animation but I can’t believe I’m the only one who finds that third act a complete mess. 

9. Spider-Man: Homecoming

   Yeah yeah I know my opinion sucks but this movie is so lame

10. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

    OOF

1. Rocky II
2. Creed II
3. Creed III
4. Creed
5. Rocky
6. Rocky III
7. Rocky Balboa
8. Rocky V
9. Rocky IV

1. The Fabelmans
2. Aftersun
3. RRR
4. Avatar: The Way of Water
5. X

   Tied for 4th

6. Pearl

   Tied for 4th

7. Everything Everywhere All at Once
8. Top Gun: Maverick
9. Barbarian
10. Turning Red

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

   By far the most fun of the franchise. A classic 80s horror film with a great cast of characters and really fun kills!

2. New Nightmare

   Very good legacy sequel that breathes new life into the franchise. This feels more like a psychological thriller than a horror film, and because of that Freddy doesn’t get as much time to shine, but it’s still a great spooky flick that serves as both an homage and a critique of the franchise.

3. A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

   A really fun follow up to Dream Warriors. Reny Harlin did a great job directing, bringing so many visually dynamic sequences that create some of the most memorable kills of the franchise.

4. A Nightmare on Elm Street

   Gotta respect the original. Isn’t my favorite just because the ending feels really rushed and some ideas are left unexplored, but it’s still such an inventive horror film especially for the time.

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child

   You definitely start to feel the franchise becoming worn out by this one, but it’s still a lot of fun and has some pretty creative horror sequences!

6. A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge

   A bit messy and doesn’t feel as fresh as the original, but the (unintended) subtext is what makes this interesting. There’s also some pretty damn gnarly practical effects that I have to respect!

7. Freddy vs. Jason

   The human characters suck, but the Freddy vs Jason stuff is actually pretty awesome. It lives up to its name, that’s for sure.

8. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare

   I get the argument that this was going for a more comedic approach but it still kinda sucks. Freddy’s makeup is god awful in this.

9. A Nightmare on Elm Street

   No surprise that the cash grab remake is the worst one. ittedly there are some pretty interesting ideas to put a creative spin on the story, but the filmmaking is so dull and lifeless that nothing comes into fruition.

1. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives

   This one fucking rules. Stuck to the formula we know and love but added some depth to it while also being very self aware. This movie knew what it was and had a blast with it

2. Friday the 13th Part 2

   A vibrant cast of characters and probably the best final girl of the franchise. Does a great job picking up where the first one left off and Jason’s motivation is the most believable and tangible in this one

3. Friday the 13th

   Gotta give credit to the one that started it all. Has such a charming indie horror vibe that makes it endlessly enjoyable despite some cheesiness

4. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

   This and part III are pretty interchangeable in this ranking. I think what makes this one better than 3 (if at all) is the duality between our new group of teens and a small family (spearheaded by a great child performance from Corey Feldman). It’s kinda a breath of fresh air since it deviates a bit from the typical “Friday the 13th” formula

5. Friday the 13th Part III

   I read in the iMDB trivia that the actors felt the filmmakers were more preoccupied with coming up with 3D gags rather than actually directing them and it kinda shows

6. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning

   The last third of this movie saves this from being a complete waste of time. Reggie fuckin rules

7. Freddy vs. Jason
8. Jason X

   Jason in space/the future? Why the hell not

9. Friday the 13th

   The kills were the best part. Other than that this feels like a big budget fan film and is only a shell of what the originals were

10. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday

    With a more experienced director this could have been awesome. Apparently there were a ton of reshoots and on-set errors which is why it’s so messy. Duke Creighton could have been one of the most badass movie characters!! Probably the one in the franchise with the most wasted potential

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

good for the soul

• Father of the Bride
• Father of the Bride Part II
• Sleepless in Seattle
• Big
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• School of Rock
• Home Alone
• When Harry Met Sally...
• Fantastic Mr. Fox
• My Neighbor Totoro

...plus 7 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

I always get asked what my favorite comedy films are but I always forget so this list is gonna help me keep track

• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• The Big Lebowski
• School of Rock
• Fast Times at Ridgemont High
• Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
• American Pie
• Bowfinger
• Planes, Trains and Automobiles
• The Blues Brothers
• The Nice Guys

...plus 4 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Big Lebowski

1. Mission: Impossible III

   May not have the best action, but it’s the only MI where I feel something for Ethan

2. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

   How to build tension 101

3. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

   So slick and so fun! Although Ethan is hilariously indestructible in this one

4. Mission: Impossible – Fallout

   The best action in the entire franchise but that unfortunately can’t save a rather messy screenplay

5. Mission: Impossible

   This was a noir! That’s so cool! Kinda boring but still cool!

