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Bleach (2004)
The finest
I don't even know where to start with a show as incredible as this. When I first watched bleach I was quite intrigued by many of the shows fascinating concepts. However, this fascination developed into something much greater. A love, admiration and passion for the characters in this show. The first season gets you familiarized with the characters and the bleach universe itself. After this it easily becomes one of the most entertaining, thrilling and lovable shows out there. If you like any sort of action oriented anime then you will likely adore this. Theres so much I love about this series so I'll list off a few of its qualities I enjoyed most. Internal monologues and introspection is something that's dove into on such a remarkable level of depth. This is not only explored for the main protagonist but almost every character to different extents. Being able to witness these internal thoughts helps you explore their deeper purpose for what drives them. This provides so much character insight, allowing you to connect with them or at minimum always understand their motives. Due to this transparency of emotions I always cared about what happened to the protagonist. Often times I find myself being indifferent towards a main characters fate due to lack of character development. However this is what makes bleach a breath of fresh air. I'd also like to mention that these monologues are so important because of how distinct each and every character is. Not once while watching this show did I think wow this guys a lot like this other one. Every character is easily distinguishable by there personalities alone. Something like this just keeps the series very interesting, however bleach does eventually descend into monotony. There is a substantial amount of filler that really hangs a heavy weight on bleach's integrity as a show. For me, some of this filler just felt redundant to have considering it isn't even in the same realm as bleach's finest arcs. Another weak point of this filler is the Emotional maturity. It just doesn't feel present in these side arcs. Personally an aspect like this feels crucial to a plot regardless of its story. With that said, while bleach has exceptionally strong moments of maturity and hindsight, it simply isn't as consistent as I would've wanted it. Aside from this, visually bleach is pure bliss to watch. Observing characters acquire new powers to overcome their opponents just becomes so satisfying to see. Typically these powers are accompanied with transformations which feel excellently displayed. Finalizing this review I want to say that relationships are a huge incentive factor in bleach. The relationships and mindsets these characters have is what drives them to make the decisions they do. I find this as a great overarching theme because everyone can relate to making decisions based on relationships they have. If that isn't one of the most effective ways to make your audience sympathize with your characters; then I don't know what is. Overall bleach has just about everything. Though it has its flaws, I cannot praise it enough. If you liked anything mentioned in this review you MUST watch bleach.
Alien: Romulus (2024)
Alien film influenced by it's predecessors
This film was a really enjoyable addition to the alien series bringing back a classic alien feel while still having innovation. A big reason why I enjoyed romulus was because it took a lot of the previous alien films best qualities. To me, learning what the audience likes most about a film concept seems like one of the more important things a director can do. In this film it feels like the director knew what the audience wanted while also trying to give it their own creative spin. Aside from that, the horror element is prominent throughout the film which is complimented perfectly by its suspenseful sequencing. The characters do have motives but all of them excluding a few are pretty bland in depth. Scattered Easter eggs will also accompany this film for anyone who is a familiar with previous alien installments. There's also a twist which I was pretty indifferent towards. However, it does add suspenseful scenes whilst expanding the alien universe. Overall alien Romulus is well worth your time to watch if you're an alien, or horror movie fan.
Abigail (2024)
Bloodbath popcorn movie
This is a Kidnapping movie that reveals the whole plot in the trailer. In this film there's a crew assigned an objective after kidnapping a young girl. This is where majority of the characters somewhat lackluster motives come from until something sinister is revealed later in the film. This puts them in a survival instinct state of mind and changes how they all interact with each other. You're gonna get cliche gory action sequences throughout the film but it's fairly entertaining. Character depth also plays a small role with the protagonist, it's used as an incentive for their survival. Before diving into this film don't watch the trailer or any spoilers. The twist in this film would be much more satisfying if it wasn't already revealed to you. Aside from this there aren't really any emotional stakes which made the protagonist kind of boring. In any given film giving the main character a reason to survive and conquer the antagonist creates for a captivating dynamic. Without this concept the plot simply becomes a mindless bloodbath with little sympathy for the protagonist. However if you don't take the movie too seriously it's not bad, worth a watch.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Some of the better marvel entertainment
Deadpool & Wolverine is a spectacle to say the least. My review of this film may be biased due to my investment in the MCU over the years; however this is an enjoyable experience for anyone who loves comedic marvel action. For comparison this film has very similar aspects to previous Deadpool installments. With this said, there's an awesome culmination of easter eggs, throwbacks and entertaining fights sequences. As expected the story isn't overly daunting for a Deadpool film since often times there a bits of comical relief. This film takes the comedian in Deadpool to the absolute max, there's a constant spotlight on him while also not taking any attention away from Wolverine. In the end, showing both of the protagonists motives makes for a heartfelt and cinematic experience. Something else I loved was the contrast between Deadpool's levity and wolverines stubbornness, making for some good exchanges. Overall this film is full of laughs, surprises and awesome cameos.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
Quality film with an unfocused narrative
First of all, this film doesn't feel similar to its previous two installments. A quiet place day one feels more like a comfort movie with suspenseful moments than an actual quiet place film. A good portion of this story was kind of just mindless quandary that felt lackluster to say the least. Furthermore, the emotion conveyed in the film didn't seem as fleshed out as its predecessors. The main focus of this film is the protagonist getting caught in the middle of an alien invasion. However, they are so attached to there ways in life that they seek comfort in the midst of the dilemma. This is an understandable approach, but I do think that the lack of visceral emotion felt makes the film suffer. Otherwise, I did enjoy the suspense aspect. There were numerous instances when jump scares were unexpected and effective Something else I enjoyed was how the film portrayed different peoples reaction to the invasion; some people were losing their minds while others seemed calm and composed. In other words, that added a sense of humanity and relatability as far as sympathizing with emotion. Overall the movie was super average due to the various little points of interest. Many movies much more worth your time, I wouldn't recommend it.
