agent817
Fry's dog Seymour
Doesn't Know Whose Ring It Is
Posts: 21,245
|
Post by agent817 on Dec 24, 2021 12:56:43 GMT -5
217. Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman - Watched this on YouTube. This movie dialed up the insanity more than its predecessor. While the first film was funny, I found this to be funnier. There were so many exaggerated elements with some sound effects being added in, as well as some decent puppetry, and also some bad CGI even for late-1990s standards (this movie may have come out in 2000, but it was likely filmed in either 1998 or 1999. However, this movie felt like it had a lower budget than the first film because some of the cinematography made it feel like I was watching a made-for-TV film. I won't complain because this movie was not serious in the slightest and it has its appeal when it comes to cheesy B-movies.
|
|
|
Post by The Kevstaaa on Dec 25, 2021 0:25:05 GMT -5
#403 - Don't Look Up
*Netflix
This is such a weird movie to rate. There are things that didn't quite work for me like a lot of McKay's direction and some aspects of the screenplay. Of course, the cast is so good that I could watch them do almost anything together. It says a lot about the world we live in which is both funny and frustrating. [****]
|
|
|
Post by bibboid on Dec 25, 2021 1:44:30 GMT -5
151. Holiday in the Wild
After her husband walks out on her, a woman flies to Africa and ends up working in an elephant rescue facility. I didn’t see a whole lot of chemistry between Rob Lowe and Kristen Davis, so the whole love story was a bit weak. The elephant conservation plot is much stronger and allows us to see some of the beauty of Africa.
|
|
agent817
Fry's dog Seymour
Doesn't Know Whose Ring It Is
Posts: 21,245
|
Post by agent817 on Dec 25, 2021 11:30:18 GMT -5
218. Merry Liddle Christmas Baby - Watched it on DVR. This was a Lifetime Christmas movie. I remember I had watched the previous two movies last year, which means that this was the third film of this series. Although I would have preferred watching the first two before this, it wasn't bad to jump into this one. Like many Christmas TV movies, it was formulaic and predictable, but they often have this charm that will draw you in. It was a cute Christmas movie.
|
|
|
Post by The Kevstaaa on Dec 25, 2021 23:38:10 GMT -5
#404 - Spencer
*Vudu
After 30 or so minutes of this, I was genuinely not liking this. It was a slow burn and legitimately boring. However, as it progresses it starts to paint a clearer picture and reward you for the early stuff. Kristen Stewart gives a career-best performance and some of the psychological horror aspects are really well done. [****]
|
|
|
Post by bibboid on Dec 26, 2021 2:11:52 GMT -5
152. El Camino Christmas
A fairly dark Christmas comedy. A man looking for his estranged father in a small Nevada town gets harassed by the cops and ends up caught in a hostage situation in a convenience store. It has all sorts of famous people in it so it feels like it should have been better.
|
|
|
Post by The Kevstaaa on Dec 26, 2021 23:47:20 GMT -5
#405 - Lilo & Stitch
*Disney+
Yeah, I originally underrated this because cynical 12-year-old me was starting to think he was too cool for Disney movies. This is fantastic with a realistic family dynamic, a heartwarming story, some funny moments, and likable characters. [****]
#406 - The Craft: Legacy
*Starz
Loved the concept of having the women team up and support each other in the end than pitting them against one another. This had some really good ideas in there but I feel some of the girls are underdeveloped and some story beats didn't really click. [**½]
|
|
|
Post by bibboid on Dec 27, 2021 22:54:16 GMT -5
153. The Matrix Resurrections
Neo isn’t really dead and he has to fight to save Trinity and beat the matrix again. I should have watched all three of the first ones again because there are all sorts of flashbacks and shoutouts to them. The plot is a little confusing but there are some good Wachowski brand punching, kicking, shooting, exploding fights. And of course an ending just vague enough to allow for another sequel if they feel like making one.
|
|
|
Post by The Kevstaaa on Dec 27, 2021 23:56:10 GMT -5
#407 - Fantasy Island
*Starz
Look, this movie is dumb as hell and doesn't make any sense but I was never bored and had a decent time. That's all I can ask for with this. [**]
#408 - Titanic
I saw this as a kid and didn't like it but I totally get why. Watching it back finally as an adult, I can see the appeal. The romance is engaging and the big set pieces with the sinking are so well done. It does drag at points and there was totally room for Jack or to at least switch places back and forth. [****]
|
|
|
Post by bibboid on Dec 28, 2021 1:49:35 GMT -5
154. The Nightingale
An Irish woman in 1800’s Tasmania hires an aboriginal guide and hunts down the British officer who destroyed her life. The casual brutality of the British soldiers is terrifying. It is frightening to realize that crap like this probably happened quite often back then. The ending is a bit puzzling but still satisfying.
|
|
|
Post by burdette25159 on Dec 28, 2021 21:17:59 GMT -5
50: Citizen Kane (1941) *****
|
|
|
Post by The Kevstaaa on Dec 28, 2021 22:53:15 GMT -5
#409 - The Purge: Election Year
*Blu-Ray
Another solid installment of the franchise that does everything the series is known for well and still struggles where it always did. [***]
|
|
|
Post by bibboid on Dec 29, 2021 2:13:34 GMT -5
155. Spider-Man: Far From Home
I finally convinced the wife that we have not seen this movie and probably should before we see the new one. Was it a lot of fun to watch? Definitely. Did the plot make a whole lot of sense? No, not really. Did it have a ridiculous twist at the end that only serves to set up the next movie? Absolutely.
