FILM DIARY
I have watched 0 movies this year
11/2/2024
Pixels (2015)
When you hear over and over how bad a movie is you start to wonder, how bad could it really be. Pixels is every bit as bad as everyone said. Wow. We made a mystery science theatre 3000 of the experience, but wow.
The thing is, I think it could've been a good movie if someone, anyone involved tried to make it one. No one did. No I do not care to elaborate at this time.
11/1/2024
Dark Waters (1993)
This movie was terrifying and so so good I love this weird kind of movie. A Tubi gem. Disgusting and unsettling and freaky and fabulous. Scary ass nuns. Everyone go watch this right now.
10/30/2024
Trick 'r Treat (2007)
Now this is good clean R-rated Halloween fun! Can't believe I hadn't already seen it. Obvi a classic. Vibes were immaculate, as the kids say.
10/25/2024
Maxxxine (2024)
I liked this movie but I didn't love it. Which is also how I felt about X, though if we're discussing the trilogy I think Pearl was a true instant classic and the most effective of the 3. This movie had lots of style and lots of references and homages to things that I think are cool just like the previous two films, but it was pretty underdeveloped as a story. Maybe because they produced all those movies in such quick succession? I don't know. Don't feel like writing more about it. Pretty cool at times but overall underwhelming considering all the inspiration, I guess.
Trap (2024)
Shyamalan's latest pg-13 thriller. I actaully quite liked this movie, after feeling underwhelmed or uninterested in quite a bit of ol M Night's most recent works. If he's hit or miss, this one was a hit. Definitely more thriller than horror. It was tense and funny and I liked the way so much of the camera work was focused on faces filling up most of the screen and really focusing on interesting expressions. I was sufficiently stressed.
The reviews on this movie are terrible though. Highly criticized for being a goofy nepo-fest, since it heavily stars Shyamalan's daughter and has a clunky sort of script. I don't know why but I'm okay with it. It was pretty transparent, and I'd say the result was that of like a reeeally good lifetime movie.
10/18/2024
Final Destination 3 (2004)
As I write this entry, the morning after I watched this movie, I am packing up to go to Six Flags TODAY. Like, this evening. So I watched this movie to scare myself since I'm about to go on roller coasters for the first time in like, 13 years. I loved coasters when I was a kid but I've been worried the anxiety that comes with becoming an adult might make me too scared to get on? I want to be brave and just do it. It's Halloween! It's Fright Fest! So i'm trying to convince myself that that's the whole point and if I'm scared then GOOD because that's what Halloween is all about and I just should do it scared.
The classic opening roller coaster crash scene (you can't spoil an opening scene, ok?) built up the suspense rather shakily at first, it really ramped up when our protagonist, the lovely miss Mary Elizabeth Winstead, my hair inspo/twin forevs, enters the turnstiles and it sinks in that there is really no turning back. THAT is the feeling I'm scared of when (hopefully) going on those coasters today. Cause here's the thing. I'm not really scared of the roller coaster crashing. I don't think that will happen. I'm just scared that I'm going to be scared and I won't be able to handle it. I'm going to handle it, though.
Anyway, I let the suspense of that scene take me over in a way strangely profound and singular, given that this movie is a lot of fun for me but not exactly a masterpiece. I let my heart pound and breath get short and just really embraced the feeling of being terrified to get on that coaster. The feeling I'm afraid to feel. Yay! Isn't this fun?
Once the doomed coaster started going, despite the fact that it in fact does crash, I felt this sense of relief because before the crashing started it looked like a lot of fun. I'm going to have fun today, dammit!
This Final Destination movie stands out to me from the others mainly for nostalgia. It's one of the first horror movies I can really remember watching and taking it in, and I can transport myself back to where I was when I watched it in a way that's interesting to me because I don't have many specific memories of childhood at all. I normally don't have THIS much to say about the movies I watch, unless I hate them really bad, but here we are!
In a lot of ways, this movie is really just ok. The kills are fun and the plot is goofy and if it was made for tv I'd consider it a masterpiece. But one kill in this movie stands above them all and is in my opinion one of the best/most brutal/horrific kill scene in horror: the tanning beds of course!
This movie toook a sick pleasure in sexualizing and then burning those girls alive. There is a major element of misogyny at play in a way that is just so 2004. I think we were supposed to hate them and think they were vapid assholes, but they were mostly nice girls.