Flight (2012)
Incredible film about overcoming internal battles
This film is nothing short of Incredible. Though the events that take place in this film are captivating as is; the theme of this movie is a heartfelt one. The premise of this film is about the protagonist (whip) and his constant internal conflict. Near the start of the film whip operates an aircraft in which components end up malfunctioning. He lands the plane with minimal casualties, however it's later discovered that whip had been intoxicated during the flight. This causes the internal struggle of whip trying to quit alcohol. I must say the raw emotion captured in this film from every interaction is super engaging. This film has no problem showing that other characters have their own internal battles being fought. This is illustrated so well when you see how vulnerable most of these characters get. Accounting for these other struggles that oppose the protagonist would provokes some really interesting moral dilemmas. In other words, the directors were not afraid to highlight a part that we can all relate to which is conflicting emotions. Aside from this the ongoing battle of corporations is a good plot structure. Acting performances were all good, especially Denzel Washington which is no surprise coming from him. Otherwise this movies fantastic. I love how everything in this film comes full circle in the end as well. Worth a watch without a doubt.
Transformers (2007)
An action that serves good for any watchers
This movies great for entertainment with a semi likable plot. Transformers does a surprisingly good job at captivating you with all of its fascinating visual effects, cgi, and incredible action sequences. The concept of having colossal robots disguise themselves as different vehicles and transform at any given moment is an ambitious one without a doubt. However, I think this film does a great job of not overwhelming you too much with this by focusing on the protagonist sam. The narrative would often be shifted to become more about his journey with the Autobots as the overarching theme. Making the film about Sam helps ease you into the Autobots motives gradually whilst also providing bits of levity. Something else I found amusing was seeing that the Autobots had a conscience and were capable of rational thought. Seeing stuff like that made for a more dynamic experience since I got to see how they interact with each other in a non automated way. If I were to pick out a few negatives I would say I wish the film had more extensive Autobot fights. There also was a few loose ends that could've been wrapped up in the movies conclusion. Otherwise this is a solid film that's worthy of watch.
Sunshine (2007)
A surreal perspective of fighting until the end
This movie is a great encapsulation of persevering until the end. From start to finish there is conflict occurring among the crew of this film. Being able to witness people's true colors come out in dire situations is one of the many things that makes this film good. Throughout sunshine, it becomes apparent that actions have consequences. As an audience we get to see the sheer impact this has on the characters. A massive domino effect occurs in which the crew has to work together to complete their main objective. This film has less of a focus on the relationships of the crew and more of a focus on saving humanity. If you enjoy watching the sacrifices and hardships of an endangering mission come together for a greater purpose, then this movies for you.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
An exciting new era in planet of the apes
Even though this movie doesn't resonate with me as much as the original trilogy I still enjoyed it for different reasons. Planet of the apes Kingdom lacks a lot of what the previous ape movies possessed. These were things like emotional baggage and thought provocative storytelling. However, this film doesn't really feel like it needs to have the same raw emotion considering it's a different kind of movie. Even though there are some traumatic events for the protagonist, this film is a much more upbeat installment. It feels a lot like a journey exploring the world that Caesar paved the way for. Being able to see the apes different interpretations of Caesar and how the kingdom functions as a whole is also entertaining to watch. The villain was great as well and his motives seem to be pretty aligned with what I'd expect. Pretty much wanting to build his empire and become more technologically advanced. What makes him a villain is that he would do anything to achieve this status he seeks. Overall, I loved the whole colossal feel to this movie as the exploration and action scenes did not disappoint. The drawback for me is that I thought the main character Noah and his clan could've had a lot more character development early on.
