A fine thriller, but there was something missing, and it wasn’t the girls. I’m not sure what it was, but this had all the ingredients to be a Sammie movie for the ages and just didn’t quite get there for me. 

I wanted to love it more it’s like having all the ingredients but not putting the right amount of them into the dish if that makes sense. Although I did like Judd’s performance and she’s not usually an actress I gravitate towards. 

It felt like an airport read turned into an airport movie, like The Snowman or something like that. Forgettable but edible. 

So many food metaphors, maybe I’m hungry. Also was hard not to keep singing the title like I was Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, I bet Flounder would’ve been a good sidekick in this.

First time viewer, but a long time lover of Egger’s work so I can’t believe I hadn’t seen this until now.

I don’t even know where to begin but I’ll start with the atmosphere of this movie, so creepy and filled with paganism and witchy vibes. I love how the supernatural element is consistent throughout the movie, but really lowkey and eerie almost as if it’s just crouched in the background.

But I was fucking blown away, both Mike and I were fully engrossed, no phones, and that’s saying something for an at home viewing when you’ve got as bad ADHD as I got. 

I love a movie with a quest, especially one where they have to obtain a mystical object. At times I felt like I was watching a Skyrim or Elder Scrolls adaptation, and man what I would give for Eggers to dabble into those worlds, it will never happen but a gal can dream.

Oh, and some Kings Dominion for The Losers’ Club crowd: Mike and I were like that Leo meme pointing at the TV when we saw Amleth and the crow for the first time, like welcome back Vikings era Randall Flagg, we missed ya.

Look out for our episode on the Nordic tale in a few weeks over on The Lady Killers with special returning guest Rachel Reeves.

Was it the best Mission Impossible entry? Absolutely not, not even close. But was it the worst Mission Impossible entry? Also no. To the people who are saying this one is worse than two, c’mon guys. C’mon. 

The first half was a little all over the place but once we got to the submarine shit I was in. Should it take that long for a viewer to be interested? Another no, but I’ve seen plenty of movies where I never became interested during the entire runtime so I gotta give it that. 

I also learned that the IMAX theater on City Walk is not the place for me! We were seated all the way in the middle with forty or so people on each side squished together which led to a little menty b, a refund, and a trip to another theater. The things I do for Tom….

You know what? Hell yeah, hell fucking yeah. That shit rocked. I know it doesn’t have tough competition but that was without a doubt the best the franchise has had to offer since the original.

See guys you can make a campy horror movie with good characters and a good screenplay, this is proof of it. I genuinely liked everyone and the story even more, love when things come together in a nice little bow at the end or should I say penny? 

And yeah all ya’ll were right the older brother is delish never thought I’d feel something watching someone spank a garbage truck tire but here we are.

The only indecent thing about this movie was the lack of sex scenes involving Robert Redford. I expected more from you Adrian Lyne, not this neutered dancing around it shit.

So very 90’s, reminded me Cruel Intentions, presenting sex and deviance without actually ever having to show it.

I didn’t even get to SEE the indecent proposal. Give the people what they want, Redford hanging dong (or at the very least one singular sex scene between the two!)

Dying that one of the first work place harassment movies featured a woman harassing a man. We love to see women in male dominated fields. 

My favorite part about this film was that Douglas’ character worked for like this virtual reality program so we got to see him go full Lawnmower Man, I suggest watching if only for that scene alone.

Felt like one long commercial for Now That’s What I Call the 80’s Volume 1, why focus on good storytelling when you can just drown their senses with the hits of the era. 

Do you think the costume designer just typed “80’s costume party” into the Amazon search engine and called it a day? My fucking god, we really are just putting anything out these days. 

To the directors of the world writing your screenplays we are good off the horror movies from this decade. Let’s do the 60’s anything I’m begging you if I see one more red bloody title card with synth music straight from the royalty free catalogue I’m gonna fucking lose it.

Also PLL: Origin Sin called and IT WANTS ITS PLOT BACK.

I watched this at the end of what I would consider to be a “bad day” so make of that what you will.

It’s a shame this is made up of CW level performances because the plot is somewhat interesting. I’m unfamiliar with the game but I’m sure I would’ve opened up every box and read every random note if I had because the whole “you turn into monster thing” was a welcome twist.

But since we are incapable of writing scripts with any weight to them and satisfied with dialogue that feels like the equivalent of an IKEA showroom as far as depth, these types of movies will never be more than just showing us carnage inflicted upon empty faceless bodies.

