u/DVD-Rewatcher

Number 157 in my A-Z watch. The Last Samurai follows an American Civil War veteran captured by samurai warriors after he was hired to train Japan's modernizing army.

I've always enjoyed this film. I think not a small part of that enjoyment comes from a long standing fascination with Meiji era Japan. This was before i had discovered Kurosawa films. And though i still have a soft spot for this movie, it has lowered in my estimation.

I think a lot of the technical aspects of the movie still hold up strong. The set production, costuming, cinematography, and score all feel timeless and are incredibly impressive. The action scenes are very well done. And there definitely are some scenes with great intensity that tend to feel fresh each watch. The firearm training scene is tense, the top knot/scalping scene hits hard, the final cherry blossoms scene always gets my tears going.

I just feel like the movie is heavy handed, and doesn't carry a lot of subtlety. And several concepts are touched on throughout, but never really examined. Taka's feelings toward housing her husband's killer are mentioned but just kinda pushed by, Algren's PTSD and alcoholism are featured a lot but mostly glossed over, for a 2 ½ hour movie it rarely feels like it dives in to anything deep.

7.5/10 I still am so impressed with Watanabe's performance. He's by far the highlight of the film. It's a shame he was up against Robbins for Supporting Actor. It definitely remains an entertaining movie, and one I'm sure I'll watch a number of times again. It just doesn't live up to my original impressions of the movie.

Number 156 in my A-Z watch. Lake Placid is the 90s monster movie chronicling a small town in Maine that recently has become the epicentre of massive crocodile attacks in their calm, serene lake.

This movie is amazing. I absolutely adore films that know what they're about and don't try to be any more than the sum of their parts. Lake Placid absolutely knows that it's a Jaws/Jurassic Park rip-off and leans so hard into it in every perfect way.

The movie is just trope on trope on trope. But it all totally works. The actors are all in on it. And the chemistry ends up being something really genuine. I would absolutely kill for more movies starring Brendan Gleeson and Oliver Platt. The way they play off each other feels like it's got so much heart. Pullman and Fonda round out the cast well however i wouldn't exactly call their romance electric.

8/10 For a movie coming up on 30 years old, the CGI really isn't that bad, and they pair it well with enough practical effects shots. The dialogue snaps, teetering back and forth between the scares and the humor. Betty White steals every scene she's in. Just a good, old fashioned, monster movie.

Number 155 in my A-Z watch. Kung Pow: Enter the Fist is the absurd and ambitious martial arts spoof finding our superimposed hero, The Chosen One, chasing down the evil villain who killed his family.

How does one write an actual review of this film? It does everything that you'd expect from it, makes you laugh out loud with absolute consistency. Everything about this film is ridiculous. From the concept of comping in a contemporary actor into a 70s Chinese Kung Fu movie, to the insane voice dubbing (all done by Academy Award nominee, Steve Oedekerk).

I can't tell you how many stims this movie gave me as a kid. Wee-ooh! THAT'S A LOT OF NUTS! Ohhh, momento..., Bana-na-na-na NEO! It's just got a timeless quote in every scene.

10/10 Honestly, for what it's trying to accomplish, i can't think of a way to have done it better. Even the comp work is surprisingly good. You don't need good CGI for the jokes to land. You don't need more than Good Guy vs. Bad Guy. And it's pretty evergreen. The jokes are just as funny now as they've ever been.

I'm falling! We're falling! WHAAAAALLLE!!!!

Number 154 in my A-Z watch. A Knight's Tale is the story of William Thatcher, a young man who dreams of glory as a jousting champion and finally seizes his opportunity when it presents itself.

This is such a fun movie. Like, the very definition of a fun movie. Not pretentious, almost no subtext. An amazingly fun cast. A really cool concept. Great one liners. Everyone is just so stupidly attractive. Just a really great way to spend a couple hours.

I really like how they translated the medieval sports into a modern approach. Lets the audience not feel disconnected, you can see yourself as one of the peasants painting their face for your favorite knight, chowing on a turkey leg, getting hammered on mead.

It's great to see all of these young actors getting put on the map. Ledger, of course, had 10 Things and The Patriot to bring him into the Hollywood eye, but this was the first film that he carried. Alan Tudyk, Paul Bettany, Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy all do such a tremendous job to round out such a well put together ensemble.

8/10 It's pure entertainment, and a great popcorn movie. But there's a ton of heart in it, even moments like William with his father had me fighting tears. I will say this extended edition is a little superfluous, but it has a rather interesting extended dinner scene that did help to put some pieces together.

