HollisWoods Reviews

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Some movies just make me remember why I love film as much as I do.

[8/10 · 7 May 2024]

Obviously had to watch this film for Jack Nicholson. You get the Class A acting you'd expect from him for his performance as McMurphy. We also have a great supporting cast that includes the likes of Christopher Lloyd and a very young Danny DeVito. However, a huge standout is Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched.

Now, I didn't know Ratched was from this story. My only prior knowledge to the character was that she was kind of scary. There is definitely some untapped story potential with the character - I'm talking like AHS Asylum level potential. But even so, Fletcher's performance was eerie. As the character always had dominion over everyone in the room, I always felt that Fletcher had a dominating presence every scene on screen. My attention was always on her and she always left me uneasy. This is why Fletcher won her Oscar, I'm sure of it.

This energy from Fletcher's performance provided such a great balance for her scenes with Nicholson - who, as an actor, always had his own dominating presence on screen in any of his movies. But just like their characters, Nicholson / McMurphy always seemed powerless next to Fletcher / Ratched. It was brilliant acting to watch. Their scenes together also contributed the the film's constant tone shift. While McMurphy was high spirited and lively, Ratched was dark and menacing; the movie itself would go back and forth between these energies often within the same scene. It was just a constant fluctuation between hope and despair and I can't think of too many other films or shows that were able to achieve the same effect so effortlessly.

This is definitely a huge aspect of the ending - an ending which shocked me. At the end of the day, this was really a story about Chief told through his growing friendship with McMurphy. That moment when McMurphy returns after his lobotomy was spine chilling. And the way Chief put him out of his misery..... devastating. Chief then escapes and, again with the tone shifts, he runs into the sunset. I guess he's considered free - they both are. But wow. That ending had me thinking for a while. I'm still thinking about. I need to read analyses on it. An absolutely incredible and literal Oscar winning ending.

The Office: Broke (2009) Season 5, Episode 23

Heart of the show

[9/10 · 29 February 2024]

Michael Scott & Steve Carrell's portrayal of him is the heart of the show. He is presented as a humorous comic figure but also is so full of heart & emotion. This balance carries the show. Michael Scott carries the show.

On the other hand, the rest of the cast is equally excellent. I particularly loved Jim this episode. He knew exactly what to say to convince Michael to sell out. He knew exactly what to say to discredit Dwight & help guarantee a positive deal for the Michael Scott Paper Company. My dude played the game of thrones, got Idris Elba out, Michelael and Pam in. The turn tables as one says.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023 Video Game)

The Definitive Breath of the Wild

[10/10 · 29 February 2024]

The first and most important thing to address is the the map. They took the map of Breath of the Wild and added above it and below it. I think the lands of Hyrule faces the biggest criticisms because it's the same, but for me, it adds so much nostalgia. If you played Breath of the Wild correctly, you spent hours and hours and hours and hours exploring. Coming back to it now feels like home. Returning to iconic places, recognizing different ruins, remembering where I almost got murdered by a guardian, the climbing the mountain I almost fell off that one time..... It's nostalgic and makes me remember a game that was so great. There isn't much to spice it up aside from caves and side quest, though a few different enemy types goes a long way. Like the trees. What the heck is up with those! And the gloom hands!!!!! Terrifying - Big nope for me.

The sky and the depths honestly add a whole new layer of terror. Travelling the sky islands is a bit of a puzzle on it's own. Considering that gliding and free falling are imperative mechanics, one wrong leap and you're gone. The depths are almost the size of Hyrule itself. I still have yet to see a full map of it. It's pitch black, all the monsters are gloomed up and extra dangerous. You go in blind every time. It's scary. There is something epic though when you have the opportunity to dive from a sky Island all the way down a chasm into the depths. Now that is really cool.

While I like some of the old abilities from Breath of the Wild, the new abilities you get in Tears of the Kingdom pretty much make up for it. The time turner thing and ultra hand are so great for puzzles and exploring. Ultra hand and fusion is where all the chaos happens. There are very few limits and it gets ridiculous. I'm talking like minecart shields kind of ridiculous. And also. Ascend. Blessed be thy name.

One thing that really shocked me is that the handglider is not just handed to you like before. I don't even remember how you get, I just know that getting it is like a surprise or comes out of nowhere. I don't know. But with a feature like sky islands, get that thing as fast as possible. I love all the armor you can get. They bring back a lot of Breath of the Wild armor, but there are dozens of other options out there. Including armor that helps you stick to walls even when they're wet...... blessed be thy name.

Now one of Breath of the Wild's biggest criticisms were the temples, or lack of. We had shrines instead and the divine beasts just did not fulfill the temple need enough. While I still would say the temples of Tears of the Kingdom are stand outs or highlights of the game, they are definitely an improvement. Just reaching the temples seem different every time. Like the one in Eldin is actually in the depth and the water temple requires an adventure to the caves. And the final bosses of all temples are different, not just an evil shadow of Ganon.

