MIDNIGHT IN THE SWITCHGRASS

(Movie, 2021)

I don't understand why Willis was top billed on this one. It should have been Emile Hirsch. Willis had a limited appearance and a role that is unimportant, you can take out his character entirely and it wouldn't change a thing. 

Megan Fox's acting had improved dramatically. But her character here is a tad uhm not smart, to put it delicately. For example, on this scene, THE CABINET IS RIGHT THERE!! Girl, help yourself! 

➜

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Casting & Acting:     7.5

Plot/Story:     7.0

Editing:             7.0

Sound/Music:     7.0

Overall Production:      7.0

Rating:  7.100

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BENEATH

 

(Movie, 2007)

I watched the main actress (Nora Zehetner) a few years ago in her multi-episode appearance in Grey's Anatomy so I was expecting some legit acting on this one. Sooo disappointed. She has a very beautiful face but my classmates during high school could act better. 

Note:  Turns out, this movie came out at least 2 years prior to her stint in Grey's Anatomy. Great improvement!

There is no logic in some sequences, too, especially in the last part of the movie. The character's actions/reactions are just too moronic. 

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Casting & Acting:     3.0

Plot/Story:     5.0

Editing:             6.0

Sound/Music:     6.0

Overall Production:     7.0

Rating:         5.400

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Suicide Squad

 

       (Movie, 2016)

Suicide Squad 2016 is not that bad. Well, except for some points but mainly due to the Enchantress' acting. Cara Delevingne's face is perfect but her acting is way behind the other actors. Replacing her, that may make critics' reviews a bit less harsh.

Plus, the plot is a bit troubled. Why would Waller create a group of supervillains before there was a particular threat yet? I mean, its great to have foresight but the logic is problematic.

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Casting & Acting:     6.5

Plot/Story:     4.0

Editing:             8.0

Sound/Music:     8.0

Overall Production:     8.0

Rating:         6.900

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Only Murders in the Building – Open and Shut

 

(TV Series, 2021)

The season finale is coming in a few hours. Here are my theories:

1) JAN is the one depressed. It was her notes in Tim Kono's trash. 

a) Jan may have poisoned Tim due to jealousy. There may be a third party or at least a suspicion thereof.

b) Another person poisoned Tim. A jealous ex-lover or unrequited love?

c) The poison may be intended for Jan and Tim was only collateral damage. The poison may have come from gut milk since Evelyn the cat was also poisoned the same way as Tim. However, I doubt the cat will drink the said beverage because it's with 15% alcohol. Nevertheless, in this scenario, there's another person between this Tim-Jan affair. 

There is something about gut milk that I am extremely suspicious of. 

2) Tim Kono was shot because of his failed job.

3) Tim Kono was shot because of his investigation on Angel jewelry business. If this is right, it certainly has something to do with the green ring. Whoever possessed it after the Dimases retrieved it 10 years ago is the killer. 

The shooter has an accomplice and it may be LESTER. 

I will be back to rate the season finale. 

U • P • D • A • T • E

My Theory #1A is on point! I was teensy weensy disappointed with the finale probably because my very high expectations. But overall 👏 👏 👏 

• It was indeed a "scorned lover" situation. But if you think about it deeper, I think it was more about PRIDE and life-long BITTERNESS. 
• I was waiting for the scene repeatedly shown from trailers and every episode where the two men where nervoulsy running down the stairs and Mabel kneeling in front of a blooded body. It turns out to be like an opening for another case/season.

• I do not like TV shows with cliffhanger finales like the showrunners are holding the network hostage to give them another season. I admire how OMITB made the finale a combination of a closure and a cliffhanger: Tim Kono's case is finally closed albeit a couple of loose ends (as per Mabel), and an opening for a new storyline.
• Tim Kono was already dead before he was shot, right? Why did Charles not die? They were given the same poison, right? A paralytic? I wonder why it did not affect Charles as fast when Tim is much younger and stronger.
• The basement scene is hilarious! 

PREDICTIONS for next year's awards season: TED LASSO will have a great competition in OMITB.

• Martin Short may win over Jason Sudeikis as Best Actor 
• OMITB season 1 may win over Ted Lasso season 2 as Best Comedy
• OMITB The Boy from 6B (episode 7) will receive numerous accolades

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Casting & Acting:     9.0

Plot/Story:     9.0

Editing:             9.5

Sound/Music:    10.0

Overall Production:      9.5

Rating:  9.400

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THE RENTAL

(Movie, 2020)

Plot: stupid people doing stupid things
 
The effort is there. But the story is just unforgivable. At least it's not like the usual slasher film with hysterical screams, over-the-top sound effects, and remarkably calm killer. In this movie, the killer runs! Runs with gusto. Just like any other human being.

 

Casting & Acting:         7.5

Plot/Story:                  4.0

Editing:                       7.5

Sound/Music:               6.0

Overall Production:      7.5

Rating:                    6.500

SLAUGHTERHOUSE RULEZ

(Movie, 2018)

Plot: British boarding school vs. evil.

