Slow week for me, mostly due to nothing new out there catching my fancy ("Faces of Death" reboot? Seriously? 🤨🙄). Luckily streaming picked up the slack.
THE DRAMA (2026, THEATER) is the first A24 production in a long while that lives up to the studio's reputation, mostly due to Ari Aster producing. He didn't write or direct (Kristoffer Borgli does the honors), but Aster's fingerprints can be felt in the awkwardness and uncomfortable situations soon-to-be-newlyweds Emma and Charlie (Zendaya and Robert Pattison, both playing against-type social introvert New Yorkers) face the week leading up to their nuptials. A secret from Emma's past resurfaces, and Charlie's inability to handle it results in either pitch-black humor (distorted flashback flashes) or a slippery slope (a potential affair at work). Rare film that can lead to interesting conversations afterward. ✊️😎
Daniel Roher's THE AI DOC: OR HOW I BECAME AN APOCALOPTOMIST ('26, THEATER) avoids the trapping of too many talking heads with their own agendas (on both sides of the artificial intelligence debate) and cherry-picked news clips overwhelming viewers. Roher's decision to (a) insert himself and his nuclear family (wife and about-to-be-born baby) as the relatable human face stuck in the middle of technological progress while (b) using stop-motion puppetry/model work/stock footage as old-fashioned visual counterparts to the sterile news clips/talking heads gives "The AI Doc" personality. No major revelations at the end, but it's nice to see human ingenuity at the service of a timely subject matter. Worth seeing when it hits streaming... when? 🤨
Filmed and abandoned in 1984 but completed in 2021 by Vinegar Syndrome, NEW YORK NINJA (TUBI) is grade-A exploitation action cheese of the best kind. When his pregnant girlfriend is murdered in the middle of a worse-than-usual crime epidemic, martial artist John Liu goes on a rampage beating colorful gang members (the same half-a-dozen stunt performers constantly switching clothes) while keeping his identity as a news crew sound man secret. Other than very few on-camera deaths and low-production values (bad acting, lengthy fighting master shots with few inserts/close-ups, etc.), the newly-commisioned voice-over (by the likes of Don 'The Dragon' Wilson, Michael Berryman and Cynthia Rothrock) and NYC footage (Cannon's "Ninja lll" Playing in Times Square! 😃) help "NYN" hang out with the likes of "The Last Dragon" and "Street Trash." Loved this. 🥰
Rewatched COMPANION ('25, HBO MAX) on Discord with JR 4.0 folks and a good time was had by all, especially the few in the group that hadn't been spoiled on the twists. It's no "Weapons," but if you can get on the filmmakers' wavelength it has the darkly comedic sense of humor you'd expect from some of the people who worked on "Barbarian." Sophie Thatcher's Iris might be the protagonist, but we all know Lukas Gage's Patrick rules. 😍😇 Poor Jack Quaid never stood a chance. 😁
Crime 101 (2026): Not bad, but nothing to write home about. The director clearly saw Heat and Thief a few times. All the ingredients are there, and they kinda work, but there's a lot of characters doing their own things, so you tend to forget one exist until the story comes back to it. And I think the ending s*ck balls.
To Live and Die in L.A. (1985): It's not that "they don't make them like they used to", but they really don't make them like they used to. Granted we can't all have Willem Defoe as the bad guy. I totally forgot the s**cide bomber at the beginning. And renown Transformers actor, John Turturro is also here.
Hot Pursuit (1987): Poor Steven Liesberger, you were so misunderstood. You got stuck with this crappy movie that I still enjoy because John Cusack is cool. But it's not a good movie.
No Escape (1994): When this came out, I thought this was the coolest movie ever made. I still think it's a good one and very much a 90s sci-fi. I'm assuming this helped Martin Campbell to get James Bond. The dude made Goldeneye and Zorro right after, that was a good run. Then it went to crap, but that's another story. And did Stuart Wilson ever not play a bad guy? I'd be curious to play the videogame.
Mars Express (2023): This french animated movie mostly flew under the radar. People talked about it a little bit while it was out, got a few nominations, earning comments like "surprisingly good" (ugh, why is it surprising?), but since it's french, it didn't go any further. It's a classic sci-fi m*rder-mystery like I, Robot and Blade Runner. But because it's animated, they can show us more of the world, and the designs are pretty cool. It borrows a lot from other sci-fi stuff, but it's all put together very well. There's a bit of "robots do whatever the script needs them to do", which can be annoying sometimes, but it didn't bother me too much.