Overall, this is a solid continuation of Breath of the Wild. The music, art, story, and voice acting are all great. Matt Mercer is thirst trap daddy Ganon - blessed by thy name. I feel like it's the perfect sequel. It's such an expansion of Breath of the Wild by bring what worked best and giving new and better mechanics on top of it all. I do wonder where the series goes from here. What does the future of Zelda look like? Nintendo has been so successful over the last 40 years in continuously being innovative and reinventive of their biggest franchises. What else could they possibly do?

Teen Titans (2003–2006)

Raven was THAT girl

[10/10 · 12 February 2024]

Now, I had no idea this was a DC show when I watched it as a kid. I didn't live under a rock, so I did eventually learn Robin was Batman's sidekick. I'm more of Marvel fan, but I honestly can't think of a better superhero iconic duo than Batman & Robin. I have since dipped my toes in the Batman franchise and I really really loved the Watchmen film, but Teen Titans is honestly the extent of my DC experience. I think because it's such a contained series that's not intertwined in this DCU plot that makes it easy for anyone to get in to, especially kids who saw this on cartoon network and swooned over the beloved characters. Though I am still compelled to delve deeper into the comics as I'm sure their lore gets narly.

The Titans themselves - Robin is just a super ninja basically. In terms of abilities, he's the least impressive of the group, but he doesn't need powers to be just as useful in the field as anyone else. More importantly, he is the heart of the group. The glue. The center. It's not Teen Titans without him. Starfire is his best girl. Her naivety and inquisitiveness adds such a charm to her character. She is also the definition of girl power. We got the bros - Beast boy and Cyborg. Two peas in a pod. I personally wanted Beast's boys abilities as a kid. And the crème de la crème.... Raven. The gay awakening for many emo girls in my generation.... including myself.....

The most compelling arc is obviously Slade's. He was the perfect villain. He was menacing, creepy, charismatic - and his plot only grew thicker when Terra became his apprentice. The intorduction of Terra was one of the strongest episodes. Seeing Terra's journey as she stuggles between hero and villain was amazing and, given the series finale cliffhanger, one of the most important stories in the show.

I really have to applaud Teen Titans. There are different elements in the arcs of Terra, Robin, and Raven that you wouldn't think should be present in a kids show. I know we all like to joke about how dark DC can be, but even in this Cartoon Network series, it gets pretty dark and you don't realize this unless you're an adult. It's very much like the Last Airbender in that regards - both shows didn't treat it's audience like children. This is exactly why Titans & Avatar are still highly regarded by people who watched these shows as a kid 20 years ago because there are so many themes to resonate with as we grew up to adulthood. While both shows have an entertainment value for kids to enjoy, the story elements are also there for adults to analyze... and to discuss on reddit.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

End of an Era

[10/10 · 12 February 2024]

It's always satisfying to see the Escape from Gringotts. I remember I read a magazine where Emma Watson described her experience jumping on the dragon on set. I went to my mom who owned and read all the books and asked her what that meant, like why the heck is she jumping on a dragon? I had no idea where the story was going. Everything about the Deathly Hallows was new to me. I just happened to be in my big Middle School-High School reading phase. So I read all the books. All of them. It took me a year, but by the time I got to the theaters to see Deathly Hallows Part 2 - I was right in the middle of the Battle of Hogwarts chapters. Reading the books changed me forever. From then on I was a Harry Potter fan. And now that's what everyone knows me for. All because I wanted to know why Emma Watson had to jump on a dragon.

It definitely hits different seeing Aberforth. He really is quite an interesting character. The Dumbledore nobody knows about. The owner of the grand Hog's Head. The dude with the goats. I must applaud Fantastic Beasts because Aberforth's grouchiness is completely understandable now. He was just angry that Albus died, still held resentment for what happened to Ariana the Obscurus, upset that the war seemed lost, and annoyed at how dedicated Harry was to his given quest. Newt & Harry are not so different - two little outcasts on some epic quest with minimal background information and a difficult job to do against the great forces of history. Ciarán Hinds may have one scene, but he did a great job portraying the emotion of the unknown & unwritten history of the brothers.

Even typing about the Battle of Hogwarts makes me emotional. On the other hand, it was also pretty epic. The MVPs were undeniably McGonagall & Neville. Minerva's stand off with Snape was a bit sad because he didn't want to hurt her. But she, not knowing anything, was ready to throw hands & probably would've killed him lol. I love how Harry tells Neville to "hold the fort" It's a small moment, but I always catch that line because look at how far he has come. Neville is actually the best. I love the moment when Harry reveals himself to Snape. What's left of the Order walks in. That part is epic as well. It's like when Thor showed up to Wakanda & Bruce was like "you're all screwed now!" Same energy.

Now, Harry vs Voldemort was drastically different in the film and book - one of the most major adaption changes in the entire series. I'm pretty neutral to which one I prefer. The book version is more emotional and is a crazy stand off for everyone to witness, but it's just a bit too much talking for a film. Though the film version is kinda dumb until that final duel moment. They connect in a duel, Neville kills Nagini, and then it's over. Music is amazing, the Elder Wand flies into Harry's hands - All was well.