They're iconic as hell and ate every other death in this movie up baddd.
10/12/2024
The Ninth Gate (1999)
First let me just say: Fuck Roman Polanski and may he only experience terrible things and never see my review and feel satisfaction. That being said...
I loved this movie. Had a great noir mystery kind of vibe and some really understatedly creepy moments that are sticking with me. Loved the performances and the script and the camera work and the musical stings. Kinda reminded me of Eyes Wide Shut, which came out the same year and is one of my favorite movies. I was shocked to google reviews just now to see it has not been well-received... 43% on Rotten Tomatoes. Idk, this movie was made for someone and that someone is me. Logging this one as a classic in my personal canon. One of my new favorite devil movies. Maybe I should read the book! Perhaps that will free me of my reading slump.
10/11/2024
Terrifier 3 (2024)
Didn't realize I was catching this on opening night. Every bit as gory and disgusting as I feared/expected, which was all perfectly fine with me seeing as it's Halloween. Truly diabolical. I had a great fun time. I will never watch it again but it did everything it wanted to do and did it really well. These movies kinda get better and better each time and just really capture the spirit of slashers while kicking it up like 11 notches. Really just for fans of the series. I wouldn't recommend it to literally anyone else.
10/10/2024
Ju-On: The Grudge 2 (2003)
My first time watching the sequel as a fan of the OG (not the American remake) and I have to say I liked it even better! The plot was still completely incomprehensible to me but the scares were fantastic.
I really loved the freaky hair horror and the insane sound design and the jump scares that actually paid off. Genuinely scary and I really don't say that often. This might be the scariest/my favorite movie in the haunted house genre. If you haven't seen it change that today!
addendum: I just learned that the 2002 film Ju On: The Grudge is not the OG but the first of the series to get a theatrical release and is based on 2 previous direct-to-video films, Ju-On: The Curse and Ju-On: The Curse 2, both from the year 2000. I feel extremely silly for not being aware of this sooner. Now I have to go back and watch those omg.
9/20/2024
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
First rewatch since it first came out. This movie held up really well. A classic dareisay. The suspense was killer story had great twists and turns and ended in a satisfying way. Even though I don't really care that it's connected to Cloverfield at all. It's fine as a standalone. John Goodman is so good at being scary. Loved it!
9/18/2024
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)
A fool-me-twice situation. I just wanted jump into the franchise to see where they took it. I can only be mad at myself.
I actually found this movie quite charming at first. I enjoyed the characters and setting a lot more than in the first installment. I thought it seemed sort of promising.
Again I found myself slogging through the longest hour and 24 minutes of my life. How do they make these movies SO boring?
Something was wrong with the way they were doing jump scares, like they happened in slow motion and sort of warned you it was going to happen before it did thus making it impossible to actually be startled.
I wish they would write a freakin script with lines and dialogue. In these movies they just give the actors like, talking points to improvise with during the scene, which is incredibly apparent because characters are always just repeating variations of each other's words back. This kind of badly naturalsistic acting always makes me cringe.
The movie was rated R but the violence and horror was pulled way back as though it were PG-13. There was no payoff at all for sitting through all the boring bullshit padding the runtime. There is no reason this movie needed to be as long as it was (besides the technicality of being a Feature Film). But even if it HAD been cut down into more of a short film, we would still be left with something really shitty and boring.
One strength it had was its humor. The end was actually hilarious. What a bizarre way to tie this movie back to the first one. Like, ok I guess! At least I can giggle.
I could excuse bad acting and shitty production value easily if there was any payoff at all. Its main and unforgivable crime is that it is BORING.
9/15/2024
Paranormal Activity (2007)
I've long been of the seemingly unpopular opinion that this movie is overrated and boring. Since it's been many years since I saw the movie and formed that opinion, I popped it on to give it another chance and see if I feel any differently now.
Normally when I revisit a movie to update an old opinion, whether I end up changing my mind or not (I sometimes do! See my thoughts on Cloverfield and Sinister),I'm usually at least glad I brushed up for the pop culture education of it all and for the added confidence it gives me when an opportunity arises to share my opinion.
This experience gave me no such consolation. I hated it again. Hated it so badly I wish I could just have that hour and a half back. What a waste of my goddamn time.
