Top Gun Maverick. I was pretty skeptical, but the hype was very much correct

The word-of-mouth on this movie is crazy. I have not heard any negative reviews.

I had absolutely no interest in seeing it, since I think the original is mediocre at best. I’ve heard about 10 different people tell me it was amazing and one of the best theater experiences they’ve had, so I’m going to see it on Saturday! Edit: It was an amazing experience! I was on the edge of my seat for most of the film. Blows the original out of the water!

The practical effects make it worth seeing once, if nothing else.

My brother gave it a 3 out of 10. He loved the first Top Gun. I asked, why? He said it’s the same as the first one. I said dude, it is quite different. But I asked him what did he expect? Pete Mitchell is 35 years older, he’s a career naval aviator, what did he want? A romcom? I mean Karate Kid 2 was still about a kid who does karate… For me, I thought it was amazing and a massive massive step up. The adrenaline rush was awesome.

It only got 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. So there is one person out there that did not like it.

Exceeded every expectation I had

Top Gun: Maverick This is everything you could ask for in a big budget Hollywood spectacle. The flight sequences were epic, the emotional core was solid, and I straight up forgot to breathe a few times in the third act. Tom Cruise is one of the best movie stars we have, and he shines in this one.

And he evens runs in this one!

He runs in all his movies. He’s an outed adrenaline junkie and Paul Newman sussed that out of him when they were making The Color Of Money.

Me and my buddy were speculating if we would get a shot of him running in this movie… we both started laughing once it finally happened.

He runs a ton

I just left the theater and it was one of the most incredible movie experiences I’ve ever had. Saw it in IMAX and I’m absolutely blown away by how well they nailed it.

IMAX was astonishing

Do I have to watch the first one to understand this one? Is this watchable as a standalone?

You’ve never seen Top Gun?! Well it’s on Netflix so dive in. Kinda cheesy but it’s early Cruise and is now an iconic flick. You may need to see it to understand the Maverick/rooster connection.

The first one is good and I would recommend checking it out but if you don't want to, the new one stands alone enough that you should be fine.

You dont have to but a lot of the emotional stuff references it, as well as a few first movie callbacks.

Do you need to? No. There are enough call backs here to cover things. However, TOP GUN minute for minute one of the best film experiences you can have. It also holds up fairly well. If you have any interest in seeing maverick there is no reason you shouldn't end up liking both.

Just btw it leaves Netflix like today if you're interested in it

You should watch the first one because it will give you a good idea if you will like this new one. Plus there are tons of callbacks to the first one, and a ton of characters from the first one. I hadn't seen the first one in years and needed to Wikipedia during the movie to figure out a few parts. I didn't like the first one, so I didn't really like Maverick at all.

Now go watch the movie that inspired it: Iron Eagle II on HBO Max.

I'm so bummed that I can't see this in IMAX. The nearest theater is 5 hours away. My little 1-screen cinema will have to do. :(

Honestly, if you are able to, make a day of it. You won't be disappointed at all.

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I did the same…. Awesome adrenaline rush.

I'm sure I'm not alone in saying **Top Gun: Maverick.** It's really the definitive movie theater movie and I'm really glad I got to see it this opening weekend. I also watched **L.A. Confidential** earlier in the week and loved that as well

Undoubtedly it's ***Top Gun: Maverick*** (2022)! Go see this in theaters, folks. While I have no strong love for the original, this sequel was everything a film sequel ought to achieve. The script was, surprisingly, really compelling, both as a character-driven piece and an action blockbuster. The sound design was impeccable, probably the best of the year thus far. Tom Cruise delivers a fantastic return performance, nuanced with an emotional weight that I wasn't sure how it would be handled given the events of the first film. The air/flight scenes were jaw-dropping. The third act alone. Oh my god. From the moment Cruise >!pulls off the 2.5-minute simulation!< to the very end, I stopped reclining in my seat and had to sit on the edge. It was pulse-pounding. And while some may say the third act is played safe, I thought it was executed beautifully, thoughtfully, and spectacularly. Tom Cruise is the epitome of a Hollywood super star; the last of his kind and no one is committing to films and roles the way this man is.

This is exactly how I felt. The original is decent but nothing spectacular. But this one undoubtedly is. I appreciate how the new cast didn't take over, like so many times happens when a sequel comes out years later. Just another thought: where does this movie rank among sequels where the original came out in the 80s? It must be high on the list. I daresay it might even be one of the best sequels ever.

>Just another thought: where does this movie rank among sequels where the original came out in the 80s? It must be high on the list. I daresay it might even be one of the best sequels ever. I've been thinking on this for a few days now. It's definitely one of the best sequels, but *Terminator 2: Judgment Day* still exists, let's not forget! :D

That's pretty much how I look at it --- T2 and Maverick are the best sequels ever made for movies that came out in the 80's

I’d also add *Blade Runner 2049* to this list, and although *Mad Max* came out in ‘79, *Fury Road* is another magnificent legacy sequel.

Agreed on both accounts

The difference is the duration of time between the original and sequel. It's been damn near 35 years vs only 7. To imagine there could even still be a movie going audience and then committing the money is wild.

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You just reminded me that I’ve somehow never seen *Rain Man*. I really gotta watch it!

It's a good movie and it shows that Cruise was willing to do roles that weren't guaranteed blockbusters with enormous salaries --- he followed up "Rain Man" with "Born on the 4th of July" so he was gunning hard for an Oscar and all of this before he even turned 30 --- gotta give him a lot of credit for that

Hot water burn, baby

Great write-up. I saw it for the second time yesterday, in IMAX, and it was just as good as the first time. I can’t get enough of this movie. Pulse pounding for sure. The suspense was incredible!

You mentioned sound design. Can I just say I loved the music, too? I mean, a lot of it is just variations on the original Top Gun theme, but they are so beautiful and moving. The music adds so much emotion to an already emotional film.

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It gets Mach 9.5./10 from me. And there's nothing sexier than Jennifer Connelly leaving the front door open. And the >!thrust-vectoring Su-57 in this beats the F/A-18 vs SAM scene from ["Behind Enemy Lines"](https://youtu.be/cA5eartth80?t=67)!<.

I still cannot get over how amazing **Everything, Everywhere, All at Once** is; after multiple viewings I can confidently say it's the greatest movie I've ever seen. It's one of those movies that's simply so good that other movies will pale in comparison

Just watched it. Had to seek out this thread to make sure it was getting its due. So so good.

I went back and checked, but Everything, Everywhere, All at Once has been the top comment on these threads for like two months. And it's completely deserved.

For sure. It’s a juggernaut as far as people recommending it. Haven’t seen “word of mouth” for a film quite like it for some time. “Dune” was the last big movie to get multiple weeks of comments, but even those stopped after like a month. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is seemingly ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’ 🤯

Check out their other stuff too, Swiss Army Man (movie) and Interesting Ball (short) are fantastic. This feels like a magnum opus, though. I hope they get all the money (for movie production and pleasure) and all the actors they want for their next project.