The story is there this could’ve been good we know that great video game adaptations exist they don’t all have to be a hollow second screen gore fest. Those deaths would mean a whole lot more say you cared about any of the characters, I couldn’t name a single one gun to my head.

To those of you who attempted to last the full night no phones, no bathroom breaks, in the theater watching this over and over again you’re far stronger than I will ever be.

This is one of those movies where I don’t really life without having it in it. 

Like I can’t really pin down the exact age I first watched it but like this and Interview with a Vampire, and honestly, I know it isn’t a vampire movie but Legends of the Fall too were all big movies for me as a kid, and really formative on my tastes going forward. 

We all know I love enemies to lovers, forbidden love, morally grey characters and they all deliver on that front, plus they all featured sex scenes that rocked my world. 

I might not exactly at what age I first watched it but I do have a vivid memory of having my grip TIGHT on the “previous channel” button on my remote whenever I watched it so if I heard the pitter patter of my mom’s feet I knew to change it back to Disney Channel or some shit.

But I think what I ire most about this movie is that it illustrates a time when studios were still willing to take risks. Yes they miss-cast a few actors, here’s looking at you Keanu. And don’t get me wrong I love Keanu as much as anyone but aside from his natural chemistry with Winona Ryder, and how easily we all connect with his loveably dopey face, his casting is a disaster. 

But they also cast perfectly for the other characters. And the practical effects were genius. I just love how gaudy everything is and lavish like even the flash of the red eyes in the red sky. It's so ridiculous but that’s why I love it, like the long scaly arm that seems to lift him up into thin air and drift him into the carriage, just chef’s kiss. 

I think the reason I was drawn to these stories as a crazy little kid and now an even crazier little adult, was because you wouldn’t need to use powers to get me to go to you in this scenario like the minute a mysterious hot count turns up i’m fucking cooked, I’m done, bye bye Jonathan. Catch you on the flippity flop.

But in all seriousness, I really do think that this movie doesn’t just belong to the horror genre, it belongs to the women who found strength in it. But most importantly it reminds us all of the importance of horror consumed by women, and that's always good for her horror for me.

Listen to The Lady Killers episode on the film featuring special guest Rachel Reeves when it drops June 5th.

I have to it something… I’ve never seen Mary Poppins. I know, I know. You might be thinking “Sammie, how can you call yourself a Disney adult if you haven’t seen Mary Poppins?” Well, that’s because I’m not, I’m a Disney enthusiast with a focus on their theme parks and everything they’ve done wrong with them the past 20 years. 

Now that we got that out of the way I can proceed with my review:

I actually really enjoyed this! We put it on to fall asleep to after doing the Walt Disney Studio Tour where it was filmed and I stayed up and watched the entire thing, and even proceeded to cry by the end.

Fair warning to those of you like me with dead dad daddy issues (try saying that ten times fast) it’s a fucking tearjerker, and the focus is on saving the author of Mary Poppins’ dad, who inspired the character Mr. Banks. Although he wasn’t the kite flying man you all know and love, but a messy problematic man who struggled to provide for his kids due to his alcoholism, and man I can relate. 

I guess I gotta see Mary Poppins now.

Man, I knew this movie was polarizing but seeing the reviews here really cemented it. But just as the phantom never got over Christine, I’ve never gotten over this movie. 

There would be no musical theater lover in me without it, no girl who signed up for her school choir and decided to do three years of it instead of a foreign language (look where that got me), and no girl who would always choose the villain over the main guy. Sorry Raoul, not even Patrick Wilson could make me choose you. 

I know every song, every beat, every inflection of a character’s voice from this film. It’s a spectacle whether you like the performances or not. I mean the sets alone give this movie an immediate three star rating AT LEAST.

They truly don’t make them like this anymore. The stunning gold pillars, the depths of the cellars and the Phantom’s labyrinthine lair, they all feel lived in and how could I forget the final blast of the Swarovski chandelier as it hit the ground. That’s cinema for me! Or more accurately that’s musical theater for me! 

Honorary mention to Emmy Rossum as the final boss of bi-sexual awakenings. I used to use this film and the Poseidon remake as “dream prompts” to fall asleep so I was either her or with her and man, those were the days. 

I saw the stage production before it left Broadway in 2023 and needless to say I cried from beginning to end. One of the most special nights of my life. 