This makes me an asshole, but knowing that people enjoy this movie or think it was good on any level genuinely makes me lose respect for them. Or at least their opinion about horror movies. And movies in general. Why are all the reviews so positive? What part of the movie warranted all those night-vision shots of people in the theater launching the popcorn out of their laps? I can not make sense of it.
I will never EVER watch this movie again. What a drag.
If you like this movie tell me why LOL I know I was harsh here but it's all in good fun it's just a movie and I actually won't bite.
8/26/2024
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Visually this movie was pretty spectacular as well as bonkers but wow storywise this shit was a mess. Why did they cast that man as Valerian? He looked barely pubescent and did not have the presence for that kind of character. It's actually insane that he was the titular character. I found Cara Delevigne's much more interesting. Some hilarious writing. Terrible acting by Rihanna. I'm honestly glad I watched this. It was bad.
8/16/2024
Alien: Romulus (2024)
This slayyyyed I like actually loved it. Didn't end up getting that cool xenomorph popcorn bucket though.
8/9/2024
Volcano (1997)
Put this on as a throwaway not intending to pay much attention. Turns out this movie is kinda great. Watched the whole thing on the edge of my seat. Really good 90's blockbuster and a lot less corny than you might expect. One of the better disaster movies I've seen, perhaps even the best. Tried on Armageddon and Day After Tomorrow for size after to keep the theme going but they didn't hold me for long therefore they do not warrant entries in this log. Anne Heche is a vision in this movie I miss her.
8/4/2024
Shrek the Third (2007)
The cat turned into a little horse that smells like feet. What's to get?
8/1/2024
Civil War (2024)
This was a really solid movie. I like that they don't tell you whose side to be on. Didn't expect much from this but I was impressed.
7/27/2024
The Mist (2007)
I feel like I was lead to believe this movie isn't all that great but I really liked it. The melodrama of it all was so much fun. A classic I fear.
7/26/2024
Modern Times (1936)
Y'all ever heard of this Charlie Chaplin fella? He's pretty funny!
7/24/2024
The Red Shoes (1948)
Dear god now THIS is a movie. I miss technicolor so much. Completely utterly stunning amazing gorgeous fantastic.
7/22/2024
Dance Academy: The Movie (2017)
Just finished watching the series again for the first time since I was a teenager. I didn't expect to get so hooked and actually see it through. The show is insanely good, especially for a teen drama. A little cringe at times as teen dramas can be but truly it was even better than I remembered.
The movie closed it off so BEAUTIFULLY I really loved it. These characters are so dear to me. Dance Academy was made with so much love and care. Everyone should watch Dance Academy!!
7/21/2024
Signs (2002)
Hadn't seen this since I was a kid. Pretty charming! Ultimately just scary for people who don't watch a lot of horror. I liked it.
7/12/2024
Longlegs (2024)
Wow. I hated this fucking movie. It was truly very bad. Not to poison the well. Maybe I'm missing something. Other people seem to like it.
Don't get me wrong, it was well cast shot and acted. But it is such an empty dissatisfying waste of the murder-mystery detective genre. If it wasn't for Nic Cage giving an impressive and unique and interesting performance it is completely forgettable and generic and incomplete, storywise. The only way I can think of that would justify the way this story was told is if they're setting us up for like a sequel cinematic univerese. Which irritates me.
I'm being such a nasty hater but people have really been hyping this movie up. It did a good job at copying the look of the types of movies it's clearly trying to be (Silence of the Lambs, Zodiac, Se7en...) without any of the substance that leaves you mulling them over for days after you've seen them.
The sound design was beyond obnoxious. I hate when movies don't trust you to just be scared and have to remind you loudly and suddenly that they want you to be.
**Spoilers ahead click to reveal**
The whole thing ending up as just "the Devil quite literally made me do it" is so blahhh and boring even the theme of satanism was soo shallow and cursory. Just gimmicky but somehow trying to be pretentious.
Another gimmick is the use of the cypher. All we get is that there is a cypher and the detective cracks it. That's it. Who even cares that there was a cypher? Just cheap decoration and filler. So many concepts introduced and none of the loose ends are tied in a satisfying way because it's the devil! How boringngnngngn.
Also I feel like her mom being the accomplice or something was like this big reveal that wasn't really earned. Why are these people connected? Because the devil and because the writer said so, apparently.