Creed (2015) is arguably a perfect legacy-sequel. Building on what was done before, instead of just calling out to it. Then they did just that in the sequel, which was not good, but that's another story. Ryan Coogler knows how to do this.
Out Standing (2025): Our own GI Jane, but it's a biopic. It tells the story of a Sandra Perron (Google her) who faced discrimination and harassment in the army. It's told in flashbacks, which I always find this form of storytelling annoying, but it's a popular format. The story was a big deal around here and brought some inquiry and changes within the army. In Canada, it's available on Crave and to rent on Prime. It's in english, so it should be accessible to you guys. It's from the same director who did Les Furies, which I mentioned a couple of weeks ago.
Trumbo (2015): Dalton Trumbo came up in conversation with a friend last week, so I decided it was time revisit it. It's a tv movie, so no flying cameras, or clever camera shots, with pompous narration about the meaning of life, or big orchestral music. And that's why it's good, the story doesn't need any of it, it just needed to be told without flourish. And it's a stacked cast too, almost impressive, led by the always great Bryan Cranston.
Have we switched places? 🥵 Are you the one that now watche's everything while l barely keep up? 😉😁
Call me shallow, but l like "Creed 2" more than "Creed 1/3." The first is solid across the board (and earned Stallone a deserved Supporting Actor nom), but "2's" callbacks/nostalgia bombs toward "Rocky IV" proved too strong for me to resist. The young bucks carry the film, but the few moments Sly and Dolph share a scene are movie magic. 🤩🥰
Guess l like "Crime 101" more than you, since few contemporary crime flicks aim as high or try to be as character-rich and epic as "Heat." Hemsworth playing a shy, confrontation-avoiding lead felt unique, Ruffalo quietly stole his scenes with anybody, and I'm just happy Halle Berry got her first good role in a long time. "TLADILA" is a better and more stylish crime flick, but given a choice between the two l'd go to the "101." 😎👍
I watched No Escape based on a Junesploitation review a few years ago and loved it. Who doesn't like an island movie? The Beach. Swiss Family Robinson. Castaway. I can't think of a bad one. I've been very slowly going through the Rocky movies before watching Creed. Next up is Rocky Balboa. Wait, Creed was 11 years ago (11 years?!?! That can't be right). At this pace I'll get to Creed 3 by 2032.
@JM, haha, i was on vacation this week. I didn't go anywhere, i was mostly waiting for appointments. I didn't even mention everything i've watched. But yeah, i guess i'm a tougher crowd now. I'm less apologetic with newer movie, but will watch anything before the 2000s. I just got Daylight with Stallone at the used dvd store. It was bad back then, but i'm sure i'll love it now
@Paul, i really want to rewatch the Rocky series, mostly 5 and up, these are the ones i've seen less
I haven't posted in a few weeks, and I haven't had time for many movies. I watched a couple of Peter Weir movies:
Gallipoli (1981). I had seen this before (maybe in high school?) but didn't remember it much. Really really loved it this time, and it's got to be up there with Paths of Glory as one of the best WW1 movies.
The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). I love "man in a foreign land" type movies and this was really my jam. Linda Hunt is just outstanding in this and I was torn up by the characters arc. Sigourney Weaver is also great, and very pretty (not to be too crass).
Also watched Frenzy (1972). Hitchcock gets a little nasty with this one, but it was the '70s after all. Kind of unique mystery where the killer is revealed early on (to the audience). I need to watch more Hitchcock. The trailer for it has Hitchcock floating in a river (much like one of the murder victims) and talking to the audience.
Return to Oz (1985). Not sure if this is good, but I was grinning with the plethora of practical effects the whole time.
Have you heard the 'How Did This Get Made?' podcast episode about "Return to Oz"? The hosts lose their s*** and are shocked the movie even exists. 😳 😅 Worth a listen if your memory of the movie's still fresh.
I admire and respect "Return To Oz" more than l like it, but it shouldn't have been pushed as a true-to-the-book-series sequel to the '39 original. That movie changed a lot from page to screen and candy-coated a lot of rough edges that the '85 sequel was all too happy to indulge into. Oh, Walter Murch, you Coppola-trained madman! 😅🥵
When it comes to Eastwood westerns, i find myself regularly revisiting the Leone trilogy and not spending much time with others. After watching this (which i saw many many years ago) i think i need to change that. This is a fascinating western which i reallllly liked. That being said, it is as one review i read, quite "nasty". It eschews the archetype of good vs evil and really gives us reflections on: revenge, vengeance, and consequences. The writing and reveals are well constructed and the final setpiece is absolutely unique.