Favorite tracks are:

All I Ask of You
The Point of No Return
The Music of the Night

I’m a phantom girlie through and through, as in the musical but I’d never seen this one. Luckily, we had an excuse to rectify this blind spot on my list of watches as Mike and the Halloweenies crew are talking all things Phantom this month. 

And boy, was this equal parts gut wrenching and beautiful. Made all the more heartbreaking after finding out that the actress who played Christine (Mary Philbin) was forbidden to marry the man she loved in real life as she was a catholic and he a Jewish man. She became a recluse in the days after the split only to find out after he ed he had kept hundreds of love letters from her, despite marrying someone else, and she too. 

Just like the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s adaptation leaving a rose on her grave, she too never forgot her first love. 

In this house we watch REAL MOVIES. 

Mickey Rooney as Movie Mason should’ve earned him an Oscar… or at the very least a Kid’s Choice Award.

Would love to see the director’s cut of “Midnight Mayhem.”

Of all the thrillers from the 90’s and 00’s I’ve been digesting as of late this was probably my least favorite of the bunch, but that’s probably because I’m not the biggest fan of the goop founder. I’m talking of course about our favorite bone broth drinking as a meal gal, Gwyneth.

Having said that, the story was fairly fresh with a hint of a Strangers on a Train-esque plot. You know if that movie had an art dealing affair, a burglary gone wrong, and Viggo Mortensen. Douglas is firing on all cylinders. I always enjoy when he’s playing a spiraling character. 

I saw in reviews that people found it predictable and honestly the switch up of the burglars I did not see coming, maybe my ability to guess endings is dwindling as I age. Oh well. 

I will say that I didn’t find any one character particularly likable, and I guess that’s probably the point but I wasn’t really rooting for anyone in this. I just enjoyed seeing the Machiavellian plan fall apart much to the chagrin of Douglas’ character. 

Another original thriller in the bag! Keep em coming.

First time revisiting since the theaters and I loved it then, love it now, and not because it’s the best movie but because Andor made me care for these characters in ways I never saw coming. 

You could argue that Andor S1&2 and this film are their own trilogy and while yes, in comparison to the show it sticks out like a sore thumb, it’s still one of the more cohesive and well done storylines the franchise has to offer. 

We watched this in parts because I didn’t want to let go of the show, I almost wish they would just completely re-do this movie in series format although I know it’s insane and will never happen but a girl can dream. 

Diego Luna is so babygirl in this!! And seeing him be a cutthroat killer for the rebellion knowing that he didn’t start off that way was just so effective. And don’t even get me started on K2 *extreme Cedric Diggory’s Dad voice when he realizes he’s dead* MY BOYYYYYYYY. 

This might be a hot take but Jyn Erso is a far better character than the women we’ve gotten from the series recently, specifically film wise because Asajj Ventress might place above her if I’m talking across the board (I know she’s a villain but she fucking rules.)

In conclusion, I’m devastated Andor is over and please keep your “the baby is Poe Dameron” theories the fuck away from me. Not everything needs to connect guys!!!!!

Another banger 90’s thriller. I really am digging these “from hell” movies, nanny from hell, roommate from hell, it’s fun! And scary! My two favorite things.

Bridget Fonda though, I tell you fucking what. My god. Hard to pull off haircut in this and honestly, they both do.

You know what for a shark movie starring Jai Courtney this was pretty fucking entertaining.

Sharks and serial killers, what's not to love? 

Not normally the biggest Julia Robert’s fan but this was a pretty solid 90’s thriller. Sort of the inverse of 50 Shades of Grey like girl that shit isn’t sexy it’s scary. 

Really like the actor who she ends up with, never seen him before or again but we love an average joe. 

Despite the disturbing subject matter Mike and I had a bit of a laugh thinking of me in that house like I wouldn’t have lasted a day, my mess is my sanctuary.

Would make an incredible double feature with Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury’s “Inside” (2007). 

No one could’ve prepared me for this plot line. The 90’s were wild.

I don’t know why this has such low reviews! Like it’s not a masterpiece by any means but man, I had a really, I wouldn’t say fun time watching this, but at the very least it was a pretty decent thriller. 

There’s a particular shot that highlights Bigelow’s talent of Curtis in a car while it’s raining and you can see clearly into the car but it’s obviously a shot from behind the other side of the glass and I was just blown away at how she managed to do that. 