I have so many more grievances but I don't feel like being negative anymore.
7/10/2024
Black Swan (2010)
How many times can I watch this movie before I decide I'm sick of it? I'm suspecting the number can only be approached and never reached. One of my favorite movies ever. Yes I know Perfect Blue did it first and better. This is my shit tho.
7/9/2024
The Favourite (2018)
Yorgos Lanthimos the director that you are. I should've watched this a long time ago! Completely fabulous. Wonderful movie. Obsessed.
7/7/2024
The Shallows (2016)
As a user review on IMDB aptly put it: brought nothing new to the shark genre.
7/6/2024
The Mad Room (1969)
Fun schlocky B-horror with some good writing and acting. Ultimately quite silly but I had a grand old time.
7/1/2024
Splice (2009)
Ewww this went the most disurbing route possible. This is one of those movies I have to pretend is a SyFy channel original to feel like it was good. It could definitely have been better. So 2009 it hurts.
6/31/2024
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Seen it a billion times. One of my all-time favorite movies. Blows my mind every time. It gets better and better with each viewing! Filmed right in my back yard. Insanely close to my heart. Cinematic perfection.
6/30/2024
Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging (2008)
Haven't seen this in years so tell my why I knew every word every line every ridiculously british vocal inflection. This movie SHAPED MEEEE.
6/27/2024
Tejano (2018)
Found this on DVD at the library. It ended up being a flawed b-flick about a guy who makes bad choices and gets mixed up with the cartel. Pretty goofy at times but fairly competently made. Saw a review calling it like, B-rubbish. I wouldn't say it was THAT bad! At the end of the day it was just ok.
6/24/2024
The Parent Trap (1998)
Had fun revisiting an old classic. Held up pretty well. Rated PG for mild mischief. That's what the thing said but their mischief was bordering on the criminal. Lindsay Lohan the talent that you are.
6/23/2024
Aquamarine (2006)
The perfect summer movie. Even better than I'd remembered. I wept and wept.
6/22/2024
First Wives Club (1996)
Perfect movie no notes.
6/12/2024
The Black Demon (2023)
Megashark b-movie with a supernatural element. The reviews on this are terrible which I understood once I realized this movie had a full theatrical release and people paid to see it there. It sort of had a made-for-TV vibe that if I'm honest I found charming. Made me feel like I found a gem on Chiller or SyFy. Summer is about big shark! I had a good time with my popcorn and nerds clusters on the rig with the shark! Sue me!
6/11/2024
The Damned (1969)
This was a good follow up to Cabaret, i considered this string a spiritual double feature since it also took place during the rise of the Nazis. Just utter depravity from start to finish. Very hard to watch at times and gigantic trigger warnings for nazis, homophobia, child sexual abuse, suicide (list not exhaustive). Not for the faint of heart, I wouldn't casually recommend it to anyone. Pretty much a bummer but a really interesting and well-made movie exploring a relationship between nazism and perversion in really thought-provoking and unexpected ways.
6/10/2024
High School Musical 2 (2007)
I was about to get my period and started weeping during What Time is It. Every second of this movie is iconic and perfect. This is the true meaning of summer.
6/6/2024
Cabaret (1972)
This movie drove me wild with desire. Holy shit it was so good.
6/1/2024
Richard III (1955)
Oh this went crazyyyy. Got this dvd from the library and it was so good I'll have to keep an eye out for a copy to own. Desperate for resources talking about the incredible costuming in this film! My searches have turned up sparse results except for a general acknowledgment that this movie committed to weird medieval hats like few others have been brave enough to do. Loved this movie.
5/31/2024
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
DIVAQUAKKEEE. No fr this movie was fabulous I loved every second. Way more than Fury Road. That's my controversial opinion. Didn't appreciate all the callbacks to Fury Road (the name having A Mad Max saga... smh) becasue it's like, banging you over the head to remind you what intellectual property/franchise you're consuming cause they don't trust you to appreciate or enjoy things without IP attached. But seriously fabulous film.
5/20/2024
Apocalypse Now Redux (2001)
This was my first time watching any version of Apocalypse Now at all. My partner put it on for ambience and I sat rapt and watched for the whole 3.5+ hours. How could I take my eyes off it? Easily and indisputably one of the absolute greatest and best made films i've ever seen or will see. Very upsetting, won't be rewatching for a long long time.