There is nothing that gets me more than Snape's death. I'm a Snape supporter. He was a bad guy that did a lot of good. I see myself in him for that. He was a man riddled with guilt of his own actions and hatred for the world as a whole. He was a teen hanging with the wrong crowd. In real life, 18-21 year olds are in college getting drunk at parties or something. Snape joined a freaky evil cult and was indirectly the cause of the death of the love of his life. Yeah, he was a bully. But there was no one he hated more than himself. Underneath it all, he had a heart, and was capable of love too. "Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living and above all, those who live without love."

19 years later................ I don't wanna talk about it because I don't wanna think about Cursed Child blech But it really is a beautiful ending. The credits role. The classic theme from Sorcerer's Stone plays. Even now, I just want to sit down and start over. No matter what I do in life. No matter what shows or movies I watch. Harry Potter is the series I always go back to. And even though the movies aren't perfect, the experience of my annual marathon is a feeling nothing else gives. It's magic.

Frozen II (2019)

guys this sequel comes with lore!

[9/10 · 12 February 2024]

We essentially learn about Elsa's powers and why she has them. She is basically the Avatar. It was such a cool adventure to this mystical forest - I remember the first trailer was just Elsa battling the ocean and it took me a long time to accept that this was able to be a musical. This movie is on such a different level than the first, it's wild. The animation is stellar, from lighting to textures, I was nerding out a lot observing the animation.

I still find the first film's songs to be more iconic, but we still got some great musical moments. Jonathan Groff is finally given a chance to use his talents. I literally cried when I saw the Lost in the Woods scene in theaters..... because I was laughing so hard. This cringey music video was all I could've asked for Kristoff. But show yourself....... I'm really gay. Not only does Elsa look like a goddess in this sequence, but the song is so beautiful and powerful. It was the best conclusion to Elsa's song trilogy - along with Let It Go and Into the Unknown.

This entire film was the best way to continue her character arc. Frozen was all about Elsa learning to live without fear, but the sequel was all about her trying to find her true place in the world. This story decision added such dimension to the character rather than leaving her as a queen with ice powers. They made her powers important.... They also killed Olaf..... he was Thanosed and...... yeah that was a bold move disney.

Disney is really good at creating crappy sequels to perfect films. Frozen 2 did not follow suit. It joins Toy Story, Incredibles, Lion King, and.... Brother Bear... in the exclusive list of exceptional Disney sequels.

Frozen (I) (2013)

Overhyped but for good reason

[8/10 · 12 February 2024]

Right off the bat, we can't even get through the intro logos and Frozen establishes itself as a film with a beautiful soundtrack. The soundtrack is so magical while the songs are so fun, catchy, and as we all know, can easily get stuck in your head. I know people hate on Frozen because Let It go was over used and the Frozen franchise is everywhere in a toxic way. But wow, it's genuinely good.

The music alone is a testament to this. I remember sitting in theaters watching the first movie, and the end of Do You Wanna Build a Snowman made me cry and I was so shocked because I just didn't expect that type of emotion. 10 years later, I had that same reaction. Elsa joins in on the first time in forever and escalates the song as a whole. Idina Menzel kills it as Elsa. And man.... I'm so lesbian for Elsa....... Josh Gad as Olaf genuinely makes me laugh sometimes. I honestly want to dislike the character, but between Josh and Olaf's dialogue, it's really harder than it should be. Some people are just worth melting for. Jonathan Groff...... yes sirrrr but dannngg he was criminally underused in this film. I'm glad the sequel did him justice. And shout out to Alan Tudyk as the Duke of Weasel town He's got a fine repertoire in voice acting but the Duke is something else lol.

This story, despite its criticizable plot, is deep and so full of heart. It's a tale of two sisters and how love can conquer fear. Seeing Elsa learn that fearing her power was dangerous as compared to embracing her power. She learned that what made her different wasn't a curse or made her a monster, it made her special and unique. What else was unique was these films take on true love. This really was the beginning of a new era. True love would thaw a frozen heart? That didn't mean romantic love. The 2010s saw hardly any romance centric films. Frozen was one of them and really challenged what we expected from a Disney film. And that was a powerful moment, when Anna jumped in the way to protect Elsa like that. I still remember what it felt like to see this entire scene in theaters. I was.... frozen.... to my seat..... yeah... anyways!

Frozen was truly special. Maybe it's been over hyped, sure, but wow, 10 years later, it's actually a masterpiece. Haters gonna hate. But this is an objectively phenomenal film.

The Lion King (1994)

Where do I even begin???

[10/10 · 12 February 2024]

I guess from the first 20 seconds. The sun rises and you her aaaaaaaaaaaaa and you just know Disney peaked here. The Lion King is by far one of the greatest Disney Films of all time. First of all, the aesthetic of this movie just hits. Any fan art or professional art for the Lion King is always stunning. Artists just go all in for Lion King art and I love it. Even at Walt Disney World, looking around Animal Kingdom, Animal kingdom Lodge, & Art of Animation, Lion King just makes everything better.

