3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Nope’:
I kept waiting, and waiting, for this film to get good. For the moment when things kick into high gear and it earns that price of admission. For me, it never got there. It always teetered on the edge of something fun and edge-of-your-seat… but it remained uneventful despite its seemingly-momentous scenes.
The pacing was all sorts of wonky. It felt like there were a lot of disconnects here, a lot of questions. Scenes that went on too long. Unrealistic character reactions and decisions. My scalp is sore from all the head scratching. I just wish this were a more structured story with all the ideas it contained.
Great cast, but the character of OJ was incredibly bland and emotionally flat. A more compelling lead character may have risen this film above all its flaws.
Bonus Thought: What was the significance of the mysterious balancing shoe?
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘The Little Mermaid’:
Halle Bailey IS Ariel. She was absolute perfection. From voice to vibe, she captured her essence impeccably. I believe a star has officially been born.
Melissa McCarthy had veryyy gargantuan tentacles to fill. And I think Pat Carroll would’ve been incredibly pleased with what she did with her sea witch.
I thought they built upon the original film’s story in all the right ways. Fleshing it out to make a little more sense. Providing more substance. While not everything was picture perfect, it worked and gave fresh magic to a beloved story.
Bonus Thought: I thought it was a fantastic movie to look at, especially under the sea. Gorgeous colors and visuals. Eye candy all around. And that includes Jonah Hauer-King. :pound_symbol:snack
I adore this show. It might be the most wildly imaginative series I’ve ever watched.
But am I the only one feeling zero chemistry between Chidi and Eleanor?
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Oppenheimer’:
Much of the film, particularly in the beginning, felt more like a montage than a movie. The scattered-ness of the scenes created a disconnect that made it difficult to absorb what exactly was going on.
Why the black and white? What purpose did that serve? I’ll probably find out at some point, but it’d be nice to know in real time.
I certainly didn’t expect Nolan to give us Oppenheimer for Dummies, but I really wish he would have. Performances were clearly impressive (I’m looking at you, Cillian), but they’re hard to fully appreciate when everyone is having rapid-fire conversations about fairly complex situations — and you’re too busy trying to keep up. This being my biggest qualm.
One of my biggest television pet peeves is when a character can explain a situation a trillion times better than they actually do - and they don’t. When they can very easily defend their actions, successfully and succinctly - and they don’t.
That was Hughie here. Frustrating to no end. Starlight doesn’t deserve you.
Rant over.
At first, thinking of how this show once consisted of (and was catapulted by) fairly unknown actors, I was a little perturbed by the abundance of celebrity appearances. Then the twist happened… and that was actually all really clever.
I did NOT expect to get emotional watching this show. But here we are lol. It was all actually really sweet.
Also, kudos to James Marsden for signing up for something like this. If I wasn’t already a fan…
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Fear Street Part One: 1994’:
Lemme tell you… I loved it! It was nostalgic. It was an homage to so much that has come before (that intro had ‘Scream’ written all over it). But it also had a hefty dose of originality. Great characters you cared about. It took risks. It surprised you. And it was a LOT more mature than I expected it to be. I loved the books way back when, and this made me wanna read them again. Bravo.
I LOVED the LGBT twist in the beginning! Did NOT expect that person to be Sam. Solid execution.
It had a bit of a Hocus Pocus vibe to me, which made the character deaths and the paths into “Rated R” territory that much more effective. It was a weird and welcomed mix.
Bonus Thought: I legit can’t wait for the next one. Super invested.
Not sure I’m a big fan of the alternate universe thing. This show was already complicated enough. And just when you’re getting a proper grasp on the story/characters — right before the final season, no less — they add parallel worlds to the mix.
I still love this show, but the complexities are beginning to get exhausting. I’m tired of trying to figure things out, and make sense of it all, during a season that should be tying everything together.
I’m hoping my opinion changes. :fingers_crossed_tone1:
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Barbie’:
It started off strong and wonderfully ridiculous. It should have stayed ridiculous. Instead, they tried wayyy too hard to convey some deep message that got lost in the shuffle. There was a missed opportunity to be incredibly poignant but, once it became Kens vs. Barbies, it became rather cheesy.