5/12/2024
Planet of the Apes (1968)
DAMN YOU ALL TO HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. This movie went hard asf.
5/10/2024
The Iron Claw (2023)
Ohh this movie was devastating. Zac Efron is so sweet and good. I love him. This was a great movie, from the performances to the cinematography.
5/3/2024
Deep Cover (1992)
Had never heard of this film before I came across is scrolling through Tubi hoping to find a fun crime drama. It was directed by Bill Duke, an actor who, if you don't recognize his name, you probably recognize his face if you've seen, say, Predator? And a few other iconic films. I did not know he was a director at all let alone that he's that fucking good. This was a fantastic movie. Lawrence Fishburne is so good. Stylistically, thematically it just all worked for me. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes crime movies.
187 (1997)
I had never heard of this movie either. Tubi just played it after Deep Cover. This was also a really interesting movie. A Samuel L. Jackson vehicle that is VERY 90s in a way i really enjoyed. A bit melodramatic and goofy but also serious and tense. You pick up early on it's an inner-city-teacher movie which tend to go a certain way, but this movie defied my expectations, surprised and thrilled and impressed me. Written by a teacher, apparently. Pretty cool.
4/20/2024
Men (2022)
I thought this was a creative and effective horror movie which communicated its themes clearly and concisely. I know this movie had polarizing reception paralleling that of the 2017 Arronofsky film Mother! (which I also liked) and I can understand why. They were thematically similar for sure. I saw some criticisms that this movie is not an effective allegory for the dynamics of patriarchy but i disagree with the premise that it was an allegory at all (unlike Mother!). I saw it more as jsut an exploration of the themes through the haunted house horror genre without trying to be 1:1 analagous to those dynamics. I liked that it got weird with it. The climax felt Cronenbergian and if you know me at all you know I mean it as a compliment. I feel like maybe people wanted this movie to be deeper than it was. I didn't really need that. I think it did its job and did it well.
4/18/2024
The Center of the World (2001)
Erotic y2k time capsule. I hated this movie. That's an hour and a half I'll never get back.
4/14/2024
Aguirre, The Wrath of God (1972)
Suddenly I am thrust back into my love for film. Obsessed with historical dramas at this time and apparently the historicity of this one is pretty spot on even though the plot itself is purely fictional. This was my first Werner Herzog film and now I see what all the fuss was about. This was just exactly the kind of movie I've been craving. I watched it on Tubi. I smell a Herzog deep dive in my near future. We're back!
4/8/2024
Behold! The Kirkley Dougrik (Stirk Kublas?) double feature!
Paths of Glory (1957)
A rewatch of coruse. This movie is so good it should be illegal but you didn't need me to tell you. Makes me weep every time.
Spartacus (1960)
Another rewatch. Objectively the best movie set during the Roman Empire. Gorgeous, bleak. What more do you expect me to add to this conversation?
3/30/2024
King Kong (2005)
I'm sorry but this movie is an overlong terribly paced mess. I really expected it to be good, too. Or at least to like it. Can't win em all.
3/29/2024
Love Lies Bleeding (2024)
This was a fun and silly movie. Very entertaining. If I had found it for free on Tubi i'd tell everyone it was the best movie I'd ever seen. Loved the performances. Excellent way to spend Friday night.
3/27/2024
This is Me...Now (2024)
Yeah, the JLO movie. Every bit as good as Gigli.
3/20/2024
The Ramen Girl (2008)
An odd, flawed, sweet and charming movie. I understand why it kind of faded into obscurity. I just love Brittany Murphy so. I miss her dearly.
3/19/2024
Dream Scenario (2023)
A tight, weird little comedy horror-ish Nic Cage vehicle. Thoroughly entertaining and painful. Seems to be trying to comment on fame. I don't know how successful it is in its commentary but I enjoyed the movie.
3/18/2024
Bottoms (2023)
I laughed, I giggled. Good movie.
3/17/2024
The Boondock Saints (1999)
Happy St. Paddy's Day! I love Willem Defoe.
3/16/2024
Anywhere But Here (1999)
Middling mother-daughter flick with good performances. Kind of forgettable.
