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The Neverending Story (1984)
Genuinely Good
This feels like a real fairy tale. It's genuinely scary at times and the journey is unpredictable. The story has soul. In the first 20 minutes it already surpasses all the drivel that Marvel has put out or that ridiculous Hobbit trilogy. The dated special effects somehow look better than all the cgi of the early 2000s. The sets and backdrops are immersive and beautiful. The film as a whole feels like a weird childhood dream that you don't want to forget. The soundtrack is electric and campy but it doesn't hurt the film -it sort of fits. The pacing is very slow at times which might be tough on modern audiences with their tiny attention spans but my kids were locked in due to its being so different then what they're used to. If you're tired of the Disney formula this is for you.
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019)
Decent Sequel
Really stupid choice to take fun family adventure and slap a PG-13 rating on it just so the characters can cuss incessantly. It doesn't make it more funny and feels out of character and tasteless. I feel like I'm a pretty chill parent but I don't want my kids echoing that kind of language or thinking it's funny. That said, they enjoyed and it a lot and it had many of the clever ideas of the first film with some new ones thrown in. It was a decent sequel and those are rare. The relationship between the grandfather and his old friend was a nice addition. I just hope throwing trashy language into family films doesn't become a trend.
A League of Their Own (2022)
Ditzy women without any true passion for the sport
They lost me in the first episode when the main character decides to stand up her war veteran husband returning from WWII. He's her "best friend" and is returning from hell but she can't be there for him because she's having a midlife crisis and needs to pursue her dream. She knows she's blowing up her life but "it feels good." And we're supposed root for this character? The dialogue feels very scripted and modern. Another period piece that is basically modern people with modern sensibilities dressed up in period garb. Not sure where all of the positive reviews are coming from. I have a hard time imagining anyone actually loving this series. It adds nothing of value to the story of the original film and captures none of its magic. Skip this waste of time.
Turning Red (2022)
What's wrong with this generation...
The victory of banal pop teen culture over the wisdom of traditional Asian culture. It's the tired Disney formula of a child finding enlightenment through rebellion which ends up somehow bringing the protagonist closer to her family in the end. The animation is beautiful as always. Story sucks. Get some imagination Disney! It's supposed to be what you're good at...
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Ethereal
Mystical and dreamlike. Almost the entire movie is slow-mo. Not bad but not great
Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
Terrible
I love a good musical but I HATED this film. The lead was obnoxious and the music was banal
The Nativity Story (2006)
Fantastic
Possibly the best biblically based film out there. The times and customs are beautifully recreated, and Biblical characters are portrayed with humanity and reverence. Much more than a Christmas movie
Blade Runner (1982)
Overrated
Like a wierd dream you're happy to wake up from. This film creates an unsettling, mysterious, atmosphere that some people love and others do not. I am the latter
Big Fish (2003)
Not Good
Be a fantastic liar and everyone will love you in the end? Visually stimulating but weird and troubling
Noah (2014)
Absurd
Couldn't make it all the way though this one. And not because it had almost nothing in common with the biblical narrative -it just sucks.
Lincoln (2012)
Worth Seeing
Abe the politician. More about the fight to abolish slavery than Lincoln himself
Holy Hell (2016)
Sad
Seriously disturbing film about a cult. This documentary is unique in that has tons of high-quality footage to draw from. The director filmed much of the goings on in the cult before leaving. Sad to think it's still going on
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Fight Like a Gentleman
It's part James Bond spoof, part James Bond homage, part Tarantino. Not exactly sure why, but I love this movie. After discovering it I watched it 5 times in the span of a week. I never do that. Very entertaining
The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)
Underrated
Not a sports film guy but this is excellent. For those sceptical that a movie about golf could be interesting -fear not
The Martian (2015)
Intense
Great survival story. Likable character and edge-of-your-seat action. Captured my imagination
Black Snake Moan (2006)
Powerful
Terribly brutal and sweet at the same time. An old broken man helping a young broken woman. Deep pain and redemption portrayed honestly
Jungfrukällan (1960)
Masterful
Beautiful, brutal, tragic, redemptive. You won't forget this one. Like the book of Job, it leaves you full of thoughts and questions. This film inspired Ang Lee to become a director
King Kong (2005)
Really Good
A bloated, but beautiful, homage to the original. The relationship between Ann and Kong is like something from a Greek myth. I love it
District 9 (2009)
Silly
A disturbingly plausible alien film that gradually descends into absurdity. Great intro -goofy ending
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Inspiring
An incredible story that is genuinely inspiring. Despite the fact that l thoroughly disagreed with some of the protagonist's beliefs, I couldn't help but be moved by his courage and integrity. Like the protagonist, the film is, almost annoyingly, idealistic and hopeful but it eventually succeeds in winning you over.
Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2015)
Fascinating
A well-made, thoughtful, exploration of American consumerism and those who have chosen a different path. A more accurate title would be "Minimalism: A Documentary About What isn't Important." The film does a good job of showing the emptyness of materialism and introducing the viewer to a new movement, but it doesn't really put anything in the place of that emptyness. One senses that many of those interviewed are trying to fill St Augustine's "God-sized vacuum" with frugality. Still, the idea of contentment with less is a good one. I hope it catches on
Valkyrie (2008)
Well Done
How do you make a genuinely interesting and suspensful film when the general outcome of the story is already known? Well...they did it! A facinating tale of courageous men who almost succeeded in assaninating Hitler. Good performances all around -including Tom Cruise
God's Not Dead (2014)
Not for Everyone
As a sort of rallying cry for Christians to go public with their faith and be willing to defend it -its good. As art -it's bad. As a tool for evelgelism -its a disaster.
Band of Brothers (2001)
Watch Now
It's hard to believe it all really happened. The story of how one unit of paratroopers were in just about every major engagement in the European theater of WWII. Much better than "Saving Private Ryan." So many iconic moments!
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
Skip it
This one didn't translate well from book to screen. It's an interesting story but for some reason it's considerably less interesting as a film. I think the way the timeline jumped around actualy took all of the intensity out of the battle scenes. Disappointing