A total lounging on the couch watching TNT on a Sunday movie and we need more of those.

This shit slapped like just slap after slap after slap. The most Sammie movie to ever Sammie movie, like catnip for me. 

Serial killers, Sigourney, Bay Area location, Hunter, and Connick JR. as possibly both the funniest and scariest criminal put to screen. FUGGETABOUTIT.

This was actually only my third Sofia Coppola movie which is sort of insane to me as I absolutely love her aesthetic and directing style. 

But so far, I’ve seen Marie Antoinette (loved), Priscilla (also loved), and now this one, and surprising no one, I loved it too. And that’s even after having seen the original film, which is also very good if you have the chance to watch it beforehand. 

I think my favorite aspect of her films is that she takes something from another period or another time and makes it relevant to our current society, and that goes double for her work on this film. 

All of the acting & writing that went behind making the characters was very well done. I thought that each person had complex thoughts with a backstory or motivation that lined up well with what they were trying to portray. I also liked that it wasn't an over the top battle of sexes kind of film, but more about the women facing desire, lust, fear, guilt, jealousy, and shame.

It really succeeds as illustrating the general horror of being women with a single man as a fox in the henhouse but every character is first and foremost human--complex, nuanced and struggling with their conflict between survival and desire.

Coppola's film shows that humans struggle with the same conflicts. Yes, women lust. And, yes, men have moral struggles. Because both women and men lust and have moral struggles. And both have the instinct to survive.

And any movie that ends with women coming together to use their sewing skills to sew up a body bag of a man that tried to manipulate them and use them to his advantage is a win for me.

Look out for our episode on the film on The Lady Killer podcast with special guest Shelby Novak. Drops May 29th. 

Saw for the first time on the big screen at Vidiots on a 35 mm print, and boy did it look great. 

Man, those Gen X’ers go absolutely ape shit for this movie. I haven’t seen a crowd made up of predominantly 40-50 year olds go so crazy during a theater experience possibly ever. It was a joyous occasion filled with the sounds of Seattle 90’s era grunge. 

An all timer. Crowe really knows how to pull at the heart strings and make you belly laugh moments later.

Oh, how things have changed over the past ten years. Not just for me, but the franchise as a whole. Perhaps it’s because I’m no longer that bright eyed and bushy tailed young 21 year old I once was, but this movie has not aged well for me. 

In 2015, I was still full of hope not only for the world but for this fandom. I walked out of the theater after seeing this thinking we were so back but unfortunately, little Sammie had no idea where the world was heading both in real life and in this fictional universe.

With hindsight you can’t help but see the glaringly bad choices made in this film, things I thought would amount to something or go somewhere that just didn’t matter in the long run. Unlike Lucas, JJ had no idea where he was heading with this, and to be fair neither did anyone else in future installments. 

So many questions left unanswered and even the ones they did answer that made no fucking sense. Like Leia running to Rey after the death of Han with Chewy RIGHT THERE, the Wookiee you’ve known for thirty fucking years just walked by you. It’s such a small detail but just shows you how little grasp they had on what made the original three so great. 

I’ll be the first to say I hated when people called Rey a “Mary Sue” but my god, I hate to say it but that’s what she is. Unlike Luke, she is immediately great at everything. The scene where she’s fixing the Millennium Falcon is just … cringe. It’s cringe. 

I was far more interested in Finn’s storyline, a storm trooper with the force is something we haven’t done before it’s fresh, it’s new, it’s interesting! Poe and Finn were the heart of the story and then they just separated them, with little to no explanation of how Poe got out so quickly from the TIE fighter crash. I was baffled I thought this was good writing back then.

For fucks sake, are they so stupid that they input a self destruct button on not one, not two, BUT THREE DEATHSTARS???? like give me a fucking break. It’s like they saw the problems with the prequels and thought let’s just do A New Hope over again, they liked that right? How very Disney though. Just rehashing the same shit instead of doing what they used to do best: innovation, growth, experimental.

There are things I like about this one still though. I mean it’s filmed like a Star Wars movie, you can’t argue with that. The sets are incredible even if they feel like the same planets we’ve visited before. And that final lightsaber sequence in the snow is an all timer for me. 

At the end of the day this entire trilogy feels like getting your favorite chocolate bar and it looks all great, business as usual but when you go to bite it, it’s empty just like this movie.

I might not be a religious person but I sure did have a religious experience while watching this for the first time.

I’ll never look at the La Brea Tar Pits the same again.