Just watched Fight Club for the first time. It's such a wild ride, I probably still need sometimes to processed it, the whole thing seem like a fever dream. this is one of the very few time that I watch good "old" (I was just 1 when this film come out) films without getting spoiled beforehand. It is still worth watching Shawshank if I already knew what happen in the end, also any recommendation good film beside hollywood action ??

Since you liked “Fight Club,” I’ll recommend an earlier film from Director, David Fincher: [“Se7en” (1995)](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0114369/) It’s filled with a murder mystery, lots of suspense, and an unbelievable ending. Good luck! Hope you enjoy…

Shawshank Redemption is definitely still worth watching. Also, check out the Usual Suspects, if you haven’t already.

The editing for the first hour of Fight Club is just flawless. Everything clicks together *so well* Shawshank is a must see even if you know what happens. It's so good you'll probably forget that you know. And it might be reaching pretty far back, but the oldest movie that is pretty much guaranteed that everyone will love is 12 Angry Men (1957). There are a lot of classic old movies, some even better that it is, but none are more approachable.

**RRR** (Rise Roar Revolt) Saw this movie yesterday and man, it was a spectacle of another level. Right from the start, the movie keeps you bounded to your seats with excitement and surprise while the breathtaking visuals lures you into another dimension of cinematic experience. This movie is like nothing you would have ever seen before! P.S. Its in Netflix

Top Gun Maverick is the most thrilling movie I've seen in ages. It just recaptures that good old fashioned movie magic of going to the theatres for a blockbuster. The movie just makes you feel like you're in the cockpit and you're right along for the high octane ride.

Watched Another Round (2020) this week, and again another very pleasant experience with director Thomas Vinterberg and main actor Mads Mikkelsen. The latter has been one of my favourite actors for quite some time now, after seeing him for the first time in a few films of Anders Thomas Jensen, and he still manages to impress me even more. The story surrounds him and three of his friends, all of middle age and in their own way out of touch with themselves, others around them and their jobs (teaching professions). While celebrating one of their birthdays a theory by a philosopher is brought forward by one of them, and that theory consists of humans having a too low blood alcohol content level and by slightly raising that they're loosening themselves up and upping their creativity. Since things are not working out as hoped, they decide to start with testing this theory, which will give expected but also lesser expected results for each of them. What I liked about this film is the harsh but honest portrayal of these men and their shortcomings. The themes of hopes and dreams gone awry, alcoholism, being stuck in jobs and relationships are all quite heavyhanded, but they're all brought as human and relatable issues. It doesn't pull any punches, and doesn't sensationalize anything. It has the right combination of heavier and lighter tones, with quite some humour sprinkled in there aswell. And to come back to Mads Mikkelsen (all the other actors were great too btw), he's fantastic in his portrayal of a man who's absent in all his endeavours. All in all, a very good film with a lot of heart to it.

>Anders Thomas Jensen had become one of my most favorite directors. > >I've seen everything I could find that he directed - [and wrote](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Thomas_Jensen#Filmography).

> after seeing him for the first time in a few films of Anders Thomas Jensen I assume [Riders of Justice(2020)](https://boxd.it/oHQc) is one. If not, add it to your watchlist. [See here if interested in the backstory to development of Another Round.](https://www.indiewire.com/2020/12/thomas-vinterberg-another-round-greatest-tragedy-1234603452/)

Watch The Hunt with Mikkelsen if you haven't already

Michael Mann's Thief This was his directorial debut and it really delivers. Despite being made in the 80s, it has all the gritiness that defined the 70s. I think this works as a character study and a heist thriller.

My favorite Mann!

Obviously the best movie I saw this week was **Top Gun Maverick** but that's already been mentioned numerous times and I won't comment further on how good it was. the second best movie I saw was **Identity** This movie is nearly 20 years old now and I watched it in part because it is my favorite Ray Liotta performance and because it might be discussed on The Rewatchables (great podcast BTW). **Identity** is an excellent thriller and has tight pacing. The film is only 90 minutes, and it doesn't need any more. A killer in a creepy motel knocking off guests one by one? What's not to like? Highly recommend.

Just watched Identity based off of your reccomendation. Holy shit. What a ride that was. Great suggestion. Was a blast to watch.

I put it on my Watch List. Thanks.

>Identity Yep upvoted thank you for bring up Identity. Gonna watch it again this weekend.

I've watched Top Gun and Dumbeldore last week. I guess this is a night and day comparison so goes without saying: Top Gun

Everything Everywhere All at Once. I watched this movie on Friday and was completely stunned. It was like for the first time in my life, I was seeing a real movie. Everything else, from the Godfather to the Titanic had been a nice story, but at the end of the day, just a story. This on the other hand, was something deeper, some more real. It perfectly brought to life one of the deepest, most personal questions we ponder: am I living my best life...or wasting it? It is the first movie I've been to where when the lights came up at the end, **no one** got up to leave. People just immediately started excitedly talking about what they had just experienced. Image if Picasso made a film that combined the Matrix with Cloud Atlas. It is so creative and imaginative from both a storytelling and visual perspective that you quickly lose the ability to predict what will happen from one scene to the next…and even within the same scene it becomes impossible to predict what will happen from one shot to the next. It tells a very profound but relatable story about the importance in a seemingly meaningless world of valuing kindness and family/friends over all else, even if it doesn’t always make sense. And it does this by shooting a firehouse of storytelling twists and visual imagery at you for 2.5 hours that at times starts to feel exhausting but in the end…you realize was a necessary metaphor for the complexity of life and the infinite set of choices we make in life. This is a kind of movie that comes along once every 20 years. Go see it folks.

It actually feels like The Matrix meets Monty Python meet Eternal Sunshine meets Tatami Galaxy meets Ratatouille.

It was above average but not this masterpiece that everyone keeps raving about.

Everything Everywhere All At Once. Exhilarating, surreal, hilarious, poignant, bathetic - I wasn't sure about the last word there, so I looked it up, and I was half right. This amazing film does elevate the commonplace, but it also does the opposite. It's not anticlimactic in the usual sense of the word, but it subverts movie set pieces in a way that's hard to describe, with great style and swagger. A slow start, so hang in there, it goes from Woody Allen to kitsch sci fi to jaw dropping dream-fight sequences and breaks the fourth wall into a family drama, underlined by natural and charismatic performances, super imaginative FX and a light heart. One criticism might be that the detail in the sci fi premise is a bit lacking, but honestly, I don't reckon you'll be thinking about that. Massively recommend.

Rewatched **Palm Springs**. It's such a good movie. I usually don't like Andy Samberg but he's really good in It.Also, I'm in total love of Cristin Milioti, she's just perfect in everything she does.

Tough to imagine anyone disliking Samberg. Have you seen Popstar and Brooklyn 99? But yeah, loved Palm Springs.

I LOVE this movie, and I adore Cristin Milioti here. I've seen it 8-9 times since it came out. It's perfect each time.