Number 153 in my A-Z watch. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the neo noir film following thief-turned-actor Harry Lockhart as he finds himself in the middle of a murder mystery with his childhood best friend and a gay private eye.

Don't let the jokes and humorous performances fool you. This is a dark film. It starts off with a man physically assaulting his daughter and just gets worse (subject-wise) from there. But that doesn't mean the movie isn't entirely entertaining.

A great movie starts with the writing, and this is no different. You feel the whole time like you're being spoonfed the story, until it pulls the rug from under you. The dialogue is sharp, all the punchlines land. I believe writer/Director Shane Black (The Nice Guys, Lethal Weapon) made his masterpiece with this movie.

The ensemble chemistry is outstanding, on top of the stars having strong individual performances. In a sea of terrific Val Kilmer roles, Gay Perry may very well be my absolute favorite. And i think this was the perfect teaser film for RDJ to begin his comeback and lead into Iron Man.

10/10 Everything works in this film. The score is terrific, the movie is intriguing throughout, i love that they go even further into the meta concept during the narration (moving the extras, skewing the film, etc). And i always laugh when i watch this movie. Without fail.

Number 152 in my A-Z watch. Kingsman is a modern spy film capturing the style and charm of the old classics and bringing them up to date. This over-the-top story follows a new agent's training and first mission, to save the world.

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I remember going into this movie in theaters totally blind. No context other than i like Matthew Vaughn films. It immediately hooked me. I love how it breaks down the spy film genre, while still being a legit spy film.

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The movie doesn't try to be believable, and it tells you that from the start. By establishing tone early it allows the audience to suspend a ton of disbelief. But i do like the class divide theme that runs through it. "Manners maketh Man", it doesn't matter your upbringing, but how you compose yourself. And that's driven home by Eggsy referencing My Fair Lady, a story one wouldn't assume a young man in the 21st century would be familiar with.

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Everyone is performing in the same imagination, which to me says a lot about the director. The campy approach to the characters makes everyone so fun, and even the straight-laced Colin Firth gets moments to nail a punchline, or just a punch. Egerton, in what would become his breakout role, stands up with all of the seasoned performers and doesn't look out of place.

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8.5/10 Man, it's fun, it's funny, the action is outstanding, the story is completely unbelievable (in the best way). A great villain is one that can make a good point, and Valentine made some valid points. The church fight has become iconic. I also like that there's no love story. Just a good, old fashioned, spy flick.

Number 151 in my A-Z watch. This is a modernized retelling of the 1933 classic of the same name. In which an exploration team finds the 8th wonder of the world on Skull Island. Through their treacherous journey, they escape several dangers to try and capture the beast.

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This movie is nothing if not ambitious. From its exhausting runtime to the lack of identity, the movie does still give audiences greatly entertaining moments and spectacle. The VFX mostly hold up, i did find myself occasionally taken out of the experience with some of the compositing work. It feels like the greatest efforts were put into the creature designs and i think that's a worthy sacrifice.

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Kong was brilliantly performed and animated. It's criminal that Serkis has yet to receive his laurels for his motion capture career. The film's other creatures also give us some grotesque and visceral moments, a lot of the film harkens back to Jackson's horror roots. Lumpy's fate is the stuff of nightmares.

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Honestly, the film is filled with several pretty solid performances. Kyle Chandler is a lot of fun with his limited screen time. Feels like the first time Black tackled a major not-inherently-comedic role. Watts is forever underrated, imo.

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6/10 It definitely entertains, i won't take that away from the film. However, the movie feels like it doesn't know what to be. A fresh remake? An action/adventure? A love story? An effects driven event film? A commentary on the public? There's a lot of effort, but not much heart. I will say that the final scene was handled masterfully. Legit had me in tears.

Number 150 in my A-Z watch. Kingdom of Heaven tells the story of a 12th century blacksmith who inherits a lordship in Jerusalem, and must defend it from all foes, including those from the king's inner circle.

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I loved this movie as a kid, i was obsessed with these type of period epics. And that raw entertainment as a child only increased as an adult when i finally watched the Director's Cut and was able to have so much more of the film to love.

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Immediately, in comparison to the theatrical, the audience is given so much context and it makes for an entirely richer experience. Sure, one's wife committing suicide is reason enough to leave your city. But your wife committing suicide because of depression after a stillborn child and being condemned as a witch, and your own brother robbing her grave before telling you the whole town hates you is so much more.

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So much of the film *feels* authentic. Whether or not it lines up with actual middle ages day to day, i couldn't tell you. But the presentation puts you right in the thick of it. It's bothersome that such a division of expectation formed between Scott and the studio heads for the film. If they had just trusted him we could've gotten this as the original theatrical.