3/15/2024
Dune: Part 2 (2024)
So I've been approaching watching movies differently for a while now. I moved away from watching movies from the perspective of an amateur critic, picking apart the movies to make sure I only like the "good" ones. I now just allow myself to be immersed in the experience of the film as best I can in order to allow for maximum enjoyment. The part of me with Impostor Syndrome was concerned that this would reveal that my sense of taste and discernment about movies is false and shallow and that I would revert to the adolescent tendency to be impressed by any movie presented with enough pomp and circumstance (the blip around age 13 when I was convinced Avatar (2009) was my favorite movie... smh) and that I wouldn't actually be able to tell not only if a movie was genuinely good, but if I personally liked it.
I'm happy to report that that was a silly fear (writing it out just now makes that kind of obvious but I am my own worst enemy). I now enjoy far more movies and types of movies than I ever used to when I was trying desperately to distance myself from "bad" movies. So many more movies are good and enjoyable than I ever realized, and my sense of taste is actually more refined and clear now that I've opened myself up.
Dune 2 got me thinking about this because I, as a sci-fi fan, was fairly confident I would enjoy this movie despite its mixed reception, taking into account my current strategy of just enjoying the ride, buying into the world and suspending disbelief to allow for maximum potential for enjoyment.
All this to say, I did not end up enjoying Dune 2 very much. It's difficult to think of a movie that has ever made me feel less emotion than this one. I'm an emotional girl. Catch me at the right (wrong?) time of month and I get misty hearing Break Free by Ariana Grande. The relationships, characters, dynamics, none of them even nudged me in the direction of an emotion. I felt nothing and I wasn't resisting, either. It just didn't feel deep or real.
I felt like there was a lot of visual potential that was kind of squandered by how dark and beige this movie is. I really would've liked a richer more fleshed out world with more to look at. There was a sort of minimalist bent to the visual approach where there was a focal point of something interesting to look at on a fairly plain background. Which is an approach I respect but I ended up feeling bored. The best way to describe my feelings about this movie is that it was just missing something. Missing a few things. I don't think it has much if any rewatch value, even for background ambience. Everything about it is something that I should like, would like, and somehow I just don't.
Austin Butler was a bright spot for me, committing to a damn good Stellan Skarsgard impression with his performance. Everyone else was pretty good but I thought he was visually and characteristically the most interesting.
Some of the action was kind of fun in the moment but ultimately nothing to write home about. Paul riding the worm felt like Fonzi jumping the shark to me. The sound design was very charactersitically Villeneuve in a way that felt gimmicky. I get that music is important for mood and drama but I felt like these loud droning blasts puncuating moments that would've otherwise been blah and boring was somewhat repetitive and uninspiring. Nearly a 3 hour runtime in the theater with the big screen and surround sound and I just felt nothing.
The movie was polished, grandiose, and competently made with a clear vision and artistry. It just fell flat for me. Not altogether a waste of my friday night, though. It was nice to be out and I'm glad I saw it. I will be watching Dune 3 when the time comes.
Of the Chalemet vehicles I watched this week, Wonka prevails.
3/15/2024
Horrible Bosses (2011)
Not much to say about this. I laughed.
3/11/2024
Wonka (2023)
I wasn't sure what to expect as a person whose favorite movie of all time is the 1971 Willy Wonka. I am pleased to report I was utterly charmed by Wonka!!! It was such a sweet movie for kids. I don't know that it's quite as transcendant as the original, but I had a lovely time. What a pleasant surprise! This makes me like the 2005 one even less than I already did. Yay Wonka!!!
3/2/2024
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
Is it crazy to say this movie is completely underrated? Especially if you skip Troy and Gabriella's boring songs.
Visible Secret (2001)
Campy fun. Most 2001 thing I've ever seen.
3/1/2024
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
Comfort rewatch. The superior "Confessions" movie.
2/25/2024
Confesions of a Shopaholic (2009)
I'm sure you can see the trend in my recent watch history. This is a fun chill movie but somehow doesn't quite hit legendary status. just a mild classic.
2/24/2024
Go Figure (2005)
One of the less-remembered DCOMs. I was surprised by how much of it was familiar to me. Y'all remember Everlife? I think I saw them open for Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus back in 2008 (when life was good).
Notably came out the same year as Ice Princess. 2005 was a big year for ice skating.
Jump scare when the lead referred to herself casually as "moderate conservative" HELLO??