Nobody can make me go from viscerally turning away from the screen to giving me a stomachache laughing quite like Tim Robinson and this was no exception. 

But behind the laughs was one of the most introspective films about the good and the often not talked about bad parts of friendship. 

Whether we are on the side doing the letting go or the one being let go, we all know that feeling of when someone makes you feel special and then yanks it away. It’s a part of life, but this movie put a magnifying glass up to that feeling and burnt in the sun. 

I was unnerved, hysterically cackling, and had my heart strings tugged at all in the span of 100 min. A win for dark comedy lovers everywhere.

This was actually only my second James Cameron movie after Titanic of course, which means I saw this one before I ever saw the first one but this was a time where I didn’t know who directors were really, like I was seeing a movie because it interested me not because of who was behind the camera. 

I wasn’t the “cinephile” I am today and as this movie came out before I was born it already existed in the lexicon of pop culture, like I was aware of the imagery and what have you but it just never looked like something I would be interested in, it had “boy” movie all over it. 

But when I was about 14 or so I was always at my sister’s house where she lived with her now husband and I I had just started smoking weed and I ed out on their couch for a little nap only to awaken to my brother in law watching this movie. 

I woke up right at the hospital escape scene and had no idea what he was watching but I was in. I don’t even know if he knew I was awake. I just laid there taking it all in then at the end was like “wow that was amazing!”

And for years I would say this was the best movie I had ever seen and while I have since expanded my film knowledge it still sits fairly high on that list.

It’s one of the few examples of a sequel that not only follows its precursor, but builds on it to expand the concept. Because it is both a sequel and its own thing, and that's why it's held in such high regard. But more than anything watching this film at a formative age gave me the fuel I needed to seek out good movies.

Look out for our episode on this incredible film when The Lady Killers return in a few weeks with special guest Rachel Reeves. 

The scene where the Ewok dies makes me want to fucking kill myself!!! Devastating. Worst death in the franchise. 

I choose to believe the storm trooper heads are still in the helmets they turned into a drum set. Vicious little Ewoks get their revenge. Can’t believe they took their song out for the remaster, just another ridiculous change. 

Also first time seeing original old man Anakin and original song in the cantina. Hot take: I like the new song in this instance. 

And then they all lived happily ever after and they never continued this story and surely, didn’t kill off all three main protagonists.

Girls don’t want money, girls want Yoda’s cozy ass little hut nestled in the swamps of Dagobah. Ah, yes my favorite of the franchise. The one that started it all. 

As a self proclaimed “lore whore” the world building of this entry is what got me hook, line and sinker. That and the incredible enemies to lovers romance, a trope I’ve been chasing ever since. 

First time seeing the original version of Palpatine. Much scarier, weird eyes almost like empty sockets. Perhaps this is sacrilegious, but I do prefer the changes made to Cloud City in the remaster. 

And now onto what I wish was the final entry of the Skywalker saga. 

Our May the Fourth watch continues! I’ve been going chronologically but I didn’t want to watch Rogue One until Andor finishes up so onto the original trilogy we go! 

Mike unpacked his VHS boxset from the 80’s so this was my first time seeing the film in its original format (the same will go for the next two). So many unnecessary changes and confirms that not only did Han shoot first, he was the only one to shoot at all. 

Things I noticed this go around:

-Threepio has CHEEKS for days

-The just straight up werewolf in the cantina 

-Artoo is SO sassy, he gives side eye without even having eyes

Now time for the next entry! 

Happy May the Fourth! My Star Wars watch continues with a sort of first time viewing of this prequel. I say “sort of” because the first time was on the day I had to leave Mike to go back home when we were long distance 7 years ago and I was a blubbering mess. This time however I was in great spirits and I absolutely loved it.

I’m not sure why this is so universally hated. You’ve got real life animatronics, special effects, and a great story that actually features a degree of romance unlike the asexual sequels. I imagine it had to do with the extreme Star Wars fatigue we were all feeling around this release, plus the compete divide of the fandom after Last Jedi. I mean I myself neglected to see it in theaters, I was that over it. 

Funny enough it seems as if this film was the first to take a page out of the Andor playbook and by that I mean that it’s a well written script first and a Star Wars film second. This is a heist narrative that just so happens to take place in a galaxy far, far, away and that’s where it succeeds. 