6. Mission: Impossible II

   This one can be skipped

Not including Solo and The Clone Wars because I choose to ignore their existence

1. The Empire Strikes Back

   I said it in my review during my December marathon of the Skywalker saga that this may not be the best Star Wars film, but it is my personal favorite. It’s the movie that made me want to make movies

2. Star Wars

   The best Star Wars film objectively. Storytelling 101, absolute classic that never gets old

3. Star Wars: The Last Jedi

   Take away the Rose/Finn subplot (honestly with some writing adjustments it could’ve worked) and this is one of the best blockbusters of the past decade. Rian Johnson had the balls to take risks and it may be the last time Disney will ever let the franchise get “creative” ever again

4. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

   Pretty phenomenal movie except for the fact it’s a prequel

5. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

   Pure popcorn fun

6. Return of the Jedi

   Fuck the ewoks

7. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

   A tad forgettable but a pretty unique take on the universe as a whole. If the last 30 minutes were the entire movie this would be top 3

8. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

   Messy messy messy! The most disappointing Star Wars film

9. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

   Snoozefest! Although the last act is a ton of fun and I stand by my word that Jake Lloyd gives the best performance in the whole film

10. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

    Outside the visuals, this is the one Star Wars film that has pretty much no redeeming qualities

these are movies that most people dislike but I totally dig. I’m not saying I absolutely LOVE these movies, but I like them enough to not be able to understand why they get so much hate

• The Cat in the Hat

  Honestly, I think this film is much smarter than people give it credit for. While all the other Seuss adaptations are shameless cash grabs, I think this film is self-aware and makes fun of the fact that it is a shameless cash grab. It uses that mindset to parodize big Hollywood films and absorb itself in absurdist humor.

• Hook

  I still have no idea why people, including Spielberg himself, dislike this film. I think it's a totally fun flick with a lot of adventure and endearing characters.

• Home Alone 3

  Ok this movie shouldn't have existed in the first place, but if it HAD to have been made, this was best it could've been. It captures the same spirit of the previous two and actually correct some of the original's mistakes.

• The Benchwarmers

  I think everyone has a soft spot for this movie. It's just so dumb and completely absorbs itself in stupidity that you can't help but laugh

• The Room

  It's a masterpiece of bad cinema. I truly adore this film with all my heart

• Wet Hot American Summer

  I'm a firm believer that this is one of the most well written films I've ever scene. It breaks EVERY rule and its comedy is much more sophisticated than people may realize. You could argue this film is surrealist art

• Flatliners

  Not sure how people actually feel about this movie but I watched it in a class once and I was the only one who didn't hate it. I thought it was super original and had an interesting theme on the selfishness/cockiness of 20-somethings.

• Christmas with the Kranks

  I dunno I just think it's fun

• White House Down

  I think it was a fun popcorn flick and, frankly, I don't know why people saw this as a ripoff/worse version of Olympus Has Fallen.

• Rocky IV

  This film perfectly encapsulates the mindset of the Reagan-era in the most hilarious and over-the-top way.

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Movies I’ve seen in 2019 that were released in 2019, not ranked

• Fyre
• Fyre Fraud
• Escape Room
• The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
• Isn't It Romantic
• Happy Death Day 2U
• Paddleton
• How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
• Captain Marvel
• Us

...plus 43 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1.) U.S. release dates
2.) My star ratings aren’t relevant because a lot of those ratings are based on first impressions. This is my ranking after I’ve given each movie some thought and consideration

3.) honestly it’s not ranked on the specific qualities of the film, purely on my enjoyment with each one

1. Won't You Be My Neighbor?
2. Eighth Grade
3. Searching
4. BlacKkKlansman
5. Ready Player One
6. Paddington 2
7. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
8. First Reformed
9. Vice
10. Deadpool 2

...plus 48 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Are We Done Yet?

   it's number one because of Chuck played by John C. McGinley of Scrubs (2001-2010)

2. Are We There Yet?

   it's good but it doesn't have Chuck played by John C. McGinley of Scrubs (2001-2010)

These were the ones that I loved the most this past year.

• Baby Driver
• It
• Coco
• Get Out
• The Big Sick
• The Florida Project
• Lady Bird
• Star Wars: The Last Jedi
• Thor: Ragnarok
• The Shape of Water

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.