Upon further reading I'm seeing that Everlife was Christian (i should've known) and also the Christian band Superchick was on the soundtrack so there's something to think about. I really should dedicate a spot on this site to my Christian past and all the music that entailed lmfao.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)
I hadn't seen this in years and was relieved when it turned out that Paolo was the villain because I was thinking this man is a FREAk??? lizzie was ignoring some red flags but how can i blame her i think she had just graduated the 8th grade. Impeccable wardrobe. I'll be letting that inspire me.
2/23/2024
Blackberry (2023)
I love 2000s period pieces and I want a Blackberry.
2/22/2024
Gigli (2003)
I'd heard it was bad but WOW. Just a mess through and through. Unwatchable and remarkable.
Ice Princess (2005)
Immaculate sickday fare. "No, mom. I'm giving up YOUR dream."
2/20/2024
Cloverfield (2007)
Another long, famous era of chey haterism has come to an end. After at least 4 failed attempts over the years, i finally watched enjoyed and appreciated Cloverfield. It required some reframing, but I finally did it and now I can put my hate train to rest. I'm changeable, ever-evolving!
The best way to watch this is as if it is a SyFy Channel original film, in which case it is the Citizen Kane of SyFy Channel original films. Sorry, Minotaur (2006).
2/14/2024
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
I watched this on a whim after seeing a few clips of it on tiktok. It wasn't great! It was pretty poorly written and shakily acted and costumed tbh but i can't say I didn't enjoy it. Lately I'm really not needing movies to be good in order to enjoy them. Very chill and pleasant Valentine's evening fare.
2/12/2024
Weekend roundup
Midsummer Night's Dream (1996)
Was craving a Shakespeare and found this one by the Royal Shakespeare Company on Tubi. I had fun with this! It was strange and unique whimsical erotic and funny as it should be.
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
I'd been meaning to watch this for a while. It was a touching story about being kind of a fuckup and an asshole and unlucky and the gamut of facing the consequences for your own shitty behavior and being given grace for it. And I really liked the cat. I've been really into musicals lately and this sort of fit actually.
2/9/2024
Favorite alert!!!!
The 10th Kingdom (2000)
Ok, this is technically a show. A miniseries really. From Hallmark. And largely forgotten. And if you know you fucking KNOW. 10th Kingdom stans if you're reading this: RISE!!!! Seriously, please leave a comment on my neocities profile or SOMETHING I desperately need to interact with someone who gets itttt.
This might be the first DVD i remember asking for and getting after seeing it while at preschool. Which is also insane because it's decidedly... not really for kids. It came in 3 discs in a chunky booklike case that I've kept close since the literal year 2000, maybe 2001 and it's such a precious relic of its time. I will keep it forever. Since it's a miniseries it spans a little over 7 hours but growing up I always treated it like one long movie. I didn't know what the hell a miniseries was. I loved forcing my friends and family to sit through it with me. It was probably unreasonable to expect that they'd endure all 3 discs in one sitting. But this was the best thing ever and I wanted to share!
It is so profoundly late 90s in style and aesthetic and effects and it has only gotten more charming to me with time. The costumes, makeup and most importantly performances are truly stellar and bizarre and so so endearing. It's so funny and full of weird fetishes and so earnest and charming. I'm telling you even the dog is acting his tail off!!! It is such an insane ride from start to finish. If you love fantasy and aren't afraid to get silly with it I IMPLORE YOU SERIOUSLY IMPLORRREEE you to watch it. I hear it's on Freevee with ads. It's so insane, quotable, and earnestly and unironically excellent. It WILL enrich your life, I promise. This miniseries will always be among my very favorite pieces of media ever created.
Writing this has got me inspired. I will likely create a shrine and move the following section to that shrine,but for now enjoy it here.
If you are of legal drinking age and want to make a game of it, I recommend taking a drink every time:
- Wolf says "succulent"
- Trolls say "suck an elf!"
- You notice a thinly (if at all) veiled fetish
- Tony does something idiotic
- It gets darker than you expected
- Trolls sing Saturday Night Fever
- You see a self-help book
2/6/2024
Mamma Mia (2008)
Bought the dvd at half price books and popped it in as soon as i came home. Believe it or not I hadn't seen it before. It's pure perfect fluff. I'm glad there are movies like this. I loved it.
