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Reviews
Challengers (2024)
tennis is a relationship!
Tennis is a relationship. The movie said that and stuck with that. This made you revision sex and glory. It made you rethink marriage when relationships. I oddly like zendayas character because she captured the idea of being committed to no one but yourself. It's selfish for sure, but something we often see in male characters and ignore. This was different because you wanted to hate her but god you couldn't because you just respected it. Same thing with the character Art. Sure it's easy to dismiss him as this guy whipped by his wife, but he carrie's a different type of strength. He proved that he had a good heart and he had such clarity. He knew what he wanted and just because it was different from patrick and tasha, ghat didn't make him weak. He didn't want just sex with tasha, he wanted love. He didn't want to continue winning championships, he wanted to be a present father. As for patrick? What a character. Because we all know a patrick. We don't like patrick's. But damn patrick is one hell of a guy? He displayed the relationship between confidence and arrogance.
Also i think this is the first time in western media we have a love triangle of two white bush and a woman or color? That's awesome! This movie was just so.... modern. It was like the sexual themes were so powerful, and even the music choices. Ugh i loved it.
Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)
granted -- didn't play the games!
So to be fair i havent actually played the video games, so the whole storyline was fresh to me. The other reviews are correct int he sense that it was a bit predictable, but i wasn't going in with the expectation of a huge twist. I do not think this was a bad film at all. Like sure it could have been more suspenseful, but overall not too bad. Definitely would not watch with the little ones, but i think it deserves its pg-13 rating. I think they spent too much time in the exposition though. Like they honestly did not spend that much time at the actual pizza parlor. So more scary scenes would have been appreciated haha but again not the worst movie ever. Prooob would not watch again though.
Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001)
kindess is enough
I think what I enjoyed most of this film is the fact that the main character relied on naivety and kindness to accomplish her conflicts.
This is different from other films where the protagonist must be cunning or strategic to fulfill their mission. However, in this case simply being a kind person was enough.
I know everyone is interested in the No Face character. I am reading that he personifies obsession and greed, but I feel like he truly captures what it means to be lonely. When you're lonely you attach obsessively to a person who demonstrated kindess and yiu latch on. And you give them your all (gold, favors) -- but you expect friendship in return. And when your expectations are not met you find yourself hurt -- and then angry.
Never really saw that theme captured in a child movie, so it was definitely interesting to see on screen.
Hauru no ugoku shiro (2004)
messy...yet beautiful plot
I have to admit the plot was definitely hard to keep up with. And there were so many unanswered questions in the storyline. However, I think that weird heterogenous elements fit with the theme of the story. Like the family is full of different characters... a young boy, a grandma, a fire demon, an old witch, a grandma, an odd dog, a wizard, and a scarecrow?
And I think that speaks to the theme of family. Family does not need to be restricted by the boundaries of blood. Instead, it can grow and there is always room for more. The house grows, the characters grew closer to one another, and many were forgiven. Even Calcifer, the fire demon, who desperately wanted to escape the castle -- returned back because he missed them.
The theme was definitely about finding a chosen family, which I found quite beautiful.
Majo no takkyûbin (1989)
i liked the message
I have to say I did enjoy the film. It was super lighthearted and definitely an easy watch. In times where I expected a conflict arise, I was surprised by how nice the characters were? It made me reflect on how people actually are in today's Western society -- rushed, intolerant, fearful.
I do wish they developed more on the plot though. Like I love that she was a witch and wish they could speak more about their history and abilities. I was also interested in learning what "skill" she would develop, as we learn early in the film that some can be "fortune tellers". But I think hat was the message of the film. You do not a need for your talent or skill, and you do not need to find it so young. It takes time to grow our passions and hobbies.
I like that because I am currently trying to develop hobbies of my own -- trying to figure out what I am good at. AThe film was affirming and I am glad I watched it.
A Haunting in Venice (2023)
was expecting more!
I love these types of movies: the who done it? Very reminiscent of Murder on the Oruent Express and Knives Out.
However what I enjoyed about those movies was the suspense element. In this movie they reveal who the killer is too quickly! And then I was like oh perhaps the detective will realize he caught the wrong person, but that was not the case.
There were also some characters that posed no suspicion of the murder (the two Romani siblings).
I did enjoy how they played with science vs supernatural. Constantly the audience are asking themselves are spirits real in this universe? Is everything orchestrated? It plays with our doubts from the very beginning - and there's no right answer!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
5 episodes in...it'll grow on you!
For the die hard PJO fan, I will say the first three episodes were hard to watch. You can't stop complaining about how rushed the scenes, the awkward exposition dumping, and differences from the book.
But by episode 4 I appreciated the differences. It was a re-telling of the books I grew up with, but it wasn't at all disrespecting the series.
It's kind of ironic that people are so upset about the differences. The series is about greek myths, and like myths - there is always a spin to it! Watch the show with that frame of thinking and I think you'll enjoy it.
Also it is targeted for a much younger audience, so the humor that we're used to isn't present. Good watch though!