The Maul reveal had my jaw dropped, can’t believe I avoided that spoiler for almost a decade. Sure, there’s a couple cheesy lines here and there but I think it’s telling that my favorite things to come out of the Star Wars universe since the Disney takeover are this, Rogue One, and Andor. Essentially the anti Skywalker content. 

It’s an absolute shame we will never revisit this storyline at least anytime soon because I really do feel like we’re ready for more side stories to get their day in the sun (or two.) 

Eighth Grade’s depraved older sister. I loved every second of it. 

First time watch for this film and director. I’m excited to venture into his other works. I have no doubt they will be just as boundary pushing yet beautifully simplistic in nature.

Had the pleasure of seeing this for my first time on its original 35 mm print at Vidiots for their tribute to Gene Hackman. What a picture! Slow, but worth it for the eventual burn.

My favorite part of this viewing experience aside from hearing the crowd erupt in applause at the “why not shoot a president?” line, was the group of four 16 year old boys who sat in front us just there for a Tuesday boy’s night out at the movies.

No phones, no parents, just a couple of bros getting together to see a 90’s western on the big screen. Perhaps the youth are alright after all. 

C’mon Landon, you’re better than this. 

Probably doesn’t help that I can’t stand the two main actors. I blame both It Ends With Us and the schlocky flirty videos they did as promo to insinuate they have chemistry outside the film, a page taken from ol’ Sweeney herself. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work. 

Look I don’t need my thriller movies to be highbrow but I do need them to be a little less predictable and you could see each beat before it transpired. Not that it mattered because I really didn’t care for anyone or anything in this film. 

I love Landon, but this was just straight to streaming slop. Although I will say I did love the waiter. Would’ve rather watched a whole movie with him than the leads we got. Will we ever get a horror film with a female lead that doesn’t have some insane traumatic backstory? The world may never know…

But in the meantime I’ll stick to movies like Red Eye (2005).

I genuinely can’t believe Neon did a wide theatrical release of this. Just goes to show a studio will take chances on filmmakers that have cult followings and tons of Instagram followers.

Sorry Finn, but this was bad and I feel for those who won’t get chances to get their ion projects made so that people with brand recognition behind their name can make theirs.

Product placement so good we ordered Insomnia cookies after watching.

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing this at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood as part of the TCM Film Festival with a special Q&A featuring Michael Mann and Al Pacino. Truly one of the most special screenings I’ve ever attended. Seeing the pure wild joy on Mike’s face was priceless.

What a way to see this movie. The surround sound was so penetrating I could feel the shoot out scenes in my chest, an all consuming viewing. I was not prepared for the emotional weight this watch would put on me. It’s always been said my dad looked like Robert De Niro specifically in this film, the goatee and slicked back hair was my dad to a tee.

The theme of an ex-convict unable to let go and move forward has echoed throughout my entire life, and while my dad’s story didn’t end up in an epic shootout he died the same way, filled with resentment and by his own hubris. The only difference is at least McCauley wasn’t alone and seeing Hanna’s hand in his as the sun rose over LAX had me bursting into tears. The biggest regret of my life is that I wasn’t there to do that. 

An incredible film, and one that has now taken on a whole new meaning for me.

First time watch and was completely blown away, I had no idea how expansive this film was. Not sure why but I just thought it was about some farm girl discovering a UFO, ala E.T. or something but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead I got a scientifically accurate look into what it could possibly look like to discover life on other planets. 

We wouldn’t have gotten Arrival or Interstellar without this film, two personal favorites of mine. Foster was incredible, and easy on the eyes too. Never felt the almost 3 hr runtime. I want more sci-fi films like this: great script, great performances, and impeccable research. Really dug it.

when they made films for adults? 

WAR! You know what fuck the haters this shit rules. It’s essentially a Shakespearean tragedy set in space, what’s not to love? Okay, fine actually there’s a lot, but still! The good is really good and the bad is well, hard to ignore but it doesn’t lessen the experience for me at this point. With time I have come to appreciate this entry and that most of its faults lie with its creator (that goes for the entire prequel trilogy as a whole.) 

Mike and I saw it on the big screen last night (tried to get the speciality cup and popcorn bucket but alas they sold out first night) and honestly, I was engrossed the entire time. However, and this is a big “however” most of that comes from me watching The Clone Wars series prior to viewing. I’m only on season two and even only having seen 30 or so episode (they are short) it gave me enough insight to give weight to the themes this film is exploring. 