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Orlando Bloom... is not a great actor. However, he knows how to get out of the way for other actors. He never steps on the toes of Thewlis, Neeson, Irons, or even uncredited Edward Norton. I also just wanna give a specific shout to Thewlis who is just a fantastic addition to any ensemble.

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10/10 Is it Scott's best film? No. But something about this movie is just so very endearing and entertaining. The technical aspects are all terrific, the cinematography, costumes, sets, and stunts still feel fresh. And the moral is timeless, do what's right, regardless. It's just a good movie, man.

Number 149 in my A-Z watch. The second and final installment in Tarantino's duology, completing the story of The Bride. We find our hero continuing her journey of revenge through the rest of those who attempted to murder her and her unborn child.

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I feel like the opening scene was almost like a practice piece for Tarantino's writing to hone in on what would end up being used again to build tension in Inglorious Basterds. Unlike IB, in this scene we know how it's going to end.

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It definitely feels like this is something of an inversion of the first film. Much less action, much more dialogue, but still very engaging. The Bride needs to be much more clever and improvisational to be successful. On this subject, the coffin scene had so much more of a visceral and anxiety driving feel to it than times i had watched before. Genuinely started to feel claustrophobic.

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Performances didn't quite feel as well rounded as the previous film. Madsen felt hammy and Hannah felt like she was still in the first film. It didn't land for me, though her Black Mamba trivia bit was entertaining. Gordon Liu (going from henchman in V1 to Kiddo's master in V2) does a great job fully investing himself. Nearly unrecognizable.

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7/10 I still enjoyed it, but watching it so close to the original feels like a whiplash in style. It's much more cerebral, and dialogue heavy. With the first being very over-the-top, this one feels more melodramatic. Bill's Superman monologue still feels good, and the moments of humor feel darker, but the first film established such a specific vibe that this one doesn't match.

Number 148 in my A-Z watch. Kill Bill V. 1 is the first installment in the Kill Bill duology, a truly remarkable revenge story following The Bride as she looks to get even with those who attempted to murder her on her wedding day.

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I really think this is the most stylized of Tarantino's films, and that's saying something. It really feels like he was just given a bunch of money and freedom to make whatever he wanted, however he wanted to, and it becomes (arguably) his most fun film.

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The movie really just gets right to it. Impressive fight choreography carries much of the film, but the performances across the board are nothing to overlook. Thurman really shows that she has lead chops, she was really put through it on this film and carries herself with aplomb. But let's not forget Sonny Chiba and Lucy Liu absolutely rocking their respective roles, as well.

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I enjoyed the technical aspects more than ever before. Sally Menke was a master, and did such an amazing job reigning Tarantino's stories in with her editing. The camera work impressed me, too. Costumes were outstanding. Soundtrack is fire. And the stunt design is truly impressive.

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8/10 The movie is filled with interesting film styles, it has multiple narrators, it is almost entirely one big flashback, a substantial amount of time is animated, it cuts between B&W and color, it's funny, it's serious. All of that is just whipped up in a blender and makes a product that just *works*. It's simply a cool movie.

Number 147 in my A-Z watch. Kalifornia tells the story of a journalist and his girlfriend crossing the States with two new friends to investigate famous murder sites. Not knowing that they're much closer to the stories than expected.

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I hadn't seen this film before, so i didn't take a whole lot of notes. I wanted my first watch to just be the experience. And I'm so glad i did. The film starts off a little wobbly. It definitely takes a bit to find its feet, but once it does it evolves into an incredibly tense thriller.

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The performances are solid. Duchovny and Lewis both have some really great moments (Lewis getting drunk and exposing Early was particularly impressive). But it's Pitt's portrayal of a true sociopath that carries the film.

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8/10 There are some lulls and some pacing issues when it feels a little like the film doesn't quite know where it's going. But from the biker bar scene onwards, the film just grabs you and takes you along. Some terrific moments of tension, and some scenes of genuine shock and surprise. I'll definitely have to revisit this one.

Number 146 in my A-Z watch. Jurassic World is the first in the soft Jurassic Park reboot. In which the full dream of John Hammond has been realized, only to lead to nearly identical results.

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This movie is just not really good. I know there's meant to be a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, but telling me that they made a Frankensaurus out of (at least) raptors, T-Rex, cuttlefish, and tree frogs, I'm basically out. They ran too much with the original film's concept of, "Preoccupied with if you *could*, without stopping to think if you *should*".