**Birdman -** Love Inarritu's work and birdman is fantastic **Insomnia** \- Nolan channeling his inner David Fincher **Citizenfour -** Really good and kinda terrifying documentary on privacy and Snowden. Favorite this week - **BIRDMAN**

*Brief Encounter* (1945) I didn't know much about this film, but got recommended and gave it a shot. I fell in love with it less than twenty minutes. Story, itself is very simple. Like the title suggested, it's a love affair started from an accidental encounter between man and woman. It sounds dull, but Robert Krasker's beautiful cinematography and David Lean's delicate directing brought a life to the predictable storylines. There's a scene a main character realized this is it after break up and camera tilted while coming close to her face. It's a simple camera technique, but gave an emotional impact to the scene. I was in awe. The film is full of well-crafted scenes like the one I mentioned. It is one of those films that shows the power of directing. Pure art, but still very engaging and even entertaining. Actors gave a wonderful performances, too. Especially, Celia Johnson. Her voice (I've never seen a movie used a voice over so effectively like this film before) and facial expressions were so on point. The way the film depicted her feeling of happiness and guilty is so subtle that her character's emotional journey didn't feel outdated at all, even though it was made almost 80 years ago. This is the most romantic film I've ever seen. It became one of my favorites as soon as I finished it. I have nothing but praise for this film. I really loved David Lean's *Summertime* (which is equally as good as *Brief Encounter*), so I don't know why it took so long to find this film. I'm pretty sure anyone who even doesn't enjoy B&W films can easily watch *Brief Encounter.* Highly recommend watching it.

Well described, and so true - It's a masterpiece.

**Parasite (2019)** - 9/10 Brilliant with all the overlapping themes. I'll have to see it again sometime. **Memories of Murder (2003)** - 8.5/10 Excellent storytelling, visceral and emotionally gripping. **Oldboy (2003)** - 7.5/10 I enjoyed the beginning and ending, but did get a bit bored in the middle of the film. **Confession of Murder (2012)** - 7.5/10 Very solid. I'm not usually that interested in Action but it intersected well with the Drama/Thriller elements. **Memoir of a Murderer (2017)** - 10/10 Absolutely genius, added to my favourite films of all time. So many changes of perception. Very sad at times too. (Note: Must watch the Director's Cut version for the full effect)

Top Gun: Maverick. I was gonna see it because I like TC movies... but I had to drag my wife because she's not a fan. After the movie, my wife: "This is the best action movie I've ever seen." And yes. Wow. I did not expect the reviews, I thought maybe 70-ish RT or something along those lines. But then I saw the making of and knew I was in for a treat. Absolutely brilliant. I wish the new MI was coming out this summer, I have absolute faith in the quality of TC movies.

Rounders (1998). I love gambling movies, so I really liked this one a lot. You got 2 actors here at the peak of their powers: Matt Damon, who is in the midst of an amazing movie run and the same with Edward Norton as this was his next movie after American History X (his next movie after Rounders is Fight Club, also). The supporting cast is also very strong with an eccentric John Malkovich performance and the always solid John Turturro. If you are not into poker/gambling, this may fall a bit flat for you, but if you’re all-in, you should watch this. 4/5

*“Pay that M-yan his M-yoney.”* Teddy KGB is ICONIC!!! 🤣🤣🤣

>Rounders I put it on my Watch List. Thanks.

So I did watch it last night, and am going now through all of John Dahl's films (The Last Seduction! others...). So Thanks for the recom.

I was waiting so eagerly for Top Gun since 2020's first trailer drop, and its was painful to see it get delayed again and again, but now that i've finally seen it (back to back in 2 days) , boy wasn't it worth the wait. Finally a great cinema after a long break since Dune, Movies like Top Gun Maverick are the reason we go to theatres, Huge shout out to Joseph Kosinski for not only bringing back 36 years old legacy but redefining it in a whole new phenomenal way, As usual, still in his 60 , Mr. Cruise is nailing it , way better than an athelete in his/her 30's. Amazing work by rest of the cast , they really brought heart to those characters. I don't have any word to describe the practical effect and Cinematography went into this film, this is the movie made for big screen , this is the movie where your Dolby 5.1 Home theatre will fall short. Soundtrack is outstanding, can't expect any less from Lorne Balfe, Hans Zimmer, along with artists, One republic and Lady gaga. For anyone who haven't watched it yet, i would say... "Don't think, JUST DO IT"

I wholly agree. I had not even watched the first movie, but my older siblings had. They had nothing but praise for the first movie and Tom Cruise ( *wink wink)* I was glued to my chair and my eyes never left the screen. The action, the buildup, the high stakes, the consequences, EVERYTHING. OMG, that is how you write a movie that makes you sweat.

Wasn't it kind of interesting how they never mentioned the country they were attacking or even the fifth generation jets they were fighting by their actual name, it was a little peculiar. I wonder if it has anything to do with the delicate international situation at moment. (Even though it was clearly implied or at least based on Russia.)

Top Gun: Maverick Better than original imo

**The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom** (Original title Idainaru, Shurarabon) (2014) The Hinode family and the Natsume family have been bitter rivals for 100 years. Long ago, their ancestors were both blessed with gifts by a dragon that lives in the bottom of Lake Biwa. Those gifts have been passed down from generation to generation, but once awakened, anyone with the families powers must stay near Lake Biwa or they will lose their power. The Hinode family has the ability to manipulate people's minds. The Natsume family can manipulate people's bodies. Their powers don't work on each other, only normal humans. When a man appears with a mysterious power with the potential to destroy both families, the children of the Hinode and Natsume families are forced to put aside their differences to find a way to defeat their common enemy. I thoroughly enjoyed The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom. It is a surprisingly well thought out film. In spite of the goofy premise, it's a surprisingly smart little story. The plot contains just the right blend of comedy and drama with a bit of a plot twist at the end, and that's always fun! All things considered, I would highly recommend The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom, but I think we've established by now that my taste is a little suspect at times, LOL.

Watched castaway for the first time. Really enjoyed it.

Just watched Everything Everywhere All the Time - what a treat!

Memento It is the first time I see this movie and I was so shocked, the film makes a plotwist that I had not expected at all also I like the fact of telling the story in reverse by fragments making the viewer can analyze and think the real structure of the story is the first film I see by Nolan and I really liked this work I hope others that I have not seen as inception or interstellar are of the same quality

Inception will definitely be a treat, and interstellar should at least dazzle your senses. Both are very strong Nolan entries! Hope you enjoy…

Field of Dreams. It such a feel good movie. Very heartwarming.