Watching the clones turn is made all the more sad having seen how they work together and are seen as friends to the Jedi, having gotten time with General Grievous makes his death and their fight sequence so much more satisfying, and seeing Anakin and Obi Wan go on side missions together makes their final showdown even more gut wrenching.

Having said that you shouldn’t need to watch an animated series (that premiered after the fact) to make you feel something for these characters. And therein lies the problem, these are prequels and a good writer would ensure you need no prior knowledge of the franchise to understand what you’re watching. But George Lucas unfortunately is a great visionary, not writer. 

Yet despite the horrible CGI, lack of sets, and yet another round of stunted line reads this movie is still effective, I would argue more so than the recent trilogy because at least it tried something different. And hey, I got Anakin shirtless and for that I say thank you George. 

This is a perfect example of a film I wish I had seen at a younger age as I know I would’ve related it to more but being in my 30’s watching this character was hard, probably because it forced me to grapple with a person I no longer am. 

However, the overall vibes and fashion were impeccable and I just enjoyed being in the world with the aesthetic and music. Felt like a precursor to Sex and the City, she’s like a less motivated version of Carrie Bradshaw who blames everyone else for her problems, and that’s saying something.

I did order shawarma though after viewing. It was delicious, although I didn’t have a seltzer.

A truly bizarre way to start the film with that opening sequence and song but ya know what only Blatty could make it work. 

If there was ever a movie that could fill you with dread only to end with a twisted form of hope it’s this one. I feel like Shutter Island was inspired by it with their similar twist. 

Keach was incredible. He really perfected the Kubrick stare despite never being in one of his films. 

Extra half star for the doggy casting audition scene, now that’s cinema.

You know what? I actually dug this movie. Horrible people in it all around but you can’t beat a 90’s daytime thriller even if it features more problematic themes than I have enough time to write out. 

The most unbelievable part was them getting a working carousel that size up in an attic, I believe the wasp situation more than that.

Sometimes a bad movie is still a good time. 

Coogler heard make vampires scary again and said “hold my Irish beer.”

What can be said that hasn’t been said already? The most fun I’ve had in a theater in years with a crowd. Here’s hoping he sticks to making original content, I’m begging him not to go back to marvel (or even that x-files remake he’s spoken of). More horror! More cunnilingus!   

how I said Episode 1 has grown on me over the years? Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth concerning this second entry.

This is far and away my least favorite Star Wars film which is such a shame because if the movie continued to feel like that incredible chase scene in the first 20 min that wouldn’t be the case. Seriously, it’s like Blade Runner meets The Jetsons. I loved it as a kid and I still love it now. Especially the yellow air speeder Anakin hijacks, and you bet your ass I had the toy too. 

My issue with this movie (okay there is more than one but this one is the big one) is the time jump. Seeing Anakin as a young boy in Episode 1 is necessary to feel the full weight of his eventual turn to the dark side, but instead of giving us the time to see his and Obi-Wan’s relationship flourish they just pummel us with exposition and expect us to feel something. Spoiler alert: I don’t.

You get no time with them together, and I understand it’s to flesh out the Anakin/Pe love affair, but that falls flat here too. Mostly due to the lack of chemistry and stunted line reads from Portman. Although, I will say this is more of an adult Sammie issue as younger me was smitten with this plot line. So much so, that when it came to the scene of them in front of the fire place I got so uncomfortable with my feelings over this fictional relationship I had to get up and go to to the bathroom because I didn’t want my dad to see me blushing. 

Having said all of that, I did immediately start watching the animated Clone Wars series after finishing to bridge the gap between this one and its sequel and let me tell you, I’m only like five episodes in and I already have felt more emotion for these characters than I did throughout the entire live action prequel trilogy. I can’t wait to finish it.

See, I told you it was bad. I’m right back in it. You know your mental state is rough when you find yourself back in the grasp of a childhood hyper fixation that you swore off.  I even forced (see what I did there) Mike to get us tickets for the Revenge of the Sith 20th anniversary re-release. Someone help me please, you’re my only hope.

I’m not sure how it happened so please don’t ask but I’ve re-entered my Star Wars era. Just watched Andor (fucking ruled), Obi-Wan Kenobi (had its moments), and now I’m rewatching the series. For fucks sake I just went to Star Wars Nite and had a great time. I’m just as surprised as you are, trust me.