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I gotta admit, it is cool to see so many dinosaurs. But as a whole the film feels about as "new" as The Force Awakens was for Star Wars. It's rehashed and static. The callbacks and Easter eggs are great, but they're not substantial enough to base an entire film on. I did like BD Wong coming back for an expanded role, looking like he's doing his best Val Kilmer impression.

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5/10 Nostalgia and dinosaurs are really pulling a lot of weight to bring this film even to average. There's more chemistry between the brothers (which i was happy to see a sibling dynamic return) than there was between your two leads. Both of whom are just not action stars. The action itself, too, was actually pretty good, and a few moments of real tension and terror are sprinkled throughout. But overall just a blah movie.

Number 145 in my A-Z watch. The Lost World follows up with its predecessor four years after the events on Isla Nublar. In this chapter, we find that a haven for dinosaurs has taken root in the sister island of Isla Sorna (Site B). On the brink of bankruptcy, Dr. Hammond sends a research group to study the animals, while InGen's board of directors wish to capture the animals and bring them to the mainland.

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What i like about the film is they don't try to remake the first one. They approach it from a different view and try to make a film that can stand on its own. However, it does require a previous knowledge of the first film to warrant how quickly the movie picks up.

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One thing that kinda baffles me is the performances. Individually, everyone does their job well, some even are notable. I found myself more impressed with Vaughn's and Postlethwaite's performances than i had been before. But when they all are working together i don't feel a lot of cohesion. The ensemble just feels like a group of individual performances.

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The practical effects do a lot of heavy lifting to keep our suspension of disbelief up. Of course there needs to be more and bigger dinosaurs, but in some of the scenes the CG just takes me out of the moment. But when they've got the baby Rex and you can physically *see* the tactile and leathery skin of those dinosaurs bearing down on that trailer, there is tension on the level of any other thriller i can think of.

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8/10 A lot of sequels are unnecessary and get dealt a bad hand. Looking back on this film, i feel as though it's actually a pretty worthy installment to the franchise. It's not as good as the original, of course, but it does what it intends to do. Give you a good time and a solid scare. Nevermind how the High Hide gets people *above* the tree canopy, or how they managed to put an 8 ton dinosaur into a cage, or how the crew of the ship just dies for some reason. It's a fun ride. 🦖

It's clearly a moment of talent and sweetness that you really don't see the rest of the show. Every time it passes on rewatches I'm actually moved by how genuine it feels. Can you think of other similar moments through the series?

Number 144 in my A-Z watch. Jurassic Park is Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Michael Crichton's best selling novel. In which a billionaire eccentric looks to open a zoo populated by cloned dinosaurs, but the dinosaurs cannot seem to be contained.

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My overall feeling (in such a good way) is that this is basically just Dino Jaws, and it's perfect. Follows a lot of the same beats and approaches that made Jaws so terrifying. Even some moments of the score felt reminiscent.

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This acting ensemble just has phenomenal chemistry. They know what kind of movie they're in, so they pay it exactly the way they need to. Occasionally over-the-top, campy, sarcastic. They all hit their mark, and the kids really do well to hold themselves up with a really veteran cast. And the perfect accent pieces Wayne Knight and Sam Jackson each played, not to mention Bob Peck as Muldoon.

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The movie moves forward so steadily and deliberately, it builds such insane tension. This could've been my 100th viewing and i still feel that anxiety. The effects mostly still hold up, in no small part due to the phenomenal practical effects used throughout.

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10/10 This is my number one example of why movies of books don't have to be really anything like the books themselves. Character names and dinosaurs are really the only similarities, but they are both masterpieces of their mediums.

Number 143 in my A-Z watch. Jojo Rabbit tells the story of a young boy in the Hitler Youth trying to prove himself to be a strong, dedicated Nazi. Until he discovers a secret and his worldviews turn upside down.

I really do love this movie. This was right at the end of an amazing streak of films from director/writer Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows, Thor: Ragnarok) and this movie felt like the culmination of every bit of filmmaking he learned along the way.

You can't start a review of this movie without giving the film's eponymous star Roman Griffin Davis some serious recognition. The whole film is on this young man's shoulders and he handles it without breaking a sweat. He's supported by a cast of talented actors, Sam Rockwell hits every saddened and heartbroken punchline, Alfie Allen makes the most of his limited screen time. A very entertaining short role for Stephen Merchant. And terrific performances by Waititi himself along with a truly heartbreaking performance by Scarlett Johansson.

Even though the film is a period piece, taking place in 1940's Germany, the approach to dialogue and performance is very modern. And making Hitler an annoying imaginary friend is so insulting to his memory, i love it.