|
|
agent817
Fry's dog Seymour
Doesn't Know Whose Ring It Is
Posts: 21,245
|
Post by agent817 on Dec 29, 2021 15:03:15 GMT -5
219. The Matrix - Watched it on Blu Ray. I felt like binging on these films before watching the new one. It had been a long time since I've watched this one. I remember seeing this in theaters back in 1999. As dated as some of the effects were, they hold up. Some people surmise that this film was what started the whole "bullet time" craze that went on during the late-1990s to early-2000s in various action films that came out during that time. Granted, it never really went away, but it was commonly used in some films. One example is "The One" with Jet Li. It still holds up. It's still a fun film.
EDITED TO ADD*
220. The Matrix Reloaded - Watched it on Blu Ray. Man, do I have memories of seeing this in IMAX back in 2003 or what? Anyway, I have to say that this was a good sequel. I'm not going to pretend that some of the effects were a little dodgy at times, particularly the obvious backdrops that were used. Yes, I know that's the first film used backdrops as well, but some looked a little more obvious than others. This film also had great action scenes, particularly the fight scene with the many Smith clones and the freeway scene. Despite some minor issues with the visual effects, it still holds up.
|
|
|
Post by The Kevstaaa on Dec 29, 2021 23:49:34 GMT -5
#410 - Zola
*Showtime
What a wild ass movie in the best possible way. It's based on a Twitter thread and takes on a ridiculous roller-coaster of a stripper adventure/experience. Both Riley Keough and Taylour Paige are great, while Nicholas Braun has a fantastic supporting performance. [****]
#411 - Dawn of the Dead (2004)
*Starz
This is a really good, contained remake that I thoroughly enjoyed. I think Snyder is at his best when he has something to work off of and isn't using his own original stuff. Plus, Ving Rhames kicks ass. [****]
|
|
|
Post by KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! on Dec 30, 2021 0:35:13 GMT -5
#409 - The Purge: Election Year *Blu-Ray Another solid installment of the franchise that does everything the series is known for well and still struggles where it always did. [***] I really need to see more of The Purge movies. So far I’ve only watched the first one and even that I was years late to the party on.
|
|
agent817
Fry's dog Seymour
Doesn't Know Whose Ring It Is
Posts: 21,245
|
Post by agent817 on Dec 30, 2021 2:15:06 GMT -5
221. The Matrix Revolutions - Watched it on Blu Ray. I can't believe that I had never watched this movie before, at least until now, especially after nearly two decades. But hey, better late than never, right? It's not like I didn't have any chances before.
Being that this take place directly after the events of Reloaded, I could see that it picked up right where it left off. Hell, it'd probably be better to watch both Reloaded and Revolutions back to back. I could also see that it went in a somewhat different direction as a lot of this movie took place outside of the Matrix and in the real world. Some of those action scenes were good. Sure, there will still some good action scenes in the dreamworld, like the big climax. I also recall some people back in the 2000s calling this a lackluster follow-up, but I disagree. This was a good way to end the series back then.
However, with that ending, I wonder how it plays into Resurrections, when that movie came out nearly two decades after this one. There is only one way to find out, but I am also interested in checking The Animatrix first.
|
|
agent817
Fry's dog Seymour
Doesn't Know Whose Ring It Is
Posts: 21,245
|
Post by agent817 on Dec 30, 2021 13:01:48 GMT -5
222. The Animatrix - Watched this on HBO Max. For years I had been curious about this. Hell, I remember seeing it at Rite Aid and considered getting it, until someone seemingly beat me to it. The first thing that I must note is that I won't be reviewing all of the shorts individually, but I will give my take on what I thought of the film as a whole, as well as a few minor takes on the shorts.
All of the shorts had their own stories and had great visuals to go with them. It had been said that these shorts take place within the canon of The Matrix and there are some links to some of it. It was interesting that Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss had provided their voices in only a few, but they were so minor. Trinity played a role in one of them, so it made sense that Carrie-Anne Moss had provided her voice for her character. It must be of note that the Wachowskis had produced this film overall, but the shorts were done by different teams.
I really wonder if more could be told in the world of the Matrix. Given that this came out nearly two decades ago, it makes me wonder why there hasn't been another Animatrix film or spin-off films of some of these shorts. Maybe I might have to see if there is more to the Matrix lore.
Also, we're at the end. It's time for a 2022 edition.
|
|
|
Post by Duke Cameron on Dec 30, 2021 16:07:05 GMT -5
No Time to Die (2021)
|
|
|
Post by The Kevstaaa on Dec 30, 2021 22:54:40 GMT -5
#412 - 300
*4K Blu-Ray
I've had this on my watchlist for like a decade at this point. Finally saw it in 4K and was disappointed. I didn't expect a great story but I at least wanted cool action and dope visuals. Sadly, almost every aspect of this peaked at just being pretty good. [**½]
|
|