I think what really resonates with most people is how mature the story is. It's a bunch of talking animals but the target audience is not specifically kids. You look at past movies like Aristocats or Oliver & Company - those are cute family fun animal movies. The Lion King is serious... like.... the stampede. The murder. Simba's realization. Disney chose trauma this day, and we all felt that. This came with timeless life lessons very often quoted. Of course the classic - Hakuna Matata - which translates to "put your behind in your past." The past can hurt, but you can either run from it or learn from it. When we die we become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. The one that hits me most is "remember who you are." Because in the everchanging life we live, we are who we are, take that as you will.

On top of the epic tale is one of the greatest film soundtracks I've ever heard in my life. Hans Zimmer peaked here. All the Light Touches gets me every time. And the iconic songs are you kidding me?!?!?!! The Circle of Life, Just Can't Wait To Be King, Be Prepared, Hakuna Matata, Can You Feel the Love Tonight - every song is a hit for no reason.

This movie was completely revolutionary in more so than any other from the renaissance era. Just thinking about it - within the next several years upon it's release, Animal Kingdom was built, Disney's wildlife charity started, and to this day, Simba is still on an insane amount of merch. The legacy is there. And the lion king will always be my number 1.

Wish (II) (2023)

I see what they're trying to do

[6/10 · 19 January 2024]

Some may claim Wish was a disaster of a movie. Well..... I'm here to break it down for you.

Welcome to Rosas! Now I don't really know the background of Rosas. It's giving Medieval Spain. It's giving Mediterranean. It's giving Arabic. It's giving Morocco. I feel like there are a few influences at play here and that helps give Rosas a distinct design, which is great. Asha..... not so distinct. I know a lot of people are complaining about Disney's use of quirky female leads and Asha seems to be the final straw with this. I see what you mean and I think that's why characters like Pocahontas, Belle, Elsa, and Kida stand out, at least to me, where as Rapunzel, Anna, Mirabel, and Asha feel too similar personality wise. Other than that, Asha's design is super cool. Lover her hair, her outfit, also she has freckles - Asha's design is great.

The king.... Magnifico himself... He comes off as charming at first, but it doesn't take too long for Asha to realize there's something off about him. I do want to talk about At All Costs. I listened to the soundtrack before watching the movie and without context I swear this was a love song. But it isn't. In a sense it can be. Magnifico loves the wishes because they give him power. Asha loves the people of Rosas and her grandfather and hopes their wishes to come true. Although... This is objectively the best song in the movie but I feel like there's a disconnect somewhere between the movie and the song. It's feels misused. Were there original intentions or was this the plan all along? I kinda wish there was some sort of lust situation going on - this is the same studio that created Jafar, after all - but maybe that would've been too dark for Disney . Adulterous as well, I mean, Magnifico was married.

Speaking of, I wish there was more depth to the wife. What if they were a villainous couple - At All Costs would have been their song. That would've been iconic. That's something we have never seen and it probably would've worked. The queen as is didn't have much depth to her; she was just there and was kinda boring.

"Taking away their wishes takes away the best parts of them" This is the crime that Asha ultimately tries to get justice for. A very Disney theme for a movie claiming to be a celebration of 100 years of Disney. Then there's the argument - "but he's the king" "okay, but who gives him the right to decide" Here's another theme the film tackles. Being grateful to a powerful figure despite them being oppressive is not okay. I've dealt with this in real life so yeah.... not okay. Magnifico claims he'll grant wishes if it "benefits Rosas" or rather benefits him. At all costs, he says, remember? This peaceful prosperous life in Rosas comes at a cost. It's a corrupt power politically, and... uh, magically. With these ideas, I can easily defend Magnifico as an acceptable villain because I've seen a Magnifico like person with my own eyes. His evil actions are real, man.

Alright, so now.... meet Star. Star feels like it was meant to be a plush sold at all Disney stores....

Asha wishes upon a star and this star materializes into this cute little being and now we have to sit through a musical sequence with singing plants and animals - i guess meant to play on the idea that Wish was meant to be a tribute to 100 years of Disney by showing how it was magic that brought the plants and animals to life way back in the Disney classics of olden times????

This is actually a good time to deep dive the fact that Wish was promoted to be the 100 year celebration of Disney Studios. Welcome to Rosas feels like it was meant to be like Family Madrigal; You're a Star feels like it was meant to be like Under the Sea; there are straight up references to Peter Pan and Mary Poppins; Asha has a Cinderella moment when Star gives her the Fairy Godmother wand.

Oh and Asha's friends are the seven dwarves. They're not even beating around the bush with the Dopey and Sneezy characters. That Simon dude is Sleepy. The girl with the crutch is Doc. The sneaky girl is Bashful. The black girl is Happy. And that Scanlan fella is Grumpy.

Overall thoughts - Art style. Amazing. The Art of Animation is the true Disney celebration here. To me, animation is the true essence of the Disney Studios. This is primarily why I refuse to give attention to any live action remakes, I don't care how good they are. The potential of this film is outstanding. It's almost frustrating as there were some many great components here that just did not work well enough together to make a perfect film experience. The music was hit or miss. You had amazing numbers such as At all Costs or Knowing What I Know Now; and then there's..... Thanks I get. The credits pay homage to iconic classic characters - again reminding you that this is a celebration of 100 years of Disney. But in all honestly was it????