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
A next to perfect planet of the apes
This movie has it all. It is an emotionally enveloping story with an incredible closure to the trilogy. I want to emphasize that this film isn't similar to the previous ones. The main focus throughout the film is Caesar's perspective and journey. This movie is beautifully segmented into different sections going from lighting the fire in Caesars motives to assuring the survival of his kind. Every moment of this movie for me felt like it mattered on such a profound level. These were moments where characters had time to develop, or fight internal urges. Times then come when the characters have an opportunity to rectify their conflicts. Since the film has you watch their mental struggle throughout; it makes the significance of what they end up doing so awesome to watch.
Something else that's notable are the incredible moments of humanity in the apes. Out of all the films I would argue that this film has the most compassion within it out of all three. Initially this is something that Caesar lacks due to some of the traumatic events. However, as the story progresses on we get to witness this change of heart which is provided to him by other characters. Being able to see Caesar be so positively influenced throughout the narrative made me want to root for him just that much more. Not to mention the anticipation that builds to the climax and the incredible cinematography. Overall this is a phenomenal film about unity, redemption, compassion and nobility. I'm happy to declare this as my favorite planet of the apes film.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Seriously enjoyable film thats consistent throughout
The 2nd installment of the planet of the apes trilogy. This movie is great, but in many different elements than the first one. There was a jump in time since the last movie where the apes have developed a massive community. This is where the story picks up from. Just like the previous film there's so much happening, but the dynamic has changed drastically. Seeing the apes function as a small society with rules that feel similar to our own gives the series a new layer of emotion. Humans do play an important role in this movie in which I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their perspective. Something that I found very compelling is how both humans and apes each have understandable reasons for fighting each other. When movies do stuff like this it just makes everything that happens in the film so much more daunting. Aside from this the heartfelt conflict of brotherhood is a great narrative choice in my opinion. This just illustrated to me that the apes are equally as capable as slipping into greed/power. Overall this is a great installment which probably has the best action sequences in all 3 of the movies.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
One of the best animal upbringing movies since the lion king
This movie has a lot more substance than you might think it does going into it. In this film we follow a protagonist named Caesar who is taken in by a human to be taken care of. Caesar (the ape) eventually leaves his owner where he finds himself among his own kind. This relates to one of the best parts about this film which is watching Caesar develop as a character. It becomes very easy to sympathize with him due to the series of events and consequences he faces throughout the film. This sympathy that's built for Caesar makes his upbringing that much more satisfying. In the beginning of the film you could take a guess as to where it might be headed, but near the end you'll be chanting for the apes to succeed in their expedition. Going from sentimental touching scenes to awesome actions sequences, this movie will keep you engaged all the way through. Overall a great first installment to the modern planet of the ape's films.
Late Night with the Devil (2023)
Original and thematically pleasing
This most prominent part about this film is its originality however there's many other good qualities to take from it. The movie is shot with cinematography that really does make you feel like you're watching a talk show from the 70s. Small features that are shown throughout its runtime really sets the ambience and makes the old style show all the more believable. In the movie, a tv show host is battling internal conflict in determining how to revive his show and make it relevant again. The host comes to the decision that he would do unorthodox things on the show to gather as much attention as possible, as this is directly related to his success. Watching the events unfold and anticipating the audiences reaction was very engaging for me; but what's more was seeing the short intermissions of it throughout. During the show performed to the audience there were numerous instances where genuine emotion could be perceived. However it would be very difficult to tell if this was a part of there script if there were no intermissions. While the intermissions are happening we get to see more about the actual tv show casts ambitions and personas. The inclusion of this makes the sympathy felt for them much stronger when something doesn't go as expected in the show. Overall I think the movies closure perfectly encapsulates the message in this movie. That message being; how much sacrifice are you willing to make for your success? Will it even be worth it in the end?
