Kind: Watches

watching a movie, television show, online video, play or other visual-based event
Watched The Marvels (2023) by an author from letterboxd.com
Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe.

I know a lot of people hate this on principle, and others genuinely think it’s bad. And, I wouldn’t say it was good, but I have seen a lot worse.

My biggest problem is purely story-based. We could call this the Ant-Man problem, where it just doesn’t follow its own rules. Put simply, getting punched by Capt Marvel should be fatal to almost anyone in the MCU. You have a hero that powerful and you’re going to have narrative problems, this is why she was benched for most of the Infinity Saga.

To counter this, Danvers could easily have a Daredevil-esque moral crisis here; setting her own limitations in how she must atone for her past actions. But there is nothing even close to that interesting going on here.

Instead, though, somebody decided to slap all the fun buttons. For me, this approach was more hit than miss and I happily leaned into the levity. I can easily see, though, that this is really not for everyone.

★★★

My review

Watched Fallen World from imdb.com
Drummer and Ashford find themselves trapped with few options for survival; Anna tends to the wounded masses as Melba continues to hunt down her prey; the Rocinante crew struggles to survive as Naomi reunites with her true family.

I’m on the S3 finale of The Expanse and Anna Volovodov might be shading Chrisjen Avasarala as my favourite character… so many to choose from, though!

Watched Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) by an author from letterboxd.com
Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.

For a story about Rocket, there was a distinct lack of Rocket doing Rocket things, while everyone else went to town with their usual shtick.

★★★½

My review

Watched Willow (1988) by an author from letterboxd.com
The evil Queen Bavmorda hunts the newborn princess Elora Danan, a child prophesied to bring about her downfall. When the royal infant is found by Willow, a timid farmer and aspiring sorcerer, he's entrusted with delivering her from evil.

Being a child of the 80s, I have very fond memories of this but it turns out it’s also a very good film!

It’s full of excellent practical effects and stunt work and you’ve got to love those sets, knowing someone actually built them.

There’s some great lines, fun characters and arguably the cutest baby (actually babies) ever to grace the screen.

They just don’t make ‘em like this any more!

★★★★

My review

Watched Watch the Warhammer 40,000 Secret Level animation now from Warhammer Community
Secret Level has landed on Prime Video

A satisfyingly graphic introduction to the incredible violence of the grim dark future and the Emperor’s chosen.

It neatly establishes the in-universe pecking order of human vs. post-human, with the Astartes dismantling their opposition in short order. It also showcases the more esoteric aspects of the lore and the greater threats facing humanity.

However, while this short amply demonstrates the power of the Space Marines, it also highlights their weakness as a storytelling device. Stoic, honour-bound warrior monks with little to no personality beyond their varying levels of savagery or tactics in battle.

If the Warhammer 4k Universe wants to succeed on screen, it will need to deliver a lot more humanity than taciturn giants undertaking various acts of sacrifice and mutilation, no matter how gloriously realised.

Watched The Hunt (2020) by an author from letterboxd.com
Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don't know where they are—or how they got there. In the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, ruthless elitists gather at a remote location to hunt humans for sport. But their master plan is about to be derailed when one of the hunted turns the tables on her pursuers.

Easily the best of the recent “one woman army” movies.

★★★½

My review

Watched Attack the Block (2011) by an author from letterboxd.com
A teen gang in a South London housing estate must team up with the other residents to protect their neighbourhood from a terrifying alien invasion.

Watched on Tuesday December 3, 2024.

★★★★★

My review

Watched Home Alone (1990) by an author from letterboxd.com
Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister makes the most of the situation after his family unwittingly leaves him behind when they go on Christmas vacation. But when a pair of bungling burglars set their sights on Kevin's house, the plucky kid stands ready to defend his territory. By planting booby traps galore, adorably mischievous Kevin stands his ground as his frantic mother attempts to race home before Christmas Day.

I’ve no idea how many times I have seen this but it still makes me laugh.

The soundtrack is perfection. It’s probably not up there in most people’s minds as one of William’s best but it completely elevates the movie from good to classic.

And the Marley reconcilliation sub-plot? Just lovely. Gets you right in the Christmas feels.

★★★★★

My review

Watched Monster House (2006) by an author from letterboxd.com
Monsters under the bed are scary enough, but what happens when an entire house is out to get you? Three teens aim to find out when they go up against a decrepit neighboring home and unlock its frightening secrets.

As a “kid’s first horror”, it does the job but the explanation for the haunting is both bizarre and kind of naff.

★★★

My review

Watched Source Code (2011) by an author from letterboxd.com
When decorated soldier Captain Colter Stevens wakes up in the body of an unknown man, he discovers he's part of a mission to find the bomber of a Chicago commuter train.

This review may contain spoilers.

I liked this more on previous viewings.

Now I can’t get passed the fact that Colter now lives as Shaun but knows nothing about him… how the heck is he going to live like that? Seems more like a nightmare than a happy ending.

Also, has Shaun just been erased from existence? Is poor Shaun still in there somewhere? Like, in the sunken place?

Can we have a Source Code 2 where Shaun tries to get out and it plays a bit like Moon Knight with time jumps?

★★★½ (contains spoilers)

My review