Let's just say..... For a definitive celebration of Walt Disney's legacy...... Once upon a studio.... That's the Disney you know and love.....

Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)

Definitely just fun for the fans

[6/10 · 3 November 2023]

As someone who has been a fan from the first game, I was a bit eerie about the film to begin with. With such complex lore, how would they make a concise story made for a two hour movie when we're 10 games into the franchise & seemingly have more questions than answers?

I'm glad Scott Cawthon himself figured it out & wrote the script. The movie could be been seriously messy, but it was a fairly straightforward story mostly based on the 1st game. It's definitely not cannon to the rest of the franchise. In fact, there are actually several story elements taken from bits throughout many games & copy-pasted into this new re-telling of William Afton. I was pleased enough. Some fans might rage, and sure it wasn't perfect. But yeah... It could've been worse. It worked.

The film was not as scary as many of the games. I was uncomfortable during some moments & the animatronics never fail to unnerve me. Actors did a solid job. Shout out to the MatPat cameo. And the credits! They played Living Tombstone's song. Fan service at its finest. And stick to very end for a surprise......

Haunted Mansion (2023)

Is it weird I like the other one better?

[6/10 · 27 July 2023]

Now this version of Haunted Mansion has some good elements. The Hat Box ghost is the villain, other than just a ghost butler made up for the story. There were lots of great Easter eggs like the wallpaper, the 13th hour clock, the hitchhiking ghosts, & the stretching room - which was honestly a really cool sequence. Though Disney played it safe & excluded Gracey's hanging.

Actually, the Gracey storyline is so much weaker in this one compared to how he was a central character in the 2003 film. The 2003 story was honestly much better all around as a tragic haunting love story vs 2023's vengeful spirit with a story of grief.

The casts are 50-50 for me. Owen Wilson made me genuinely laugh all through the movie & all the other actors had their own comedic moments that hit. I still like the 2003 cast led by Eddie Murphy, but both casts are fine.

Overall, it's a fine film. Though now I wish there was a Haunted Mansion movie that combines everything good from both 2003 & 2023 versions, with 03's music, 23's costume design, and as many Easter eggs to the ride as possible.

Red Dead Redemption II (2018 Video Game)

One of the most immersive gaming experiences of all time

[8/10 · 11 July 2023]

So I know nothing about the original Red dead. I just know 2 came out and was quite the phenomenon in the gaming community. I wouldn't say it was my favorite game of 2018, with God of War, Spiderman, and Detroit Become Human also releasing that year, But Read Dead Redemption 2 definitely holds it's own as an incredible open world experience.

Red dead 2 is not a game you could possibly speed run. This game is meant to be a slow burn exploration experience. I honestly can't tell you you anything about the plot or the story. I'm was not invested in that at all. It's everything else that does it for me. That isn't to say I didn't enjoy the characters as there are is a long list of charismatic and likeable characters with diverse backgrounds that you interact through the 100 hours of gameplay.

Red dead 2 is an authentic and lively wild west experience, one of the only of it's kind at this scale. I honestly can't think of what to compare it too. When you think of the wild west, you expect gun violence, bank robberies, and train heists. Red dead has it's share but it's soooooo much more than that. There are so many random activities to do, from helping with hardships with the locals to getting drunk in a bar. You can spend hours getting hit with random side quests and totally forget what you main quest even is

The limitations to fast travel really helps with this. There are only a few ways to fast travel in the game and they all take more than a simple push of a button. This is the game's way of making you take the scenic route to all your destinations. But between the beautiful scenery and the dynamic random encounters you may hit on the side of the road, it never feels like a chore, but more of an adventure. And the scale of this massive game!!!! You can go from the snowy mountains to the mirky bayous. This game makes an effort to show the beauty of America.

There are other small activities that could easily take up your time. Such as fishing or hunting to add resources to build up the gang's camp. There's a system in place that forces you to actually take care of your weapons, otherwise combat actually becomes a struggle. That also extends to horse care as you horse is a crucial aspect to this game. You gotta take of it it, feed it, clean it, love it. It's a whole system on it's own. Speaking of systems, the morality system! Dang. This is the most severe morality system I've ever seen. You could run some over with your horse and become a wanted criminal on accident. It can get annoying, but it also makes you conscience of what your doing. You are in a world with laws and law enforcement and it's realistic to be on the wrong end of that enforcement when you shoot an unarmed man in the street.

The aspect that really ties everything together is the the overall design and attention to detail. Music and voice acting is great, of course. But it's everything else that makes the beauty of 19th century America feel so... alive. Lighting and level design is so detailed. No npc looks the same, every town looks different. Immersion is a key term when describing red dead redemption 2. Because when there is about 60 hours of gameplay haned to you, immersed is what you're gonna be.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits (2021 Video Game)

It's all about the rots

[8/10 · 11 July 2023]

Kena bridge of spirits. This is game that that is most notably a CGI masterpiece. I feel like that what attracts most people to this game. No surprise, the graphis and world design are the strongest aspects of this game. It's a beautiful game to look at and it's fun to explore to appreciate these details.

