Watched 26 Mar 2026

I really, REALLY liked this, but even I have to admit it's fairly messy. It goes all in on some risky directorial choices, from the bride's "lipstick" to the "Ritz" homage to the fourth-wall breaking Mary Shelly cutaways. I think they pay off in a stylistic way, but for substance, it's hit and miss. Some arcs are too neatly tied for as flabby as the plotting is, too, but the acting? A+ work from Buckley & Bale. Love the wardrobe & makeup. The direction just doesn't justify its lack of focus.

Watched 26 Mar 2026

I really want to love this, but it ended up feeling like a pilot episode without a plan. Lots of diversions & meanderings, uncovering pseudo-profound moments & meanings along its way to a rug-pull finale that seemingly takes pride in its ambiguity. Despite unrealistic apocalyptic worldbuilding and a nearly impenetrable protagonist, I climbed aboard for the thought experiment and the ideas it explored. The corporate animation style is great. The characters are extremely diverse. But to what end?

Watched 26 Mar 2026

Solid stuff for Raimi fans, and it's so good to see McAdams sink her teeth into a role like this (though I disliked O'Brien). For a survival flick--typically not my thing--it hinges on a nice character twist that avoids trial-and-error montages of learning the ropes in the wild. It mines plenty from its power dynamics and the equivalence of uncivilized nature to civilized corporate life. Ultimately got a bit wishy-washy and didn't have enough opportunities for campy fun, but the ending worked.

Watched 26 Mar 2026

Campy fun that trips over into cringe more often than not, but the quality animation (inconsistent in style as it is) elevates a sci-fi misfire to an endearing passion project (that practically bankrupted the studio). It's no Heavy Metal, but as 70s adult animated films go, this has some real star power behind its hit & miss songs. (Even if I'm not too keen on its penultimate tune from Debbie Harry, it is a real earworm for me.) More than anything, it's the animation & imagination that delivers.

Watched 26 Mar 2026

First time watching a John Wick film over a decade after the franchise started making waves, and it lives up to the hype. Great action, stellar filmmaking, and a mediocre script by what has to be one of the luckiest screenwriters in Hollywood to ride these coattails. I'd really love a sharper or more novel story, maybe something Statham-ish like The Bank Job or the Crank movies, but truly, the visual language & tone of this benefits from the space to explore, even if it felt longer for it.