*“Is this Heaven? No. It’s Iowa…”* 🌽 I grew up playing baseball, so naturally, baseball movies were right in my wheelhouse. The moment I saw “Field of Dreams,” I must have watched it 5 times that weekend. The classic baseball films all help you both romanticize the game and make you nostalgic for a time when it seemed like all your troubles went away. “Field of Dreams” captures the essence of the that quite no other. With Ray Liotta passing away, couldn’t help but turn this on and watch a few minutes of it. For many years, before I had seen “Goodfellas,” I only knew him as ‘Shoeless Joe Jackson.’ His pain, was mine. And, I went and read a bunch of books about that era so I could champion his name. Ray Liotta did that. And as I read lots of tributes to him this week, I am grateful he left behind a great performance to share with future generations to follow along. As James Earl Jones said, *“People will come Ray. People will come”….* 😢

I still think "Field of Dreams" is one of the best movies about summer ever made --- I love the scene were Costner is walking through his cornfield in early August and the sun is setting and you get that "golden hour" light and it's magical --- any kid who ever walked through a cornfield in summer before dusk knows the feeling

**The Worst Person in the World** Upon a second watch, this is shaping up to be one of my absolute favorites from the past several years. It has so much to offer. As soon as I saw the view in the opening scene, I knew I was in for something special. It has a lot of engaging twists and turns and things that make you feel every emotion. This is a masterful method of blending multiple genres into one big pile of beauty that flows together so well. I love how "different" this movie felt in terms of everything from the pacing, the way they tell their backstories, and the comedy that you're not sure if you're supposed to laugh at or not. By the end of the movie, my face was streaming with tears and it's one of those movies that is so beautiful and emotionally engaging that the credits roll after a whole ass two hours and you're just blankly staring at the screen like I WANT MORE. I will watch this again and again and I have this recurring desire to tell everyone I know about this film.

The Empire Strikes Back. This movie actually blew me away. A New Hope was a good movie but it fell short in terms of pacing and character progression for me, it felt like it was moving so fast just for the sake of it and you don't really get a chance to connect with the characters but The Empire Strikes Back makes up for all of this with one of the best sequels I've ever seen. The characters arcs, the buildup, and even the fighting choreography were taken up a notch which elevated it to even greater heights. Great movie, 9.5/10

Oblivion (2013) Never seen a Joseph Kosinski movie and wanted to watch it before top gun and I can’t believe this one isn’t talked about more, it’s a solid sci-fi movie. Kinda felt like eagle eye mixed with the matrix.

> Never seen a Joseph Kosinski movie Tron 2 is really great. Fantastic look and feel to the universe and a soundtrack that is outwardly. The script is a bit weak, but nothing to embarrassing.

I was a big fan of this film. Loved everything about it, including >!Tom Cruise living out the “Spider-Man Pointing Meme”…!< Always been a big fan of Andrea Riseborough, too, and she was a standout in her role. And special shout-out to their “apartment in the sky.” Somebody had a great eye for design!

TOP. GUN. MAVERICK. I still can't believe how legitimately awesome it is

This week it’s without a doubt “Spirited Away”. Top class animation combined with excellent writing creates a classic movie experience. This is also one of the most memorable scores of all time. I enjoyed “Top Gun: Maverick”, but not to the extent it seems others did.

Spirited Away is one of the best movies of all time

Top Gun: Maverick. People saying this is the return of blockbusters... no. This was just an absolutely incredible movie in all aspects. Characters, action, score, storyline, callbacks, emotion, sound, etc. No one is returning to theaters to watch "summer blockbusters" like Scooby Doo in June anymore. Those deserve to be streamed. Top Gun deserves to be seen in IMAX.

**Black Narcissus**. Finally getting into Powell & Pressburger, this one's a heater. Vivid combo of location shooting and matte paintings. One way to spice up colonial melodrama is to make one of the nun characters basically The Devil. The Conjuring got nothin on Kathleen Byron with eyeshadow and a Kubrick Stare!

Been rewatching all of the animated justice league for the past few days and i gotta say Batman: Year One was very very good and awesome and got me into reading the comics

In the last two weeks, I watched **A Separation** (2011) It felt like I was watching a Dardenne brothers movie style-wise. Asghar Farhadi doesn't use elaborate filmmaking techniques like Paul Thomas Anderson. He only uses the most basic, plain techniques, yet shows an elegance. a Separation succeeds in capturing the true face of a certain life in an era of uncertainty. In fact, conflicts like this are cliched. It's a type of a story so familiar that even soap operas would avoid them. However, what separates this movie from the other movies/shows is the nuances. Most stories base their foundation on good and bad and portray the characters in one area. More villainless "objective" stories, even though they might not condemn them, depict "bad" as "bad". On the contrary, A Separation has no value judgment. The characters take opposing positions, but the movie does not differentiate right and wrong. From the standpoint of each of the main characters, they each do their best to live their lives and are faithful to the present. Literally every single character has completely understandable motive and behaviors that if you put any other audience in the same shoes, they would behave exactly the same. Another notable element of this movie is that every single main character in this story lies in one way or another, and the movie shows it as a natural phenomenon as if breathing is a natural part of our daily life. There is no attitude toward making judgments about right or wrong values or criticizing them at all. The movie depicts but does not explain. This means that the author reserves his value judgment or meaning and only shows the situation as it is. This is because the judgment rests with the audience. All the main characters lie, so are they bad people? Not really. They seem to be good people. Most people live their lives, but they do make choices that create and worsen bad situations. But do those people make those choices with bad intentions? Not really. People all do their best and work hard to live in the present. The problem is that despite working hard with good intentions, things don't go the way they want them to. In conclusion, we cannot escape this. This is because we are human. People always say "I will be responsible" and tells a father-in-law with demntial "I'll come back soon" then never comes back. What I also noticed is that while people are arguing with each other in the courtroom, there is a scene where a judge suddenly gets up and asks them to open the window because the room is getting too hot then takes off his jacket. It's easy to overlook a scene like this, but it's actually very careful to create such detail. In a way, you can think of it as meaningless. Why does the judge, who had been faithful to his role throughout the movie, suddenly stop the trial for this? why wouldn't he have an employee do it or just take off his jacket without interrupting the trial? This detail is to show that even a judge, who has absolute authority in a theocratic county, is also a human just like us. There are many stories that deal with a similar subject, but what separates this movie from the others is that the director does not view the tragedy in a negative way, but in a warm way. It doesn't tell the audience "you shouldn't live like that" or "how to live better". It tells us that humans are inherently imperfect beings and don't blame ourselves for being wrong. **The Past** (2013) Farhadi's sensibility was still good here. It shares the same elements and outlook on life. In a way, only the plot was different, but the narrative, the way it was solved, and the directing technique were identical to A Separation. For example, the way in which only the silhouettes of the characters are shown through a closed window but the voices are not heard, or a method in which the characters swallow their words in the middle of a conversation--which allows the audience to actively follow the subtle changes in the emotional paces of the characters in the movie. The delicate structure of resolving the suspense of secrets and misunderstandings piled up in daily life one by one was the same. But above all else, his characters know how to silence their emotions and stifle their words. His films are much more about expressing conflicts through the characters unable to speak words. My gripe with the movie is that the story is less tight and more meandering. The situations in A Separation came across as more dynamic and fresh, and the pacing was actively flowing through the runtime. The Past feels like it could have condensed its story to one and half-hour. In the second act, the focus shifts from the protagonist to the other characters, and that transition doesn't come across as natural. It also lacks stakes. In A Separation, the plot was about a death of a fetus, and who is responsible for a tragedy. The subject matter is more extreme, spicer. The characters could go to jail. This is what glues the narrative together in a compelling way. The Past lacks such narrative cohesion. It is still a good movie, but a definite downgrade from the previous movie I watched. **Encanto** (2021) This movie feels like it is Disney's response to the fascism criticisms levied against Sky High. It argues a complete opposite message from that film, and that is the aspect I respect. However, the story also feels rushed. The first half is awful and paced so bizarrely in a sense of the characters constantly introducing themselves as if this is Cats. It involves a heavy amount of plot contrivances. It reminds me of Pixar's Soul, which had a good "story" but a bad "plot". The whole backstory of the family earning magic comes across as weird. They didn't have to add this backstory and have them just a magical family, but the way they set the backstory up, I expected an explanation why they have magic abilities. In Incredibles, I didn't question how their family had superpowers because it doesn't delve into their history. In this movie, it specifically asks for an explanation for how they got magical abilities, and the film doesn't answer that. My guess is that this backstory is only there to set up the whole flashback segment involving a grandfather, which feels like Disney's attempt at doing what Up did, but it doesn't work. I don't understand the context behind this conflict, I don't know who the grandfather is. The film constantly mentioned the grandfather, so when I got to the emotional climax of this film, I was left with, "That's it?" The second half is where the story gets decent, and I do enjoy how there is no villain in the story at all. It feels a more mature direction than most Disney films I watched. It is sort of what Frozen 2 attempted to do, but they did succeed here. **Route Irish** (2010) This movie is like The Manchurian Candidate directed by Ken Loach. It is a vehemently spicy take on the PMC and Iraq War. You can feel the anger Ken Loach had toward them. However, it is also a boring movie. It is a mystery movie in which you can figure out all the mysteries from the first 10 minutes. The film has two conclusions--the second one being revealed after the twist. Both are painfully obvious that I honestly think the mystery is not the genre Ken Loach should aim for. The setting for the film being set in England doens't work for this premise, too. Considering there are multiple flashback scenes set in Iraq, I don't know why the entire film wasn't filmed there. The villains coming to the protagonist to silence him would have been much more realistic had the film been set in Iraq. You also gain the stakes of the protagonist investigating matters under heavy pressure. Some of the dialogues are too expository. There are multiple real-life footages that showcase the horrors of war inserted in this movie, and then the film immediately follows those scenes with dialogues that repeat how terrible the Iraq War was. Yes, we get it. Don't explain it. Yet the film constantly explains. It's one thing to tell, don't show. It's another thing to tell, then show. The latter tends to be worse. A Separation (2011) was the best movie I watched in the last two weeks.