Ring (1998)
This was a sort of comfort rewatch. Haven't seen it in a long time and had forgotten how truly great it is. The perfect spooky atmosphere, beautiful composition of mundane locations. The more I think about it the more pissed off I get about the 2002 Gore Verbinski version.
1/29/2024
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)
I lovvve this movie it is pure perfection. It's so harrowing and is a perfect execution of play to film. It's easy to see why every single credited actor received an acedemy award nomination. They all bodied it baddddd. Especially Liz Taylor obviously. But no one needs me to say this, it's well established.
1/21/2024
Poor Things (2023)
This move was FABULOUS I loved every moment of it. It was sweet and heartwarming and charming while also being disgusting. You know I eat that shit up! Emma Stone is wondrous to behold. I would do anything for her. Same with Willem Defoe. Maybe I'll finally watch The Favorite I loved it so much. i can't wait to watch it again. NO NOTES perfect movie.
1/17/2024
Nope (2022)
Rewatch. I think this is undisputably one of the very very best movies to come out in a really long time, especially in the like, blockbuster sphere. Truly terrifying, really inspired sci-fi with so many cool details and a hell of a cast. This is up there with Jurassic Park for me that's how much I like it. Thank you Jordan Peele!! I think you're a genius.
1/16/2024 Weekend Roundup
American Psycho (2000)
When i first saw this movie as a teen I loved it. Then I watched it again in college and I hated it. Now I love it again. This is obviously a classic. I watched it to prepare for a role where I need to embody the essence of evil. I'm not sure how much it helped but I had a good time revisiting this.
The Devils (1971)
My second time watching this. The first was just a few months ago. Upon first watch i thought this was one of my new all-time favorites. Upon second watch I can say it's true with full confidence. This movie has EVERYTHING. Everything that i like. Like it was made specially for me. It's from the 70s, it's weird and psychosexual, medieval(ishh), brutal, funny, religious, ridiculous, and gorgeous. And a guy uses a crocodile to block blows from a sword. WHAT MROE CAN I ASK FOR? If you haven't seen it watch The Devils on the Criterion Channel RIGHT NEOW.
I also watched this one for audition prep research. I needed to see someone unhinged and zealous to inform my performance. it helped!
Troy (2004) Director's Cut
Again i watched this for audition research. The play i'm auditioning for takes place during the Trojan war with all those guys we're so familiar with and I just needed to immerse myself in that world. I'd seen this once before though not the director's cut and i thought it sucked baddd. This time around I pretty much enjoyed it. Director's cut was definitely better than the cinematic release but this movie is decent but never strays into greatness. Kept me entertained for the 3+ hours and got me in the zone for my audition and informed my performance objective though so it did its job. Achilles was wayyyyyy too straight. Patroclus is his BOYFRIEND not his cousin smhhh imagine what we could've had!!! And they should've let the women speak more smh. WHAT ABOUT HELEN'S PERSONALITY, hmm?
1/6/2024
The Color Purple (1982)
I know there's a new one out but that's not the one I watched. This was my first time. It was so good but wow so devastating from the very beginning. Very rough watch. Some of Spielberg's best work though. Should've gone harder with the lesbianism. But even Spielberg himself would say that. Excellence.
1/3/2024
Some Like it Hot (1959)
Long overdue. I laughed a ton. Not overrated in the slightest. Marilyn Monroe is a vision I would do anything for her.
1/2/2024
Hello! First film diary entry of the year! Here's a wrap-up of some notable watches from the last dregs of 2023 and now the start of 2024.
A Scanner Darkly (2006)
Once I asked a pretentious man at a bar about his favorite director. I almost spit out my drink. "Linklater???" I said incredulously. I'm sorry, pretentious dude. I had seen Dazed and Confused and thought it was pretty good but not life changing. I didn't know he did A Scanner Darkly and I certainly didn't know it was this good. I just knew film bros like it. Idk why I avoided it on that premise since I generally tend to like film bro movies.
Saltburn (2023)
While watching it I thought it dragged but ultimately had a good payoff. I prefer the hindsight perspective. A vampire movie in every sense of the term. Made me gaggggg PLEASE drains are my biggest fear. Said basically nothing about class.
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
Laughed and wept and so glad to see a happy ending for our girls. Incredible performances.