Quickie F This TV:
Daredevil Rebirth S2: Like many others, the original Daredevil run absolutely impressed me. Casting, writing, action, etc. I was giddy at the Disney Rebirth reboot..especially bringing back De'Onofrio's scene chewing kingpin. That being said, I found S1 of Rebirth to be a bit slow/dragging for my taste. Im pleased to say S2 kicks things into higher gear and is so far a bunch of fun.
The Boys S5: Another example of a show that out of the gates just knocked my socks off in its wonderful batsh@t crazy approach to dysfunctional superheros. However as it went on, which is often the case, alot of that wore off and i found its season arcs to be hit or miss. Welp the first few eps of S5 do seem to recapture what made it fun initially and as with any show of interest, im glad they are wrapping up before it goes on to long and on their terms. Antony Starrs Homelander is truly one of the best villain characters in the past several years of superhero franchises and im excited to see where things go.
PROJECT HAIL MARY (2026) Really enjoyed this! How much longer until they make plushie versions of Rocky?
COMPANION (2025) There's really nothing I can say here that won't spoil the movie for newbies, so...
PLANET OF THE APES (1968) "It's a madhouse! A madhouse!"
BASKET CASE (1982) Stay a while with Belial.
AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (1997) Everybody loves these movies, but I've always felt they're just okay. This viewing didn't change that.
MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME (1985) We don't need another hero. We don't need to know the way home.
REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA (2008) As is tradition, this is my annual "Put it on in the background while doing my taxes" movie.
Slow week for me, mostly due to nothing new out there catching my fancy ("Faces of Death" reboot? Seriously? 🤨🙄). Luckily streaming picked up the slack.
ReplyDeleteTHE DRAMA (2026, THEATER) is the first A24 production in a long while that lives up to the studio's reputation, mostly due to Ari Aster producing. He didn't write or direct (Kristoffer Borgli does the honors), but Aster's fingerprints can be felt in the awkwardness and uncomfortable situations soon-to-be-newlyweds Emma and Charlie (Zendaya and Robert Pattison, both playing against-type social introvert New Yorkers) face the week leading up to their nuptials. A secret from Emma's past resurfaces, and Charlie's inability to handle it results in either pitch-black humor (distorted flashback flashes) or a slippery slope (a potential affair at work). Rare film that can lead to interesting conversations afterward. ✊️😎
Daniel Roher's THE AI DOC: OR HOW I BECAME AN APOCALOPTOMIST ('26, THEATER) avoids the trapping of too many talking heads with their own agendas (on both sides of the artificial intelligence debate) and cherry-picked news clips overwhelming viewers. Roher's decision to (a) insert himself and his nuclear family (wife and about-to-be-born baby) as the relatable human face stuck in the middle of technological progress while (b) using stop-motion puppetry/model work/stock footage as old-fashioned visual counterparts to the sterile news clips/talking heads gives "The AI Doc" personality. No major revelations at the end, but it's nice to see human ingenuity at the service of a timely subject matter. Worth seeing when it hits streaming... when? 🤨
Filmed and abandoned in 1984 but completed in 2021 by Vinegar Syndrome, NEW YORK NINJA (TUBI) is grade-A exploitation action cheese of the best kind. When his pregnant girlfriend is murdered in the middle of a worse-than-usual crime epidemic, martial artist John Liu goes on a rampage beating colorful gang members (the same half-a-dozen stunt performers constantly switching clothes) while keeping his identity as a news crew sound man secret. Other than very few on-camera deaths and low-production values (bad acting, lengthy fighting master shots with few inserts/close-ups, etc.), the newly-commisioned voice-over (by the likes of Don 'The Dragon' Wilson, Michael Berryman and Cynthia Rothrock) and NYC footage (Cannon's "Ninja lll" Playing in Times Square! 😃) help "NYN" hang out with the likes of "The Last Dragon" and "Street Trash." Loved this. 🥰
Rewatched COMPANION ('25, HBO MAX) on Discord with JR 4.0 folks and a good time was had by all, especially the few in the group that hadn't been spoiled on the twists. It's no "Weapons," but if you can get on the filmmakers' wavelength it has the darkly comedic sense of humor you'd expect from some of the people who worked on "Barbarian." Sophie Thatcher's Iris might be the protagonist, but we all know Lukas Gage's Patrick rules. 😍😇 Poor Jack Quaid never stood a chance. 😁
Crime 101 (2026): Not bad, but nothing to write home about. The director clearly saw Heat and Thief a few times. All the ingredients are there, and they kinda work, but there's a lot of characters doing their own things, so you tend to forget one exist until the story comes back to it. And I think the ending s*ck balls.