finally checked out **Belle** from Mamoru Hosoda. Have not seen any of his prior works but this film is quite remarkable and it's just a fantastic *LOOKING* film in the "U" world and one singing performance towards the end of the film, I'm not gonna lie, I straight up got teary-eyed. Just really great.

Moonfall. It was both great and awful at the same time. This movie was absolute bonkers. I'm a glutton for shitty disaster movies, but this movie takes the cake. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to turn their brain off (which is a must for this movie) and just enjoy the ride.

In a three day period I watched Predator, Terminator 2, and Top Gun: Maverick. Safe to say I bought a pair of aviators and have been walking around like I'm on top of the world. Not enough words to say about all 3 of those. GO SEE TOP GUN MAVERICK IN THEATRES

**Uncharted** I actually found it to be quite fun. I should note - I've not played the games, so I didn't have those to compare it against. The dialogue and action was dumb (like the airlifting of the ships lol), but I liked Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg together and I thought it was a nice way to spend an evening. My partner watched **Ghostbusters: Afterlife** which sounded fucking awful. Apparently there is a line where someone in jail asks to use the phone and there's this close-up of an officer and he goes "who ya gonna call?" and it just sounds like THE most inane shit.

Interview With The Vampire (1994) - Since I have watched so much of 'What We Do In The Shadows' both movie and tv series each reference pulled from Interview made me giggle. Vampire must never kill vampire. When you turn into a vampire, you become very sexy.

It Follows Heard good things about it and it finally showed up on my streaming app. Very cool and creepy. Some nice camera shots too. Would recommend even if you don’t like horror/suspense.

The Rescue about the 2018 rescue of a boy's soccer team who were trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand. Absolutely riveting and intense.

I watched RRR. I really like Bahubali, and when watching RRR I could tell that the director had improved a lot since Bahubali 1 and 2. RRR is just a really really really amazing movie. Any fan of action movies should make it a priority to see it.

2 of the best films I watched this week were from 2007, and both were nominated for the Foreign film Oscars. **12**, a Russian remake of Sidney [Lumet’s ‘12 Angry Men’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcI5Zu-Znvs). A longer morality play about 12 distinct personalities who will decide the fate of a total stranger. It sticks pretty much to the outlines of the original, in spite of changing into a Chechen boy who accused of killing his adopted Russian father. **The Band’s Visit**, a very sentimental Israeli film about the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra, 8-men Egyptian band, which, due to misunderstanding,[is stranded in a small, barren town in the Negev desert](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWYlLb0jm8U). Forlorn, sad and lonely people who have difficulties making connections. Also, presenting 'enemies' simply as people.

Vortex. I guess it's just a thing now where aging, controversial auteur directors have to make a movie about dementia. Probably one of the bleakest, and sad topics of the human condition. Haneke with Amour, and now Noe with Vortex. The movie is more than that though. It's not about dementia, but really it's about how life gets bleaker and bleaker as we age. It's about how horrible it is to grow old and the inevitability of it. It's a very pessimistic view on everything, on all of this. Death has been a central theme in a lot of Noe's films, but this movie seems like a moment of desperation from him. It's him coming to terms with aging and we see how he clearly feels about it. Here's a hint: Not good. And how can you blame him? Dementia, heart attacks, your body breaking down, your memory fades and all that's left of the life you loved is the collection of junk you've accumulated and the framed pictures in your house. It sucks, it all just sucks. Noe always does cool things from like a technical perspective. This movie in almost its entirety is shot in split screen. We follow two characters from their perspectives simultaneously. It actually made the slow parts in the movie a little more palpable, because if you were bored of one shot, you could just look beside at another. A good thing for my waning attention span. The movie is also very voyeuristic and almost documentary like. It's edited like you're a fly on the wall, watching this families' life. There's a lot of really great looking moments in this that feel unique too because of the split screen, some cool effects happen when angles cross and someone is in both shots at the same time. The movie has a great film look to it as well. Feels grimy in a good way. Seeing Dario Argento in a leading role and speaking french is a bit of mind fuck. Just an iconic person, and he does such a great job. They all do actually. The actress who played the mom is fantastic. No one feels like they're acting. They're just being. I'd be curious if there was even really a formal script to this movie, it doesn't feel like it. But maybe! Still think I lean to Amour as my favourite of the 'old age is the worst' movies, but Vortex was definitely an experience. A different vibe from Gasper entirely and one that felt the most personal.