The Beekeeper (2024)
Enjoyable action, everything else is sub par at best
The concept behind this movie is actually a really ambitious one, however the execution didn't do it justice. This film is just corny and not captivating at all. I didn't care about any of the characters nor did I think the writing was anything special. There was a scene in this film where I burst out laughing because of its absurdity. In its defense it probably not trying to look too realistic, however there wasn't anything special about this movie to bump it up higher than a 5. The reason why it's even this high is because of Jason stathams typical entertaining action sequences. Aside from that this movie isn't rewatchable for me because of its bland script, cast, and sloppy story.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
About as expected
Going into this movie you pretty much know what you're gonna get; which is a bunch of fantasy creatures or (kaiju) battling it out. The thing I like most about this movie is how little it takes itself seriously, and I'm glad it was this way. This movie is nothing like Godzilla minus one with the captivating characters of the movie and heartfelt scenes. The reason why it doesn't have to be like that is because it's just an action packed entertaining blast. This is the kind of movie that you can just have playing in the background and not have to really invest yourself into. In the film there is a lot of kaiju scenes which really is what made this movie. If you're not into fantasy creatures and colossal fight scenes then don't bother with this movie because the plot of the human characters is lackluster. Thankfully they show equally as much if not more of the kaiju then the humans which helped this movie. Overall a decent installment in the kaiju universe that might be worth watching.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
Entertaining and creative
If you don't like films that have absurd scenarios that are highly unlikely to actually happen. This film might not be for you. However I enjoyed it a lot. Plus this movie doesn't stretch limitations nearly as much as science fictions. What it does stretch is its entertainment value throughout most of the movie. This movie is about a married couple with professions that are kept a secret from one another until it inevitably intertwines them in a dangerous situation. From this point on you get to see how the two characters deal with this dilemma and how it has a domino effect during the rest of the movie. This film also focuses the attention on both the wife and husband, making for a different kind of narration in comparison to other actions. Overall there is a satisfying but kind of cliche and wonky conclusion to this film. What seems like an impossible task is accomplished; but hey, this film isn't attempting to be realistic so as long as you don't take it that way then you'll have a good time.
You're Next (2011)
Fun slasher worth watch
If you like slashers then you're most likely gonna enjoy you're next. This movie follows a fairly generic slasher plot and there's nothing necessarily different about it initially. The film does have scenes where viewers can get familiar with the characters but there's one in particular thats most prominent in the movie. The reason why, is slowly revealed as the film goes on and makes for an exciting buildup throughout. As far as content goes, I thought there was some entertaining and suspenseful sequences involving the characters trying to evade the home invaders. This movie does have a twist that is fairly easy to pick up on but it makes for a cool rewatch.
Something else I like about this film is how it's unique compared to other horror movies. In most other horror films I've seen, the characters are usually easy targets for the antagonist because they all act stupid. However in this film the protagonist shows surprising signs of resourcefulness and even competence in fighting. This makes the movie fun because it's not just about her getting lucky but more so displays her skillsets. This left me wondering what shes gonna do next throughout the movie. I can't give this movie a perfect score because I thought the writing and acting could've been way more convincing. I also wasn't a huge fan of the shaky camera shots as it just takes away from the overall experience. Either way I thought this was a solid slasher worth watching.
Get Out (2017)
Suspenseful modern classic!
Being a suspense/horror movie this checks off all the boxes that would be expected of such a movie. Jordan peeles debut horror film is an expertly shot and scripted movie through and through.
This movie is about a man paying a visit to his girlfriend's family, or so it would seem. The movie slowly unravels the disturbing parts of this family as it progresses on and it makes for a suspenseful build up whilst the audience is in the dark the whole time about what's actually occurring. This continues on until the near end when a sinister plan is revealed and has been taking place for a long time. The main protagonist then fights for his life. Overall I think this reveal is what really climax's the tension for this movie while the audience sits in awe and wonders what will happen next. Using the suspense of an unpredictable end result works really nicely in this movie and brings it all together to make it a great watching experience.
Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024)
Not bad but not great
As far as kung fu panda is concerned they have set the bar to a certain standard that for my liking wasn't met for this movie. It's usually to be expected for movies to depreciate in quality as new sequels are released and that's what this felt like. The story was mostly forgettable and not as in depth as I would've wanted. However in its defense, kung fu panda is directed mainly towards a younger audience. I personally think there's just nothing about this movie that makes it better than any of its predecessors.
However I do think there is a good message in the movie and I like how there's moments where the antagonists and heroes are contrasted directly. For example there was a scene in the film where Mr ping explained to po how change was a good thing while the antagonist was explaining how it was bad in the scene directly after. I like these kind of inclusions in movies like this because it shows the difference in motive and develops character. I also enjoyed Tai Lungs parts, in which I thought he had good lines. Otherwise this movie had some average action scenes and sequences throughout, nothing crazy. I don't think this installment was necessary in the kung fu panda series but it's not trash either. If you're ever bored it might be worth a one time watch.
Barbarian (2022)
Caught my attention initially but was disappointed in the end
If I were to use one word to describe barbarian it would be anticlimactic. Barbarian does a great job of making you think the movie is going in one direction only to branch off into something completely different. In some cases this can be an effective method in keeping the audience engaged and excited for the unpredictability of the film. However, this was not one of those movies. I found the plot boring and very stereotypical of other horror movies I've seen. There is multiple points in the movie where I was waiting for it to get interesting but a lot of the action and suspense is very artificial and can be found in other horror movies that do it much better. Overall not horrible but certainly not good or worth watching.