I wanna take a little bit of time to talk about my favorite scene in the film, the inspection. Waititi managed to take this campy, over-the-top, comedic performance of Merchant's and twist it into a real moment of terror and anxiety. Very impressive work by him and the cast.

10/10 I really have nothing negative to say. It's under 2 hours, so nothing feels like it drags. It blends comedy and tragedy perfectly. I had a lot of Life is Beautiful vibes watching it this time. The camera work, the framing of shots, all beautifully done. The soundtrack is choice, and the ensemble absolutely kills it. Can't say enough good things about this movie.

Number 142 in my A-Z watch. Number three in the John Wick franchise. After being ousted by his usual support system, Wick needs to survive long enough to find a solution.

As much as i like world building, i feel like the bigger this universe gets, the less interesting the overall movie kinda becomes. The movie kinda labors to each point, stitching scenes together with fight sequences.

I wasn't a big fan of Berry in this film. Up to now i had been really impressed with the casting through the series, but she felt like a flat note. I liked that they used more oners (single continuous shots) during the fights. Very impressive for the stunt people.

6/10 They just get a little less enjoyable with each film. I'm taken more and more out of the imagination with each installation. This one did feel like it tried to make up for shortcomings with more brutal fights, but it didn't really add anything.

Number 140 in my A-Z watch. John Wick brings us into the life of the retired hitman brought back into his old life after the son of a Russian mob boss attacks and robs John, and makes it personal.

I tried to watch this with fresh eyes. As if I'm introducing myself to the franchise for the first time. In that mindset, i was really impressed with how much mystery and intrigue surrounded the story of this movie. A lot of really cool world building. And we're just dropped into it, makes it really fun.

The movie itself feels like it just gets right to it. Action, action, action. And a very theatrical presentation of it all in the cinematography, the lighting, and especially the choreography. Plus the subtitles are a cool artistic flair.

8/10 It just goes hard. It's engrossing. The supporting cast is a ton of fun, Nyquist, Leguizamo, McShane, Dafoe, etc. It's great to see Reeves literally back in action. Just a total thrill ride.

Number 139 in my A-Z watch. Jerry Maguire is the romantic comedy film telling the story of a rock-bottom sports agent trying to balance his unstable love life with his single, chaotic client.

This is one of those, "When it's on, i stop and watch the whole thing" movies for me. I love the pace of this film. Everything feels so deliberate. It takes its time but never feels like it drags making Cruise's performance take on a great desperation throughout.

What a breakout film for Zellweger. She was funny and touching, showed a lot of strength but still flawed. This was also my first introduction to Regina King. Her scene on the phone, breaking down over Rod's injury, has me in tears. And i know that to many people Cuba's Oscar win hasn't aged well, but i really don't think it was a bad choice. And i gotta show some love to Jonathan Lipnicki and his ability to hold his own against all this talent.

I really liked the interspersing of Jerry's mentor dealing out inspiring quotes through the film. Really drives home that it feels like the film is about the search for heart. For passion. Rod has passion for his wife and family, but no heart for the game. Jerry has found himself becoming cynical and needs to find his love for his job, and the ability to love those around him.

10/10 I really can't think of anything about this movie i didn't like or that didn't feel right. The soundtrack is choice. It's absolutely full of banger quotes. Pulls you through a litany of emotions. The characters are relatable. They aren't perfect, and they don't approach their problems necessarily healthily, but it's very human.

Number 138 in my A-Z watch. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is the culmination of writer/director Kevin Smith's Askewniverse loose film series. It follows the skeevy stoners as they seek to stop production of the film that looks to tarnish their "good" names.

I wish Smith had just ended the stories here. This would've been such a great and cathartic end to his little world that he created for us and himself. The self reflective, meta, 4th wall breaking humor really works and lands exactly how Smith intended. "A Jay and Silent Bob movie? Who would pay to see that?"

The jokes are stupid and sophomoric, but so are the leads. It's not trying to win an Oscar, it's trying to make the audience laugh. The absolutely stacked cast totally kills it, too. Tons of fun supporting roles and cameos sprinkled throughout do well to bring what would've been terrific closures to all these characters and actors we've seen.

It feels like Smith had a crazy amount of freedom with making this movie, too. Nothing felt like it was off limits. Even Chris Rock's character poking fun at the infamous Miramax casting couch scandal before the story had broken out.

8/10 The overall enjoyment of this movie is undeniable. Will Ferrell's over the top performance, Eliza Dushku and Ali Larter looking fine af, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck really making fun of themselves, it all just works so well. I was afraid that going back to this movie would lose its luster, but i was wrong.