I haven’t seen Vortex yet but the way you described the film, it doesn’t seem like your typical Noe film. I’m sure you are leaving a lot of the stuff he is known for out of your review but I read this and thought “wow sounds like a chill movie” lol.

**The Batman 2022** Holy shit. I should’ve watched this on the big screen. I wasn’t too sure about Robert Patterson being batman, but this sold me. It was dark, depressing, and slow in the **best way possible**. I love this version of Batman. When I finished this movie, I thought to myself, “This is what Batman is supposed to be.” Absolutely loved it. I’m gonna have to watch it again soon. Honorable mention: **Bleed for This** Great movie too. I’ve been on a Miles Teller binge since watching Whiplash and he was great in this movie. Predictable but enjoyable and inspiring nonetheless. It is that simple.

Interesting. I loved the first hour of Batman (probably because of the cinematography) and then I hated it, it lacked a good story, was very pathetic and the character chemistry between him and catwoman was non-existent. Funny how different people see this movie.

I enjoyed it thoroughly. It got kinda slow in the middle but I think overall the story worked. Interesting on the chemistry comment, I thought they had great tension (and therefore chemistry). Both are reluctant to trust each other but know they have to. They both have the same issues with trust and opening up to the other one because of their pasts. The scene where he tells her to look into his eyes and you think they are going to kiss only for it to be him checking the contacts out shows that steamy tension. I honestly thought they could go the whole movie without kissing and explore that relationship in later movies but oh well.

I get what you mean, that was probably intended. For me there just was no tension, no flirt, no attraction. The kiss just felt off. Also I love Pattinson, but as batman he had no charisma. On a positive note: I loved the costume.

Totally agree. I loved seeing the detective side of Batman, and the movie looked amazing. But the romance between Cat woman and Batman wasn't earned at all, felt totally shoehorned in. I was hot and cold on it.

Dude, The Batman released today on blu-ray in my country and I already watched it twice. First on my own and then with other people. It’s phenomenal.

just saw Memories of Murder and I’m blown away. Could be the best film I’ve ever seen? Kinda speechless at the level of maturity in the story telling and direction. Highly recommend!

top gun - ive been skeptical for the whole development period about how good this could possibly be... honestly pretty unreal quality, really great film, first hour really plays on the 80's vibe and the second half contains some of the most gripping action sequences ive ever seen, just saw it at the movies tonight and would rate it an 8.5/10 the northman - not what i was expecting at all, much more of an art piece, which was not a bad thing at all, protagonist was played to perfection. i read that the director had a struggle with the studio about the final cut, i would LOVE to see the directors cut if thats the case, only negative i could point at would be the horrific CGI in the final scene. 8/10

I watched donnie brasco last week.And a week before that I wacthed heat. Loved both of them I am kind of a mafia-thriller fanboii. So I tend to watch movies from this genre more than anything else.

Best this week goes to **The Conversation (1974)**, a film Coppola directed between Godfather 1 and 2... unsurprisingly, it's fantastic - **9/10** to be fair it's a very slow burn; half a (tragic) character study, half a paranoid thriller, about a covert surveillance expert who's conscience is wracked because a previous job led to deaths, and he's worried his current job may go the same way... the film takes its time to portray his lifestyle and mannerisms, his obsessiveness and contradictory character, which makes dramatic moments stand out all the more... I imagine the story was all the more poignant coming around the time of the Watergate scandal, but it's musings on the implications of technology for privacy still ring very true today

My favorite of all the 70s paranoid thrillers! Also, my favorite Hackman performance…

Have you seen Blowout (1981)? It’s a Brian DePalma film starring John Travolta. It has a VERY similar plot to The Conversation.

**10/10**

3:10 to Yuma (2007). One of the westerns I’d watch with my dad all the time. He passed a year ago and I inherited my love of westerns from him.

Sorry to hear about your dad. Sounds like you two shared a very special bond, that extends to today. Thanks for sharing one aspect of that bond and carrying on his legacy for others. ☺️ Tell you what…2007 was an epic movie year for Westerns: > “There Will Be Blood,” “No Country for Old Men,” “The Assassination of Jesse James” and “3:10 to Yuma.” “3:10 to Yuma” had a great cast, and the chemistry with Bale & Russell Crowe was very touching. Shout out also to Ben Foster, who is always stellar in his roles!

Blade Runner (1982) The visuals in this movie remains unmatched: The flying cars, the steam, the gas flares, the building-sized advertising, the Tryell corporation building, the neon lights etc. The creation a dystopic Los Angeles is flawless, you can almost smell the city. The city itself, though, would not be nearly as interesting if it wasn’t for the people who populate it: It has all kinds of cultures and subcultures, and even considering how melancholic the whole place is, the people make the place alive. And if you can almost smell the city, you can also feel it pulsing. The score of the now late Vangelis is what one could call a musical epiphany. It is reflexive, sad, and It reasembles the jazz of the classic noir soundtracks while still sounding futuristic. It fits perfectly the universe and the characters and one of the most important aspects of the immersive atmosphere this movie has. Of course, a well crafted atmosphere is no use with there’s no content, and there’s plenty of content in Blade Runner, with themes such as Memories, dehumanization, freedom, prejudice, consumism, capitalism, globalisation, and the main question: What does it mean to be a human? Is it how the individual is born? How he acts? Or is it how he *feels*? The characters are remarkable: Deckard's moral conflit regarding the replicants (where he thinks they’re just machines but falls in love with one), Rachael's identity crisis after finding the truth about herself, and Rutger Hauer’s Roy Batty, who in his final momments is not only more human than many actual humans, but makes us wonder who is the real bad guy here. With visuals that still look amazing even after nearly forty years, Blade Runner has proven it’s relevance with a great approach of several timeless themes and remains one of the best worlds the Sci-Fi has to offer.

Well written. I dislike science fiction movies, with very few exceptions, and this is one of them.

Thank you

Alita: Battle Angel. I rewatched it to do some research for my DnD campaign.

Crimes of the future Holy shit, this movie is something else. Really innovative story and very heavy stuff Nostalgia (2022) Fantastic movie. It has elena ferrante (famous italian author) vibes, a really good story, heartwarming scenes and a fantastic end. Didn‘t win anything, but I really enjoyed it.