ReplyDeleteTo Live and Die in L.A. (1985): It's not that "they don't make them like they used to", but they really don't make them like they used to. Granted we can't all have Willem Defoe as the bad guy. I totally forgot the s**cide bomber at the beginning. And renown Transformers actor, John Turturro is also here.
Hot Pursuit (1987): Poor Steven Liesberger, you were so misunderstood. You got stuck with this crappy movie that I still enjoy because John Cusack is cool. But it's not a good movie.
No Escape (1994): When this came out, I thought this was the coolest movie ever made. I still think it's a good one and very much a 90s sci-fi. I'm assuming this helped Martin Campbell to get James Bond. The dude made Goldeneye and Zorro right after, that was a good run. Then it went to crap, but that's another story. And did Stuart Wilson ever not play a bad guy? I'd be curious to play the videogame.
Mars Express (2023): This french animated movie mostly flew under the radar. People talked about it a little bit while it was out, got a few nominations, earning comments like "surprisingly good" (ugh, why is it surprising?), but since it's french, it didn't go any further. It's a classic sci-fi m*rder-mystery like I, Robot and Blade Runner. But because it's animated, they can show us more of the world, and the designs are pretty cool. It borrows a lot from other sci-fi stuff, but it's all put together very well. There's a bit of "robots do whatever the script needs them to do", which can be annoying sometimes, but it didn't bother me too much.
Creed (2015) is arguably a perfect legacy-sequel. Building on what was done before, instead of just calling out to it. Then they did just that in the sequel, which was not good, but that's another story. Ryan Coogler knows how to do this.
Out Standing (2025): Our own GI Jane, but it's a biopic. It tells the story of a Sandra Perron (Google her) who faced discrimination and harassment in the army. It's told in flashbacks, which I always find this form of storytelling annoying, but it's a popular format. The story was a big deal around here and brought some inquiry and changes within the army. In Canada, it's available on Crave and to rent on Prime. It's in english, so it should be accessible to you guys. It's from the same director who did Les Furies, which I mentioned a couple of weeks ago.
Trumbo (2015): Dalton Trumbo came up in conversation with a friend last week, so I decided it was time revisit it. It's a tv movie, so no flying cameras, or clever camera shots, with pompous narration about the meaning of life, or big orchestral music. And that's why it's good, the story doesn't need any of it, it just needed to be told without flourish. And it's a stacked cast too, almost impressive, led by the always great Bryan Cranston.
Have we switched places? 🥵 Are you the one that now watche's everything while l barely keep up? 😉😁
DeleteCall me shallow, but l like "Creed 2" more than "Creed 1/3." The first is solid across the board (and earned Stallone a deserved Supporting Actor nom), but "2's" callbacks/nostalgia bombs toward "Rocky IV" proved too strong for me to resist. The young bucks carry the film, but the few moments Sly and Dolph share a scene are movie magic. 🤩🥰
Guess l like "Crime 101" more than you, since few contemporary crime flicks aim as high or try to be as character-rich and epic as "Heat." Hemsworth playing a shy, confrontation-avoiding lead felt unique, Ruffalo quietly stole his scenes with anybody, and I'm just happy Halle Berry got her first good role in a long time. "TLADILA" is a better and more stylish crime flick, but given a choice between the two l'd go to the "101." 😎👍
I watched No Escape based on a Junesploitation review a few years ago and loved it. Who doesn't like an island movie? The Beach. Swiss Family Robinson. Castaway. I can't think of a bad one.
DeleteI've been very slowly going through the Rocky movies before watching Creed. Next up is Rocky Balboa. Wait, Creed was 11 years ago (11 years?!?! That can't be right). At this pace I'll get to Creed 3 by 2032.
