OSCARS 2025 - Academy Award for Best Picture (8/10), Academy Award for Best Cinematography (4/5), Academy Award for Best Production Design (4/5), Academy Award for Best Sound (3/5), Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (4/5)

Not my cup of tea at all (neither was the first), but both are undeniably very well made films by a director at the top of his game. My friend Benny put it well when he said that what makes this so great is the sincerity in his approach, I agree. 

Looks great, sounds great, well acted, well directed - but I’ll be honest, and I’ll get cooked for this I’m sure - I just don’t care about this movie at all. It’s good, I enjoyed it, but I can’t say I’ll think about it much ever again. 

I’m genuinely really confused at the critical reception to this placing it on a par with Star Wars - I cannot overstate how dramatically I reject that. Lord of The Rings too? Wow. Insane to me, absolutely insane. This actually has an higher average rating than Empire Strikes Back… Jesus. 

But sure, it’s a great film. Not for me clearly but I can see why this is one of the best picture nominees - it’s a spectacle.