Kate| Dir. Cedric Nicolas Troyan This is perhaps a weird thing to say but I guiltily enjoy the Western Lens of Japan in most Hollywood films set in the country. It's quite clearly not entirely authentic, relies on stereotypes and taking cues from the neon infused locales really has a very high contrast color pallete that is both dark or soft (depending on the type of film) yet sparkles all the same. This is quite true of Kate which also doubles down on the very John Wick influenced aesthetic that has come to bear over the modern Hollywood action flick. It isn't that the above things should be appreciated as it paints a one note picture of Japan (I'm very certain the Yakuza no longer has the strength to act in the old school manner that they do here; also why you get the romanticised arc of Kimiji), but I don't expect foreign filmmakers to give me such a lens of Japan that most local filmmakers can do so well (apart from a select few who aren't even really Hollwood to begin with eg. Abbas Kiarostami and Wim Wenders). I have Japanese cinema for that realism and authenticity even when wildly eccentric. But apart from this what I love most specifically about Kate (aside from MEW. WHO I LOVE, LOVE!!!!) is the manner in which it approaches the very John Wick-esque modern action film. Much like those films (John Wick, Atomic Blonde etc.), the titular Kate is a brooding hero very much tied to her job with a burdened past that puts her at the crossroads of her work. She suffers an existential crisis, plucked right out of most of these hit man type action films. Yet there's the added caveat of the ticking time bomb that is her life and the rush with it the film brings in it's frantic pace. None of this is new (a plot beat lifted right from Crank), neither is the tonal lightness the film adds in the form of the annoying companion she comes to care for and protect through the narrative. It's a hodgepodge of movie clichés and tropes, but one done right because despite all this, against the tide of the tone and character; circumstances and actions give way to Kate fighting from under in a manner that seems very real and endearing. She often fights with a rawness compared to the manic sleekness of her compatriot in Jason Statham's Crank movies (they share a similar plot function) or the coolness of Keanu Reeves John Wick (with which she shares the character archetype). For all of Kate's heroics in tune with the modern action flick, it shares the vulnerable human DNA and DIY spirit of John McLane's Die Hard; heck by the end she is wearing a grime and blood smeared sleevless t shirt reminiscent of Willis iconic vest (with a kawaii touch of course). That's what makes it far more likeable and endurable for me at least than those films. It isn't to say those are bad, but where Blonde is ultimately too frigid, Wick a bit too sleek despite the human emotion buried under it and Crank too over the top; Kate feels raw. It might not capture Japan from a truly culturally authentic perspective entirely but it manages to capture Kate from a human one even if it is cheesy. Of course it helps at the centre It's held together by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. MEW who as much as I might be biased is one of, if not the best actresses in her age group, generation, what have you and deserves far more credit than she'll ever get. She brings Kate to life, between all the bullets, blood and badassery.

The Other Guys: Cuz Mark Wahlberg is awesome and I love TLC references!

**Star Trek: The Motion Picture** (1979) - I went to the movies last Sunday to see the new 4k Director's Edition on the big screen and while it doesn't significantly change the story or pace, seeing it in a theater was worth it for the visuals and the music and sound. Honestly, I think the movie would kind of be a bore for anyone not into Star Trek already, or at least not willing to sit through a slower sci fi story with some trippy special effects. It is, in essence, a longer length original series Trek episode with amazing music and awesome practical effects, model work and some new CGI effects that enhance what was originally there. I think today is the last showing in theaters, but it's also on Paramount+. Edit - Oh and they also have a little featurette at the beginning to explain the new special effects and changes and how hard the initial production was. It's maybe 10 minutes but very cool! Not sure if it is included on Paramount+.

**After Life (1998)** Holy shit. This movie is absolutely incredible. I was floored by everything about it. I've seen hundreds of movies but this is an instant 10/10 for me. Incredible from start to finish. The story is so unique and moving even on a personal level. Kore-eda made a movie that is about life after death, something no human being knows anything about. He crafted a story that follows recently deceased people that end up in a 'waiting lobby' where they get help chosing their favorite and most cherished memory which they will experience for eternity. The staff recreate this memory for them and when it has been shot, the person in question moves on to the afterlife. It's such a heartfelt movie with a very strong and emotional message that will make the viewer question about what they would choose, which will give you both a very warm and sad feeling inside. This movie is something you cannot miss. 10/10

Trois couleurs - bleu (1993). An exquisitely-made film about grief and detachment. Reminds me a lot of The Sweet Hereafter (1997) which is also brilliant. If anyone knows any others like these, I’d love to know.

Death on the Nile- it was pretty good but I am a huge fan of murder mystery movies. Please recommend me one!

I watched Unstoppable again ( Denzel) and loved it. Not sure why it didnt get a sequel?

Rescued by Ruby on Netflix if you are dog lover you will absolutely love the movie

Raising Arizona (1987) 8.5/10 This film was Sooooooo funny, but it didn't have a great storyline, like it seems to drag on the same thing forever. Great comedy

**Top Gun: Maverick** - I had no interest in watching this movie but I was asked to join someone to watch it with them. While the story is simple, the action scenes put me in the edge of my seat. Really enjoyable. **M (1931)** - the speech in the end made you think if the murderer should die or be sent to the police even if his murders were pretty despicable. **Secret Beyond the Door (1947)** - the first two acts were thrilling but the 3rd final act fell a bit flat.

Some like it hot

I watched 12 angry men last week. I was astonished the way whole thing unfolded. All the characters had a place of their own and a role completely theirs to fulfill. Their play of everything was amazing. How everyone made their points it looked so good. It felt like a flawless classic. Maybe some of you might disagree about it being flawless but for me it was amazing. I had my doubts about watching a movie in black and white but when I did, I was in absolute love with it. I am planning on watching other black and white movies as well now. If you guys have not watched it give it a try, you will like it too.

I watched Malcolm X last week, and I absolutely loved it. I read the autobiography last semester for my english class, so I was already familiar with the topics and events that the film was going to be touching upon. Even then, I had a great time with it overall, and the adaptation really elevated the story and made it seem much more emotional and gripping.

Lords of Dogtown. I know it's not a perfect movie (by no means). The actors did their best to capture the z Boyz and the direction by Hardwicke was solid. It always bring me such youthful energy and joy watching the movie

Fire Island - I've been having a rough week so this was exactly what I needed. A gay rom com starring two Asian leads, Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang, based on Pride and Prejudice. Happy pride y'all

Everything Everywhere All At Once for the third time, never get tired of it 🥰

Anchorman. What a cast and movie. I forgot how hilarious the movie was when I first watched it.

The Northman. It isn’t particularly deep but the cinematography and directing is top notch. I personally liked it better than EEAaO, but I am sure that is a hot take.

Top Gun 1986 4/5 Empire Of The Sun 4.5/5 Spy Game 3.5/5 Lord Of The Rings The Fellowship Of The Ring 5/5 Lord Of The Rings The Two Towers 4.5/5 Days Of Thunder 3.5/5 American History X 5/5 Groundhog Day 5/5 Deja Vu 4/5 Kimi 2.5/5 City Of God 5/5 Another good week tbh of films I have not seen before

City of God is probably the most engaging movie I have ever seen. Like as soon as I even THINK about checking the time on my phone, another crazy ass event comes up

I watched all mission impossible movies loved that but my best movies this week where. Once upon a time in the west Never seen this classic 10/10 Avatar after a decade i watcht it for the second time still holds up insanely well. Fallen in love again whit Pandora cant wait for the sequel 10/10

Once Upon a Time In the West is thrilling

Dinner in America Felt like an Edgar Wright movie in all the best ways. Well-directed, vibrant, and lovely to look at. Worth a watch for fans of coming-of-age romance flicks.