@JM, haha, i was on vacation this week. I didn't go anywhere, i was mostly waiting for appointments. I didn't even mention everything i've watched. But yeah, i guess i'm a tougher crowd now. I'm less apologetic with newer movie, but will watch anything before the 2000s. I just got Daylight with Stallone at the used dvd store. It was bad back then, but i'm sure i'll love it now
Delete@Paul, i really want to rewatch the Rocky series, mostly 5 and up, these are the ones i've seen less
I want "Daylight" but only in 4K. Mediocre disaster film the couple of times l've seen it, but a fascinating one. 🤓
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI'd love to have Daylight in 4k, but i don't want to pay 4k money for it. But i've paid that much for stupider movie, so we'll see when it comes out
DeleteThe set contained Dante's Peak too. That's gonna be a fun afternoon
I haven't posted in a few weeks, and I haven't had time for many movies. I watched a couple of Peter Weir movies:
ReplyDeleteGallipoli (1981). I had seen this before (maybe in high school?) but didn't remember it much. Really really loved it this time, and it's got to be up there with Paths of Glory as one of the best WW1 movies.
The Year of Living Dangerously (1982). I love "man in a foreign land" type movies and this was really my jam. Linda Hunt is just outstanding in this and I was torn up by the characters arc. Sigourney Weaver is also great, and very pretty (not to be too crass).
Also watched Frenzy (1972). Hitchcock gets a little nasty with this one, but it was the '70s after all. Kind of unique mystery where the killer is revealed early on (to the audience). I need to watch more Hitchcock. The trailer for it has Hitchcock floating in a river (much like one of the murder victims) and talking to the audience.
Return to Oz (1985). Not sure if this is good, but I was grinning with the plethora of practical effects the whole time.
Have you heard the 'How Did This Get Made?' podcast episode about "Return to Oz"? The hosts lose their s*** and are shocked the movie even exists. 😳 😅 Worth a listen if your memory of the movie's still fresh.
DeleteI love Return to Oz. I was hypnotized from the first second of it. It's funny to see peoples reaction to it.
DeleteI admire and respect "Return To Oz" more than l like it, but it shouldn't have been pushed as a true-to-the-book-series sequel to the '39 original. That movie changed a lot from page to screen and candy-coated a lot of rough edges that the '85 sequel was all too happy to indulge into. Oh, Walter Murch, you Coppola-trained madman! 😅🥵
DeleteHowdy Y'all!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHigh Plains Drifter (prime 1973)
When it comes to Eastwood westerns, i find myself regularly revisiting the Leone trilogy and not spending much time with others. After watching this (which i saw many many years ago) i think i need to change that. This is a fascinating western which i reallllly liked. That being said, it is as one review i read, quite "nasty". It eschews the archetype of good vs evil and really gives us reflections on: revenge, vengeance, and consequences. The writing and reveals are well constructed and the final setpiece is absolutely unique.
Quickie F This TV:
Daredevil Rebirth S2: Like many others, the original Daredevil run absolutely impressed me. Casting, writing, action, etc. I was giddy at the Disney Rebirth reboot..especially bringing back De'Onofrio's scene chewing kingpin. That being said, I found S1 of Rebirth to be a bit slow/dragging for my taste. Im pleased to say S2 kicks things into higher gear and is so far a bunch of fun.
The Boys S5: Another example of a show that out of the gates just knocked my socks off in its wonderful batsh@t crazy approach to dysfunctional superheros. However as it went on, which is often the case, alot of that wore off and i found its season arcs to be hit or miss. Welp the first few eps of S5 do seem to recapture what made it fun initially and as with any show of interest, im glad they are wrapping up before it goes on to long and on their terms. Antony Starrs Homelander is truly one of the best villain characters in the past several years of superhero franchises and im excited to see where things go.
PROJECT HAIL MARY (2026)
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this! How much longer until they make plushie versions of Rocky?
COMPANION (2025)
There's really nothing I can say here that won't spoil the movie for newbies, so...
PLANET OF THE APES (1968)
"It's a madhouse! A madhouse!"
BASKET CASE (1982)
Stay a while with Belial.
AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (1997)
Everybody loves these movies, but I've always felt they're just okay. This viewing didn't change that.
MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME (1985)
We don't need another hero. We don't need to know the way home.
REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA (2008)
As is tradition, this is my annual "Put it on in the background while doing my taxes" movie.
I haven't done my taxes yet. 🥺😓 I'll just leave random YouTube videos playing while doing them between now and JUDGEMENT DAY! (aka the 15th). 😬
DeleteIt's about time i watch Companion. And would you look at that, the 4k is extra cheap on amazon.ca
Delete