I didn’t really “get” Bryce Dallas Howard until I saw this. Respect.
★★★★
A woman desperate to boost her social media score hits the jackpot when she's invited to a swanky wedding, but the trip doesn't go as planned.
Kind: Watches
watching a movie, television show, online video, play or other visual-based event
When a group of college students finds a mysterious book and recording in the old wilderness cabin they've rented for the weekend, they unwittingly unleash a demonic force from the surrounding forest.
That was something else. Obviously I’ve heard a lot about this film over years but not sure I’ve heard many praise the sound work, which is amazing.
★★★★
A tomboyish postulant at an Austrian abbey becomes a governess in the home of a widowed naval captain with seven children, and brings a new love of life and music into the home.
I have now seen the whole of this film for the first time.
My favourite part was doing the Billie Whitelaw “fascist” line from Hot Fuzz whenever Rolf appears.
★★★★
After escaping from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Leena Klammer travels to America by impersonating Esther, the missing daughter of a wealthy family. But when her mask starts to slip, she is put against a mother who will protect her family from the murderous “child” at any cost.
You’d think having a 26 yo reprise their role as a 12 yo would be doomed to failure but it actually works incredibly well. I was impressed.
Sadly, there is little else to recommend this. It’s barely even a thriller. Until a welcome pivot in the second act, you seriously wonder why Julia Stiles is here…
★★½
After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell finds himself training a detachment of TOP GUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen.
I rarely watch a movie and think it’s better the second time…
Apart from being preposterous… could it be better?
★★★★★
Five years have passed since Hiccup and Toothless united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. Now, they spend their time charting unmapped territories. During one of their adventures, the pair discover a secret cave that houses hundreds of wild dragons -- and a mysterious dragon rider. Now, Hiccup and Toothless find themselves at the center of a battle to protect Berk from a power-hungry warrior.
Mercifully improved by the third film, Cate Blanchett’s TERRIBLE accent continues to ruin the best parts of this. It is Russell Crowe in Robin Hood bad.
Also, this time round, I’m starting to give the villain a bit of side-eye on the “woke” scale. Black voice actor, dreadlocks, darker skin, bodily difference…
★★★★
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.
Considering the complexity of what this film needs to achieve, I thought they had a really good stab at it.
Some of the meta stuff seemed a bit hammy and on the nose but I’m not sure that wasn’t intentional.
There were some excellent kills too. Top drawer stuff.
Not sure it really works as a whodunnit, though. Had it in the first act… but, again, I’m not sure if THAT wasn’t intentional too.
★★★★
Documentary style account of a nuclear holocaust and its effect on the working class city of Sheffield, England; and the eventual long run effects of nuclear war on civilization.
As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind.
This is a fantastic film.
It deftly avoids the mistakes of the second by focusing on the relationship between Hiccup and Toothless and keeping everybody else to supporting roles.
The fact that some of the best scenes have no dialogue is an absolute tribute to the animators. Such superb work.
And it delivers a pretty much note perfect ending (or three) too.
★★★★★
During a space voyage, four scientists are altered by cosmic rays: Reed Richards gains the ability to stretch his body; Sue Storm can become invisible; Johnny Storm controls fire; and Ben Grimm is turned into a super-strong … thing. Together, these "Fantastic Four" must now thwart the evil plans of Dr. Doom and save the world from certain destruction.
I’ve always thought this was one of the better early live action Marvel films. It’s all very lite but still fun. My little ones (11/8) enjoyed it enough.
There was a jarring amount of cleavage and, unexplicably, some saucy nightwear on the dark streets of (an unnamed borough of) New York. Different times, eh?
★★★