At a glance, the combat seems pretty simple. The upgrage system in't all that and you only have one and a half weapons. But the simplicity goes away as you progress through the game, encounter different and harder enemies, and are encouraged to make use of the upgrades you have and are also forced to learn the combat, get used to your abilities, and actually strategize to get through tough bosses. Though I still wouldn't play this game exclusively for the combat.

Gameplay is nicely balanced between combat, exploration and puzzles. The puzzles have such a nintendo vibe, making use of you skills and platforming to solve them.

Kena is a game that is like a feel good cgi ghibli experience that's not ni no kuni. Combat and puzzles are nothing. Rots are what it's all about. I will go through the the dangerous quest of those Challege chests just to find them new hats. These little pikmin guys can be useful in combat and puzzles, but I honestly just want them to look cute, which they are.

Mary Poppins (1964)

It's hard to not cry when watching this movie.

[10/10 · 10 July 2023]

Everything about hits. And there are 3 reasons why.

1. Julie Andrews. What a queen. Her voice.... heavenly. I love her more than any human in the world. I feel blessed to have grown up with her in my life. And I never use the word 'blessed.' She's literally practically perfect in everyway.

2. The message. It's a fun message with Mary Poppins and the kids, but the film, Saving Mr. Banks, really opened my eyes to the soul theme of this film. E become adults and get wrapped up in the toxic seriousness of life, and it's easy to let it consume us. That's why there is such a mental health crisis. Mary Popping, through Mr. Banks, teaches us that it's okay to let go, to sing songs and speak silly words. Enjoying all colors of life, not stuck on the darkness of reality, and adopting the spirit of a child every once in a while.

3. Walt Disney. This is HIS movie. Everything Walt Disney stood for is within the message I just wrote a paragraph about. Disney was the embodiment of the lifestyle we should all try out sometime. Imagination. Magic. Laughter. Love, Family. Going toward the technical aspects of the film - the animation, the hybrid scenes with live action, the animatronics. Disney passed away with the next few years after the release of this film. I truly believe his entire career led to this movie. And I feel that in every scene. He made sure this movie existed while he was alive. He handpicked Julie Andrews. His favorite song was 'Feed the Birds.' He's all over this move. It's overwhelming.

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998 Video)

Dang, the sequel did not have to go that hard.

[8/10 · 10 July 2023]

The songs in this are just too good than they should for a sequel. And that whole segregation racism allegory going on gets deep. "What differences do you see?" I would say the only thing dragging the film down is Timone & Pumba. They don't have a purpose, they're just there, simple comic relief. At least in the other movies they were genuine supporting characters. Although it all comes full circle when Simba says we gotta put the past behind us. In the end, Simba was willing to hakuna matata his kingdom to unity. Anyways, I've loved the sequel since I was a kid. I still refuse to sleep on this sequel and I think you should give it a chance too.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

A "Quadrilogy"

[9/10 · 10 July 2023]

Spoiler Alert.... John Wick dies. But what a great send off it was. I didn't expect John Wick's life to end, and di not expect this movie to be his swan song. Although I figured it would come down to this. He died a free man. That's what he deserved. I can also appreciate that this was the film we were never supposed to have. I still believe John Wick was meant to be a trilogy, but the success and the fans demanded a 4th, making this a "Quadrilogy." What amazes me about all movies is how consistent they were with each other in terms of pacing, action, worldbuilding, story, and over all quality. No one fight feels the same. We end up in so many places all over the world. John Wick always feels new and exciting from start to finish and that is a very hard thing to do. But they did it, and did it right.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)

John Wick 3: Parabellum was all about consequences.

[8/10 · 10 July 2023]

Whatever the story may be, the action of this installment was just so much fun. The first act alone was so action packed as John Wick was on the run. The knife fight went straight into that horse segment and that 10 minutes was a blast. The Motorcycle segment toward the end was cool too; real FF7 Remake vibes. The final battle in the hotel was awesome too as an all out war ensued through this epic climax.

Turns out, this is not so much of a trilogy anymore. The third films ends with more left to be done. The 4th film was just in theaters and was a great installment as well. These films are genuinely fun and Keanu Reeves can do no wrong.

And yes. I did have PTSD when the dog was shot. But at least no dogs were harmed and I hope that trend continues.

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

the sequel

[7/10 · 10 July 2023]

Spoiler alert. Keanu's new dog lives to the end of this movie. No tragic deaths worth mentioning here.

What I liked most about this sequel is that it expanded on the Assassin's Creed concept. Not only did we learn a bit more about laws and customs, but it also laid down the path for consequences further down the road.

Pacing was better in Jock Wick 2 than the first, though that's not to say the first was bad. I just felt that things were moving quicker and a lot was going on. I just remember seeing that I was 2/3 through the film but felt like I was less than half. Time was zooming. I hated the villain though. He was such a jerk, but not in a good villain way. He made Wick kill his sister than set him up to be a fugitive. That was so unfair. It set up the third well but I didn't like it.