I have grown quite fond of this film in recent years, mostly due to the memories tied to it.  I saw it on the big screen with my dad (and its sequels) at the young tender age of 6 and thus begun my life long love of Ewan McGregor and my favorite line of Pepsi vending machines. 

It’s been said before but I’ll say it again, Lucas was at his best when he wasn’t left to his own devices. This script needed major edits, but the story is there. It probably feels the most Star Wars of all the prequels and for that alone it gets an extra half star. 

This viewing experience was improved by Mike showing me the teaser video of Duel of the Fates on YouTube and now I’m fucking pumped. Also learned that the soundtrack that was released prior to the film had a track that gave away Qui-Gon’s death, that’s fucking bonkers.

Saw over the weekend at the Vista Theater, our first time checking out the space. An incredible theater, might be our new Music Box, love the New Bev but this one was a treat for the eyes. Velvet red curtains, Egyptian theming with Pam’s Coffee connected to it? Fuggetaboutit!

I’m gonna be a cliche here and it this is far and away my favorite Scorcese film and while I haven’t seen all of them I know it will forever remain at the top for the rewatchable quality alone. 

I was too young to ever see this in theaters but it was one of the 10 VHS’s my former step-dad owned before the era of streaming so it was on regular rotation throughout my childhood. 

Hearing the crowd go wild at “as far back as I can , I always wanted to be a gangster” was a moment I’ll always . That’s cinema!

Man, I wanted to love this but unfortunately it just fell flat for me. I feel as if this was “Type Cast: 
The Movie”, with the kid from Spider-Man in his usual sidekick role and Quaid essentially just playing Hughie, everything felt very predictable and box check(y). Tropes were filled in ways that didn’t feel fresh or interesting.

I will give it that twist though, probably the least expected part of the movie. That and the fact that he stayed with the woman who set up the robbery and got him into this mess, like sorry there’s no way I’m staying with someone after that not even with conjugal visits.

However, I’m glad that this wasn’t just another run of the mill supernatural superhero type of thing and his lack of pain receptors was explained as a genetic disorder. That being said, if you ground your action film in reality I’m going to have a hard time believing Mr. Caine didn’t seriously impair himself after the events of this film. At the very least his spine would’ve broken or he would've had serious blood loss. Also what’s the logic here? He can taste pie but can’t taste hot sauce? I’m nitpicking, but you get the point.

I didn’t feel any chemistry between the two leads. Up until it was established Nicholson and Midthunder were siblings I actually thought they were dating. Speaking of Nicholson, he stole the show. So much so I actually started rooting for him. I’m appalled at how attractive I found him in this film and for that it gets an extra half star.

Unfortunately, I think this is another case of reviews coming out of SXSW from people with rose colored glasses on and I get it, I do. I probably would’ve liked it a lot more there too but I just couldn’t be charmed by this one at home. Maybe I’m getting nihilistic in my old age but the Marvel tongue in cheek dialogue just doesn’t do it for me and I can’t help but feel like it’s bleeding into our genre films. We’re all just getting too used to it to notice.

• Friendship
• Sinners
• Borderline
• Companion
• Mickey 17
• The Monkey
• Heart Eyes
• Dangerous Animals
• Locked
• Drop

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Challengers
• The Substance
• Dune: Part Two
• Anora
• Smile 2
• Conclave
• Nosferatu
• The Last Stop in Yuma County
• Trap
• Lisa Frankenstein

...plus 49 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Oppenheimer
• The Holdovers
• Poor Things
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Saltburn
• May December
• American Fiction
• Anatomy of a Fall
• Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
• The Iron Claw

...plus 50 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Turning Red
• Pearl
• Babylon
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
• TÁR
• The Batman
• X
• The Banshees of Inisherin
• The Menu
• Elvis

...plus 47 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Dune
• Spencer
• Red Rocket
• Shiva Baby
• Bo Burnham: Inside
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Zola
• The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• Encanto
• Ghostbusters: Afterlife

...plus 38 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Possessor
• Minari
• Palm Springs
• Soul
• Mank
• The Devil All the Time
• Freaky
• The Invisible Man
• Underwater
• The Rental

...plus 25 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

The films I loved, the ones I liked, and the ones that maybe I just “didn’t get.”

1. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
2. 1917
3. Parasite
4. Uncut Gems
5. Jojo Rabbit
6. Marriage Story
7. Midsommar
8. The Lodge
9. The Lighthouse
10. The Irishman

...plus 20 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.