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maddycollins
Reviews
Talk to Me (2022)
Not the Worst Movie I've Seen
Talk to me definitely has an appeal, but unfortunately did not fully appeal to me.
The atmosphere was pretty well created and tension was consistent throughout the movie. I enjoyed the cinematography of the film. There were a lot of good shots that aided the tension and horror.
Unfortunately, I thought most of the cast was horribly annoying. As someone who was a teenager less than a decade ago, I've never met people like this, and I wouldn't care to. I think it's difficult to care what happens to the characters in a movie when they are so unlikeable. Part of what draws me to horror is being able to empathize with the characters, but I didn't feel an overwhelming desire to see any of the kids survive besides Riley; maybe I just had a soft spot for him because I have a little brother his age. Their decisions weren't very realistic, especially Mia's. I truly don't think a lot of what they did was realstic, but maybe I just simply haven't met people like this - who knows?
The gore wasn't too over the top, but there's a certain part that made me squirm. I have a stomach of steel, but anything related to a specific type of gore has always bothered me a little bit. For anyone who is squeamish about eyes, there is a brief part you may want to look away for.
I thought that the ending was pretty predictable, even if I was someone who hasn't seen a lot of horror. It also felt very rushed towards the end. I felt as if there was a lot more to say as the credits started rolling.
One thing that would've made the movie a lot better is if there had been discussion of the history of the hand. The hand was the most interesting part of the movie, yet its existence was never really explained beyond one vague sentence. I guess it was supposed to be a mystery, but I think a little bit of lore would've made the movie much more interesting.
Overall, it wasn't a bad movie by any means. It's just not something that I would rewatch. It was atmospheric and tense, but the finer details could have been crafted a bit better.
The Menu (2022)
Refreshing
I really enjoyed this movie, as I have never seen anything like it. It reminded me of the show Hannibal, because of underlying notes of finding art in death and violence. It had stunning visuals and relatively good acting throughout. As someone who has always been interested in cuisine, this has given me a new look on food as an art form.
There are themes of obsession in the film as well, and the line between sanity and insanity is toed over multiple times. The ending was a bit unrealistic, as I don't think most people would have just sat back and took what was handed to them, but that's fiction, I suppose.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Magical Escapism
There are some movies that are just too perfect to put into words. LOTR: Fellowship is one of them. I rewatch and reread the series at least a few times a year, and it never gets old. If you're looking for some good old-fashioned escapism, then this is where its at. There is just something so gratifying about entering a completely fleshed-out, magical land that is so magnificent compared to the one we live on.
Now, I would (of course) recommend reading the books before you watch the movies, but that isn't necessary. The movies stand very well on their own, and are loyal enough to the books for me.
You will not regret giving this a watch (or 10).
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Absolutely Lovely
This is one of my favorite movies for a lot of reasons. For one, it's relatable. If you've gone through high school as someone who was often overlooked, you'll understand this movie. If you have/have had mental illness, you'll understand this movie. If you've ever been in love, you'll understand this movie.
There's just something so deeply hopeful about what I first thought was going to be a shallow coming of age high school movie. Nobody is perfect. There's no characters that are unrelatable in my opinion. I was able to see myself in each and every one, in a different way.
In Charlie, I saw my bad days, and was reminded to remember my good ones too.
In Sam, I saw my deepest insecurities, and learned that they don't define me.
In Patrick, I was reminded of the times I act goofy to forget the pain I'm feeling.
All in all, this movie perfectly encompasses what it's like to be a person, whoever you are.
Smile (2022)
Nothing Special
This movie wasn't particularly special in any way. It relied heavily on jump scares that were more annoying than scary. A lot of producers nowadays simply don't understand that loud noises do not equal a good jump scare. The movie itself is just unnecessarily loud in my opinion as well.
The main character was rather annoying and unlikeable in my opinion. There's no character development or cause behind a lot of her actions. I kept trying to give it a chance, but it kept letting me down.
I was really looking forward to seeing this movie because of the great advertising, but it really let me down.
If you're an avid horror fan, you probably won't enjoy this movie.
Session 9 (2001)
Well-Done, Low-Budget, Creepy
This movie is well-made, and definitely does give the viewer a creepy feeling throughout the film. There are some people who say that it is too vague and confusing, but it really isn't. A lot of viewers these days want the storyline spelled out for them, or else it's utter crap. One of the reasons that this movie is so effective is because it makes the viewer think about what's going on, why specific things happen, who is behind certain acts; it nearly makes the viewer feel like they're going insane as well. It comes to a shocking and gruesome resolution (if one can even call it that), and I was genuinely surprised by who was behind it all along.
Old (2021)
A Dumpster Fire of Garbage
This movie made me want to off myself. That is all.
Baby Daddy (2012)
Mediocre Sitcom
I had a friend show me Baby Daddy, and I honestly thought I would like it. Long story short, I didn't. The humor felt stupid to me, and the characters were unlikeable and annoying in my opinion. The acting was pretty poor, the jokes felt forced, and never quite landed where they should have. I don't know if I just dislike sitcoms with laugh tracks, but the laughing felt overly-loud to me as well. Overall, I was pretty disappointed by this show, and I'd probably only watch it as background noise.
Hannibal (2013)
Absolutely Amazing
This is easily one of the best shows that I've ever seen, and it deeply saddens me that there are only three seasons; I would watch ten seasons of Hannibal. I haven't sat down and watched a full show in years, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from the amazing story of Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham. The cinematography is amazing, the soundtrack is wonderful, and the acting is spot on. Mads and Hugh are the stars of the show, and their chemistry on screen keeps you on the edge of your seat. Their relationship is deeper than simple love-hate, and it keeps you (and them) guessing the whole time. The series ends on something of a cliffhanger, at least in my opinion. I'm still holding onto hope that they'll make a fourth season!