John Wick (2014)

the boogeyman

[8/10 · 10 July 2023]

First of all, the cast. Of course Keanu Reeves is the heart & soul of the film but we also got Ian McShane, Willem Dafoe, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, & Lance Reddick. All very talented. But I gotta hand it to Keanu. There was actually a scene where he made me emotional. His line delivery caught me off guard. I can't say I've shed a tear for Keanu's performances before now. He did such a good job.

The concept is really cool. Any sort of Assassin or Secret Agent premise is solid. John Wick is thankfully one of the many takes on the idea that didn't fall through and had solid execution as well. It really throws you off though given how John Wick throws himself back in the Assassin's Creed. Not only do you not expect it but it's unnecessarily tragic... Let's just say that next time I get on the Sims 4, I'm going to create John Wick and give him all the dogs he deserves.

Really enjoyed all the fighting sequences. They're all well choreographed and believable to some extent. It also looks like Keanu a lot of the time, as if it's not just a lot of crazy motion blurring a stunt double. It actually looks like he did a lot of the fighting, which I think he did.

Brother Bear (2003)

I know the entire soundtrack by heart

[9/10 · 10 July 2023]

Honestly, the only thing that might've made this movie better is if all the Natives were voiced by Natives. 15 or 20 years later, it would've been a given. But at least we got Joaquin Phoenix instead.

Also, how is this move 20 years old !!!!!!!!

I owned the soundtrack to this film for some reason, so the Brother Bear soundtrack, given that I had the access to listen to the CD on loop as a kid, is literally top 3 nostalgic Disney soundtracks of all time for me. I also have vague memories of playing DVD bonus features games either for this movie or the sequel. This was a big movie in my childhood for some reason. Watching it again.... I must've always been too busy jamming to Phil Collins because I don't think I ever paid attention to how sad the film is.

The tale of 3 brothers is a tragedy. Sitka died due to indirect consequences of Kenai's actions. Kenai blames the bear instead of himself and wants to kill the bear to redeem himself as if to make him feel better. Put through his bear transformation, and Denahi is left alone to track down the bear that "killed" both his brothers. That's more or less their story. What gets even more messed up is that Kenai and Koda develop this brotherly bond while neither of them know that Kenai killed his mom..... That's a topic of conversation for my therapist for sure. Like..... that's dark. I never took a moment to dwell on this. Why would I when I know every word to On My Way???

Alice in Wonderland (1951)

thank you mary blair

[9/10 · 10 July 2023]

Of all the fairytales Disney Studios could've adapted, I'm unbelievably glad Alice in Wonderland is one of them. There are a handful of of fantasy realms that are just the pinnacle of everything the fantasy genre stands for. I put Wonderland up there right next to Middle-Earth.

First of all, I have never ever ever experienced a Wonderland adventure I didn't like. Movies, shows, books, video games - the Wonderland aesthetic is unmatched. The incredible artist, Mary Blair, worked on this project. There was no way this movie would fail, especially in the art department. I know of the many adventures Alice encountered in the original books, but I'm not sure of the accuracy between the book and this film. However, I feel that it captures the essence of Wonderland as Alice goes through tis journey full of nonsense and random encounters with curious people and creatures. If "absurd" is a word that can describe a trip to Wonderland, then it's a successful trip. And Alice's trip to Wonderland was a success to be sure.

Lilo & Stitch (2002)

For all the ugly ducklings in the world

[10/10 · 10 July 2023]

Woah... I'll never get over this movie.

Lilo - The weird little outcast. I feel like a the weirdo kids that didn't fit in looked up to her as a character. It was brilliantly supported with her friendship with Stitch, who also doesn't belong.

Stitch - the most iconic Disney character right after Mickey Mouse. Go to Disney Japan property or the Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World, he's literally all over the place. And where you find Stitch merch, you'll find Angel merch - you know, the sexy pink experiment from the show? He's wild, destructive, and, of course, cute & fluffy. He's the spirit animal of most of us. And it's heartwarming to see his journey as he finds a place for himself.

Nani - the realest of the real. She did everything she could to keep Lilo with her. They are Ohana. As I've grown up, I've appreciated her character more and more, knowing how her story is far from fiction. Her bravery & resilience is felt in her passion & love for her sister. It's truly inspiring. Emotional, too, as I am always crying with their story.

David. What a homie. That is all.

And lastly, shout out to Hawaii. This is such a great Hawaiian adventure, and the 2 main songs really embody the spirit of this film.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for like 10 minutes of screen time

[10/10 · 10 July 2023]

I was today years old when I learned Colleen Atwood did costuming. Guys, do you understand how this got me shook? Fantastic Beasts, Chicago, literally every Tim Burton movie. Hello????? Atwood designed the famous mask??????? Coleen Atwood is literally my favorite costume designer, the only one I know by name. Unsung hero in the film industry.