As impeccable and otherworldly-endearing as Robbie is, I feel like Gosling was the one who really shined here. He delivered the best laughs, solidly, and he’s generally SUCH a terrific performer. I loved his little ditty and almost forgot about his La La Land skills.
I really liked the music! Lizzo’s intro was hysterical, the dance scenes were super fun, and I can’t get Billie Eilish’s closing ballad out of my head.
Bonus Thought: I see you, Allan.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Halloween Ends’:
You’re tasked with creating a franchise-ending chapter of a legendary horror series with the iconic star/character that started it all, and this is what you put together? A “final” Halloween film that’s barely about Michael Myers. GTFO. Missed opportunities GALORE.
The relationship with Laurie and her granddaughter starts out healthy and promising. A nice setup for chaos to ensue. Two seconds later, Allyson is ready to ditch her family for a random dude. So many out-of-character moments that made zero sense.
This wasn’t the film to introduce (and focus on!) a character like Corey. Maybe mid-franchise this could have been done to mix things up a bit. Friday the 13th kinda sorta did that, where the killer wasn’t always Jason. But NOT this time, not when you’re touting a final face-off between Michael and his Final Girl. You’re setting your fans up for disappointment.
Bonus Thought: I’m officially pretending that this new trilogy never existed, back to when Laurie Strode was Michael’s sister and everything made sense.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Hellraiser’:
After all these years, it’s nice to understand more, certainly not completely, what the heck that damn box is all about. I very much appreciated a more linear, fleshed-out story with this incredible mythology.
While this new film got creative with the gore, there’s something about the practical effects from the original that unsettled me a bit more.
I missed Bradley’s iconic Pinhead vocals, but I’m very pleased with Clayton’s take here. Her presence was different, yet strong and formidable. I’d definitely like to see her return to the role.
Bonus Thought: I loved the way the doors to the other realm opened up in various scenes, especially in the back of the truck.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Talk to Me’:
It peaked with that brutal scene, when the game took a violent turn (I straight-up gasped), which was fairly early on, and the rest of the film never really reached that level of shock again.
Was it just me, or was the audio pretty awful? So many conversations were unclear. I couldn’t understand how the mom died. She took too many pills, on accident, and then clawed at the door? How does that work?
I really liked the concept of the hand (albeit somewhat confusing). And I think it’s interesting to see it used as some sort of party game. But when characters are dumb enough to revel in something so awful, it’s difficult to care about their fate. I wasn’t fully invested in them.
I’m not ready. Not even a little.
Eleanor and Chidi STILL have ZERO chemistry — and I honestly think their relationship has been detrimental to the show.
I was hoping for a season where Clay isn’t a moody baby the entire time. Not sure I’m getting one.
Bravo, Schitt’s Creek. Bravo. You stole my heart and will truly be missed. Perfect ending.
Simply the best. xo
3 Thoughts After Completing ‘Jury Duty’:
Kudos for being something very different AND for pulling off something so elaborate. I left this viewing experience feeling super satisfied. Phenomenal payoff.
To me, this was less of a comedy and more of an experiment. Quality reality TV. Yeah, it was funny for sure, but I was essentially more curious about where this was all going. And how authentic it was. I’m glad they showed all the receipts at the end lol.
Fantastic, super-likable cast with great chemistry… especially our leading man Ronald. I hope we get to see more of him.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Halloween Kills’:
If I had to hear “evil dies tonight” or one of the many other melodramatic one-liners again, I was going to scream. This film tried wayyy too hard — and it failed, miserably. Awful writing. I believe this is the worst contribution to the franchise and, considering a few of them, that’s saying a lot.
Intro and score aside, this didn’t feel like a Halloween film by any means. The theater was constantly laughing — and not in a good way. Michael Myers took on characteristics and acted in ways that were very unlike him. For example, our classic Michael was always super stealth. Barely ever seen. That was what was creepy about him. Frankly, we saw way too much of him here.
I hated how “deep” they tried to take this incredibly-jumbled plot. Insinuating that Michael was ultimately out to turn the town against each other, bringing out their evil. No. That’s not Michael. It’s quite a stretch. And the side plot of the escaped patient was random and ridiculous.
Bonus Thought: I’m honestly not at all a fan of this timeline. I think their biggest mistake was taking the connection away that Michael and Laurie were siblings. It provided motive and stakes and the family element that was always a part of the mythology.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Swallow’:
The swallowing objects aspect took more of a backseat in the story than I expected it to. And it was also more disturbing than I expected it to be.