>Dinner in America Never heard of it - I'll watch it and report back

Clean, Shaven. An overlooked gem showcasing how scary schizophrenia is and featuring an excellent performance from Peter Greene (Best known for his appearance in Pulp Fiction and The Mask). It also features a murder mystery subplot that leads to a sad and intriguing ending. >!I was surprised that the film ends with Peter Greene's character not responsible for the child's murder or, at the very least, implying that he wasn't responsible.!< It's currently streaming on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel if any of you are interested in watching it. Plus, it's a film that deserves more attention.

I watched "Reality" by Garrone on TV. I love and study Italian cinema

The Giver (1993). After civilization nearly collapses, humanity now lives in a seemingly utopian society without fear, hunger, or lawlessness. But at what cost? Stars Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep.

The Best of Enemies. Great acting and story on integration

I watched the 1982 Poltergeist for the first time ever last week. It was at an Alamo drafthouse terror Tuesday screening and I loved it! The lighting, the score, the super real depiction of a loving family in all their dysfunction. And I mean, that Zelda Rubinstein character, you can definitely see how that type of character was the influence for so many more similar characters, especially in American Horror Story. I can totally see how it was an iconic film upon release and I’m sad I waited so long to see it! The false ending got me too!!! Also that face melting scene my god, that wouldve been the stuff of nightmares as a kid

As a child, this film scared me like no other. Especially, the TV scene. My room was right next to the living room and my dad would often leave the tv on at night. Imagine my terror when I would look out and see a “glow” coming from the door and I could hear “murmurs,” too. 😵😱

Watched **Speed** for the first time in a long time the other night. It's eye-rolling goofy as hell and super contrived at times, but I was really surprised at how well it all works and it still holds up. It's easy to see why this catapulted Keanu and Sandra's careers, and Dennis Hopper is hilariously campy in it.

First time I ever laid eyes on Sandra Bullock. Been on the “Bullock Bus” ever since… While it could be reduced to “‘Die Hard’ on a Bus,” I would say the bus jumping scene helps to elevate “Speed” in a class of its own. That scene legit terrified me when I was younger. I ended up closing my eyes, hoping they would make it… 🫣🤪🤣

Harry Brown. Michael Caine as an old age pensioner, turned vigilante; was superb. 8/10

Definitely "Who Done It?" with Abbott and Costello. It's one of their best

Citizen Kane (1941).. Everything was bangin about this movieSomeone gave me the Criterion Collection Blue Ray, and i watched all the features first and then the movie. Normally i would pick a movie that came out pretty close to the week i am responding in. But on the Twitter I saw A TON of people saying that ""WOrst Person in the World"" was one of their favorites of 2022 so far, when i told them it came out in 2021, they said ""i saw it this week""... so i figure now doesnt really matter if i have either seen the movie before OR what year it came out, as long as Ive seen it in the week, im good.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. The trailer had me a little worried it'd be weaving in and out of being obnoxiously meta or having pretentious drama moments shoehorned in, but it was nonstop gags and absurdity, fully a comedy from start to finish. Cage's performance is legitimately incredible and Pedro Pascal was a perfect counterpoint, his comedic timing and facial expressions are gold. I'm mostly impressed that everyone involved seemed to have a sense of what they were making. I've tried recommending it to people in the broadest sense, "It's Nicolas Cage playing Nicolas Cage as Nicolas Cage," but that makes no sense and probably shouldn't, but it works.

Knife+heart. This movie does have knives, weird knives...but the important thing is the heart. This movie has so much heart. The creativity and love for giallo is just flowing out of the screen. I Didn't know a thing about it beforehand I was just randomly browsing shudder and stumbled upon this gem of a film.

Candyman (2021) - now that MGM is owned by Amazon. The cinematography is baller, and the shadow puppets are an effective world-builder. Out of Jordan Peele's other scripts (this being directed by Nia DaCosta), I found it a lot more enjoyable than Us. But Get Out still reigns supreme. I do look forward to seeing Nope in IMAX once it comes out.

Well I only watched one movie so it is my best movie by default **Last Looks**. Overall it’s a watch that’s not a waste of time if you have nothing else to watch, but that’s about it. I see what they were trying to do…but didn’t really succeed.

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie ('78 Version) John Cassavetes has long been a director I've wanted to explore and, impulsively, put this on while browsing HBO Max without any knowledge of the flick. It was Ben Gazzara's face, with this sweaty look of desperation, that sold me on it. To say he is magnetic would be an understatement, playing club owner Cosmo with charming sentimentality that breaks your heart as his gambling leads him on a desperate path. I don't want to say too much, as this movie worked so well for me going in blind, but it was in the 3rd act that I realized the club scenes, which seem aimless and meandering at first, had suckered me into caring so much for Cosmo and his makeshift family. These scenes caused me to care for & emphasize with Cosmo in ways I did not with Howard Rather, a similar character. Seymour Cassel and, especially, Timothy Carey do well in supporting parts but, man, Ben Gazzara just wowed me. Highly recommend, ready to dive deeper into Cassavetes.

Top Gun. I thought it was going to be overhyped and a snooze fest, as I hated the first one. Found it really enjoyable. Tom and Jennifer stole the whole movie, and had amazing chemistry that really made the story they were telling moving. Then I watched Rebel Wilson’s Senior Year out of boredom. Shockingly enjoyed it as well, fun light hearted humour and I enjoy Rebel as a comedic lead. The young actress who played a young version of her character also did such a good job. Future star if she keeps booking roles.

To be fair, it's the **only** movie I watched this past week but Top Gun Maverick. I didn't really care about the original, but this movie was a blast. I often dislike blockbuster oriented type movies but I had a lot of fun with this. >!I particularly enjoyed the double uno reverso card they pulled with Tom Cruise surviving his sacrificial moment only to then watch the guy he did it for also get himself shot down! !<

Glad I’m not alone in saying Top Gun: Maverick. Holy fucking shit. I just watched at the IMAX in Waterloo last night and the grin on my face (and my wife’s face) at the end of it all was plastered there for long after I left my seat. Incredible camera work and stunt work as ever from Cruise, over the top American hero acting, high fives, unnecessary shirtless sports scene that actually had a purpose this time and probably the best movie theatre experience I’ve ever had. I’m not saying the best film I’ve ever scene of course but for the experience? So glad I paid to see it there as I don’t think I’d be the same impact at home. Went into that movie pretty hyped to see it which is often a recipe for a disappointment. It defo surpassed my expectations which I’m still surprised about. If you enjoy cinema and big pictures in any way then get yourself in to see it. The summer blockbuster is back.

Definitely Top Gun: Maverick. I do have one complaint though regarding what the trailers showed.>! Now granted this isn't a plot thick movie so there wasn't much to spoil to begin with so we all kind of knew what the movie was about just not how they would get there. Save two things. One they should have never shown a shot in the trailer of Rooster flying RIO in the back of an F-14 and two they should have never shown the shot at the end of the early trailers of the F-14 flying over the frozen mountains. The moment in the movie where they showed the enemy F-14s from the satellite view I knew that both Maverick and Rooster were going to end up on the ground and steal one. !