Love, Death & Robots: The Drowned Giant (2021)
Stood Out to Me
This episode in particular stood out to me in a way that the others (except for perhaps the third episode) hadn't. Yes, it doesn't tell us where the giant come from. And, yes, it doesn't tell us why he's here, but that's part of the beauty of the episode. Instead of a dramatic climax to the episode, as most of the others had, it left me feeling thoughtful and nearly sentimental for something I've never known. The difference in how humans treated the giant's remains after it had aged was very interesting to me, and says a lot about human nature, in my opinion. The more human-like something is, the more respect people will have for it. The mystery of the giant echoed through my head even after the episode had ended. Were there more giants to be found? Where did they live? Could they speak? Love? Kill? I could have honestly watched a movie on this episode, as stupid as it sounds, and I really enjoyed it.
Gisaengchung (2019)
Relatively Amazing
If you want a thought-provoking movie that will stick with you for hours (or days), then Parasite is the movie for you. Most movies have a clear division between the protagonist and antagonist. You root for one and despise the other, because that's what we've been groomed to do for our entire lives - but what if the divide weren't so clear? Classism is an age-old separation that has been symbolized in literature and television for years and years. The "good guy" is wealthy, and the "bad guy" is poor, or vice versa. That isn't always how it works in real life, and Parasite strives to exemplify that.
I would be gravely mistaken if I didn't mention the phenomenal acting and breathtaking cinematography that takes place in Parasite. The tension that begins to build about halfway through the movie is palatable, and will make your stomach knot. I recommend going into this movie with no spoilers and very little prior knowledge of the film, as it'll make the experience that much better.
I've seen a lot of 3-7 star reviews claiming that they don't "get the film", and that it is over-hyped. You need to be able to look past the superficial to understand this film. Good and bad are obsolete, and classist stereotypes are shattered into pieces. Go into this film with an open mind and an agreement to think past what you see on the screen. There is a lot of symbolism and reading between the lines in this film, and to fully understand it, you'll need a good hour to think after the film. As you're laying in bed, wondering what the hell you just saw on screen, it'll all start piecing together in your brain. That's what makes a good film, and Parasite is one of the best I've seen this year.
Too Hot to Handle (2020)
Never Have I Been More Grateful to Have Brain Cells
This show is mindless stupidity, and anyone who tries to tell me otherwise is no better than the nincompoops (I LOVE that word) on the screen. Anyway, if you're looking for a show that has even a single grain of depth, this is not the show for you. This show does nothing but prove the saying that hot people are stupid.
The Shining (1980)
GOOD BUT NOT GREAT
First of all, I went into this movie with high expectations, but came out of it only mildly appeased.
All of the people who say that this is "the worst movie in existence" are definitely exaggerating just a bit. It's good- it's a fun movie to watch for a light scare. It's an enjoyable movie, for sure, but I just didn't find it THAT scary. There are some foreboding parts - sure - but I wasn't left shaking in my boots.
Nicholson, for one, twisted the entire movie into a comedy for me. I'm not sure if it was intentional or not, but I found myself laughing when I should've been scared. I still can't decide whether that's a good thing or not...
Duvall is rather dull, in my opinion. I haven't read the book, but I've heard that her character in the book is strong and willful. In the movie, she's just a bit too whiny for my tastes, I suppose.
Danny was cute, but his "finger voice" kind of started to grate on my nerves after a while. I went from "God, I hope the kid doesn't die," to "Well, I wouldn't be THAT disappointed if he died, as long as he doesn't keep saying redrum in his chain smoker voice again."
One thing that bothered me was Jack's path to insanity. It was supposed to be a subtle, gradual slip into insanity, but I felt as if he wanted to murder his family from the get-go. He gives off a vibe of "if this damn kid asks me to stop for McDonalds one more time I'm crashing this car." So, really, I don't even think that the hotel affected him all that much. I mean, he DID dislocate the poor kid's arm like three years before they even went to the hotel (He was a schoolteacher, no less).
The "creepy twins" and the elevator blood felt kind of forced to me, as if they didn't belong. Why were the twins even menacing? They were murdered, for God's sake. You'd think they'd give Danny some warning instead of pulling the whole "cOme plAy wiTh uS" routine.
And the actual "Shining", which was the gift that Dick and Danny had, was severely underdeveloped. I mean, it WAS the title of the film itself; it could've been more obvious. I mean, I guess it helped Dick to ride his fancy snowmobile up there, although he ended up being of more use to them dead than alive (thanks for the ride!).
Anyway, I really did enjoy the movie, all criticism aside. Those who say it's the worst movie are definitely exaggerating a bit too much. It was creepy, and the soundtrack was good, so there's that.
SPF-18 (2017)
Couldn't even watch 5 minutes
This here, folks, is a monstrosity. I personally could act better, and I have never taken an acting class. I could also film better, and I have never stepped into a cinematography class. It's so bad that it'll make you want to gouge your eyes out to 80s pop (which was the only redeeming quality of the movie). The very first scene after the beginning credits seemed like a plot for lesbian porn, except that would be an insult to porn everywhere. Just don't watch it. Don't waste your time unless you're looking for a laugh/cringe. The camera work makes it seem as if a small child is carrying around an iPod touch to film with one hand and picking his nose with the other. This has been my Ted Talk. Thank you very much.