Every single character was either awful or odd. The husband, his parents, the “hug guy,” the girl who shouted Hunter out at the party, the therapist, Hunter’s mom and biological “father.” Hunter’s loneliness was palpable.
It was nice to see SUCH a bleak film end on a somewhat optimistic note. I was thrilled to see that girl eat a burger and fries — and find the will to survive on her own.
Bonus Thought: Great performance by Haley Bennett.
Why does it feel like this season has very little to do with the first two?
Best superhero TV show ever. Hands down. Bravo to Cox and D'Onofrio! To say I'm excited for season two is an understatement.
People are hating on this episode, and I get it. But if this were an episode of The Twilight Zone, I think it may have gotten more praise… because it wasn’t awful. And points for it going in a direction I didn’t expect AT ALL. But, for Black Mirror, it definitely missed the bar.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Evil Dead Rise’:
This was standard. Fairly typical horror fare. That was my initial thought when leaving the theater. It wasn’t bad by any means. But it also doesn’t do much that’s new. I didn’t hate it.
I kinda wish the Evil Dead mythology was a little clearer. There doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason as to who gets possessed and why. I was expecting the aunt to turn after getting injured multiple times. I’m not entirely sure how the woman at the end gets possessed and is then able to mosey on down to the lake with her friends. I thought she’d find the book and bring it with her. Did Beth beat the evil after throwing them into the shredder? How about the other possessed folk still in the hallway? I dunno… my OCD brain needs more rules as to how this all works.
There were definitely a solid number of creepy visuals (many spoiled in the trailer, unfortunately… what else is new). And that was quite possibly the most blood I’ve ever seen on film. But the mom provided the best moments. She was creepy AF.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Disenchanted’:
I absolutely loved revisiting these characters — and Amy Adams nailed it once again — but this film failed them. The wicked stepmother premise was a fantastic idea, but the execution was ultimately disappointing and the plot got a little sloppy. Many things didn’t connect. (Why exactly was Giselle dying at the end???) And Dempsey’s character had a ridiculous, unnecessary arc.
That production value. Wow. The difference from the original film is a bit jarring. I know this was a straight-to-streaming project, but many films that go this route still feel like a cinematic experience. This felt like a mediocre episode of Once Upon a Time. It deserved better.
None of the music stuck. Again, in complete contrast to the original, zero songs were catchy. There was more than enough time to create a solid soundtrack.
Bonus Thought: Enchanted was a film with so much heart and humor. There were glimpses of it here, but SO much of that was missing. Super bummed fan here.
First, we have multiple timelines. Then, we have multiple worlds. Now, we have different versions of characters existing from separate choices that are made (i.e. Jonas). These complexities will either be absolute genius or sheer ridiculousness. And we’ll know in two episodes. Maybe.
Why does it feel like there are wayyy too many versions of Martha out there? And why does it seem like both sides (Adam and Eva) want to keep the loop going? Neither want characters to divert from their paths, and these characters repeat everything regardless — which is kind of annoying. And is anyone else disappointed that Noah isn’t playing a bigger role? He was being set up as this major antagonist.
Again, everything could come together in a remarkable way and make an impressive amount of sense. OR what seemed like a well-thought-out story over the course of three seasons could ultimately result in a whole lot of randomness, that was simply made to appear clever.
Obviously, I want things to wrap up nicely, but there’s something frustrating about a show that delivers more questions than answers. That’s been the journey of this series. So will it even matter what the destination reveals itself to be?
Hilda getting her revenge was EVERYTHING.
My one criticism... and maybe someone could help me resolve this in my mind: Where did the second Sabrina - the one who freed our original Sabrina from stone at the beginning - come from? If Sabrina was trapped, how did a second one ever come into play?
My head hurts from this time travel stuff.
That runway FLEW by. I had no time to take in any of those looks. Also…
“This is your last chance to impress me and save yourself from eliminationnnnnnn.”
HOW CAN THEY CUT THAT? I know it’s such a simple thing, but it’s another staple fallen by the wayside. They need to revert back to the old format next season. This is ridiculous.
Those cameos were nostalgic heaven. Love it!
Whoever cast young Whiterose needs a raise.