I loved seeing the Chilton character after everything that happened on Hannibal, they definitely cast well in the show. It was exciting to see the character, but at some point, during his and Clarice's descent to the deepest chambers, I started holding my breath. I was just so tense until Clarice walked out of that hospital. I've seen this movie a few times now, and it still has this effect on me? I was just soooo captivated by Anthony Hopkins. The way that entire scene was filmed and how him and Jodie Foster acted... This was movie magic. Extraordinary.

Ted Levine is a phenomenal Buffalo Bill. We love talking about Jodie and Anthony, but dang. This whole movie is just wonderfully cast, well performed. Levine was creepy and unnerving. I was always uncomfortable during his scenes. It's kind of funny, both in the show and this movie, I feel comfortably captivated by Dr. Hannibal Lecter when he's around. It's the charisma & intellect that differentiates Lecter from all the other psychopaths. They're crazy, he just isn't.

Scenes between Clarice and Lecter are a highlight. There was one shot of Clarice with a clear reflection of Hannibal, quite reminiscent to what I watched in Season 3 of Hannibal. Lecter easily worms his way into Clarice's mind, and with that Hannibal series mindset, I see the appeal of both sides. It goes to that moment when Clarice told her friend, "Oh he won't come after me, he'd consider that rude." There's a lot to unpack from that when it comes to the analysis of Hannibal the Cannibal.

Hannibal makes his way to Tennessee and he & Clarice have a final encounter face to face. I don't even know what to say. The extreme close ups of Hannibal speak louder than words, I feel like Hannibal is psychoanalyzing me. It's chilling. And wow.... that escape is unlike anything I've ever seen. I guess the only thing to compare it to is anything I've seen in the series. But wow.... Hannibal did this with such little effort. Go watch it. When I think about this film, this is the part of the movie I remember the most.

After this is a great climax with Clarice catching Buffalo Bill once and for all. She saves the day and is recognized for her work. Then the final phone call. "Having an old friend for dinner." rip Chilton. But man... the credits role and I always feel satisfied with my movie experience. This really is one of the greatest movies of all time. Anthony Hopkins is just a legend.

Hardcore Henry (2015)

PSA Hardcore Henry is a film that exists.

[10/10 · 10 July 2023]

First of all, if you're someone who has weird motion sickness or can't stand shaky cam in any form, ignore this recommendation. If you're good with all that then stop reading and go watch this movie!!!!!!! It's honestly one of the coolest films I've seen in a long time. My only wish is that I watched it sooner.

Hardcore Henry is a film entirely in the first-person point of view. Of course this is easily compared to an x number of video games. In terms of film of any kind..... I can only think of Markiplier and all of his creative projects on his channel, which are all 1st person as well. I love Mark's projects, but Hardcore Henry takes it up a notch or 20 with it's action. Hardcore Parkour is half the movie and its super cool. Henry has no dialogue so it was so easy to cast some sort of stunt man or parkour artist to play his part, attach a camera to his body, and let him go wild in the streets of Russia. It worked, man. We also get up close and personal to the gore and violence of the film. Just... everyone dies. With all the guns and explosions, no surprise, the deaths are brutal and not for the faint of heart. During our watch party, all my friends and I were constantly going like awwww watching this film. I will admit, it's so hard to not use the word "hardcore" when talking about this movie, but it was just rightfully titled because hardcore is what Hardcore Henry is.

Now I feel like the story is where people might lose it. You've got this crazy sith lord, and every time I was like "why does he exist" I had to remind myself we were watching this cyberpunk android's vision WHICH quick side note: There was a moment when Henry's eyes were out of his skull and the screen was spilt between what both eyes saw. Just... um... just a cool Hardcore Henry thing.. There was also this random guy that popped up in the brothel and, maybe it was just because it was 2 am when I watched it, but I just could not follow his existence, and then it got even weirder when he shows up AGAIN and introduces himself to all his clones through a musical..... it was so random but for some reason it fit right in to the chaos of the film.

Anyways, you'll never catch me watching this movie for the story. It's all about the action, the concept, and the filming process.!!! Man I took some filming classes in college and had fellow students who had more interest in the technical art of film making than I did, but even this movie got me excited for those aspects. I'd enjoy a behind the scenes documentary just as much as the movie itself, and there aren't too many movies I'd say that about.

So there you have it, if anything I've said appealed to you, please please please please go watch this movie. I think it's on neflix. And not enough people talk about it.

WALL·E (2008)

Reduce reuse recycle

[8/10 · 10 July 2023]

So there are 2 sides to this story that kind of intertwine. There's the robot story, with Wall-E's crush on Eve being super cute while they're on a mission to deliver the plant to the captain. The other side is a pure reflection of humanity and our relationship with our planet. Throughout we see the Captain and a couple other citizens wake up from daily monotony to pay more attention and learn more about what it is to live. The Captain's line "I don't want to survive, I wan to live," sums it up perfectly. In the end, both sides meet in the happy ending on Earth, which is displayed through the credits. Wall-E & Eve live happily ever after and help humans evolve & rebuild Earth from the ground up. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Protect and love the planet. Go for a walk & enjoy the nice weather. And beware of HAL & Auto - AI could still be after us.