Interestingly, there's a lot of big names in the movie.  I don't know nor understand what made them take part on this. It seems to be trying the Edgar Wright - Three Flavours Cornettos approach but fell short (big time).

I lost focus/interest/care 20 minutes in. I played it twice. Did they address the intense bullying and questionable house practices? I do not know. And I really don't care.

There are a number of films about youngsters killing each other: Battle Royale, Hunger Games to name a few. But at least the rationale was clear from the get go. In SHR, it's all blood and nothing else. 

Casting & Acting: 7.0 

Plot/Story:                2.0 

Editing:                    3.0 

Sound/Music: 4.0 

Overall Production:    6.0 

Rating:                  4.400 

CAMPUS CODE

(Movie, 2015)

It is one of those movies where the premise is there but the execution is is just in disarray. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MADE BETTER. There!

First, the acting was awful (except maybe for Jesse McCartney and Jack Falahee). The rest, nah! My high school can act way better. And we didn't even have an acting class!

Also, the editing is terrible. I have seen high schoolers make better videos out of their phones. 

What a waste of resources. 

Casting & Acting:       5.0

Plot/Story:                7.5

Editing:                     3.0

Sound/Music:             5.0

Overall Production:    5.0

Rating:                  5.100

THE GRUDGE

(Movie, 2020)

I don't understand why they feel there is a need for a remake of this. Is it similar to a right over comic book character/s? Like you need to make a movie every 5 years or so otherwise you'll lose the right/license?

Casting & Acting:       7.5

Plot/Story:                4.0

Editing:                     7.0

Sound/Music:             6.0

Overall Production:    7.5

Rating:                  6.400

THE DUFF

(Movie, 2015)

It's rare that I watch teenage Hollywood films without gagging and commneting "white people problems". This is one of those rare films! It's simple, funny, and well-acted. 

Casting & Acting:         7.5

Plot/Story:                  7.0

Editing:                       7.5

Sound/Music:               8.0

Overall Production:      8.0

Rating:                    7.600

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker

(Movie, 2019)

Episode VIII - The Last Jedi had good critical reviews but not from the viewers. It appears that on Episode IX, the critics wanted to satisfy the fans. 

The only uncomfortable choice, I think, they made for this film is keeping Leia Organa given that she the actress, Carrie Fisher, died before the release of The Last Jedi. They used archive footages and CGI, which is only obvious if you are conscious of the fact. However, the CGI for this  flashback is awful! 

Other than that, I think they did a decent job. The writers probably already had a long-term story planned from the start that is why they chose not to write off the character from this installment. I personally think that her character has a stronger connection to Adam Driver's Ben Solo/Kylo Ren than the other original main protagonists.

Casting & Acting:          9.0

Plot/Story:                   8.5

Editing:                        8.5

Sound/Music:              10.0

Overall Production:       9.0

Rating:                     9.000

The Lodge

(Movie, 2019)

I know this is only a movie and its dark narrative is necessary for its overall plot but I still find it utterly vexing. If this is real life:

1) Dad divorces wife for another woman (happens all the time) and eventually kills herself;

2) Just 6 months after Mom's suicide, Dad forces children to spend Christmas in a lodge with the other woman whom they haven't met;

3) Dad leaves the children with the disturbed woman for days.

And the award for DAD OF THE YEAR goes to...

If the children knew the woman was a psychopath before even meeting her, WHATTHEFUCK has the Dad been doing all those times??

Casting & Acting:       8.0

Plot/Story:                3.0

Editing:                     6.0

Sound/Music:             7.0

Overall Production:    7.0

Rating:                  6.200

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

(Movie, 2020)

Given that almost everybody, critics most especially, hated Suicide Squad, I thought this movie would be a disaster as well. Or at least a meager effort to redeem thyselves.

The trailers, I thought, gave out too much. They made them look like the movie is about an all-girl Suicide Squad. I thought it was a reboot. I was surprised to see it's practically a sequel. And I was more surprised that the script is not at all like a gritty Ocean's 8. 

 I agree with Harleen Quinzel, this looks like the perfect egg sandwich!

I like it's non-linear story-telling. It's interesting. Though I had to rewind a few times because it's fast-paced, I got lost. Nevertheless, the screenplay is smart. Even the scene where at first it thought was unnecessary, was actually a smart clever way to show how unstable and complicated the character is. 

It's a dark comedy. Not dark enough to make you visit a shrink though. If you want a good time, you can watch this.

Casting & Acting:     8.0

Plot/Story:              9.0

Editing:                   8.0

Sound/Music:           9.0

Overall Production:  8.5

Rating:                8.500

Battle Royale

(Movie, 2000)

3rd movie during this community quarantine:

I first watched this when it was widely mentioned and compared to HUNGER GAMES. I like the premise. It's vengeful and hateful but it has a hint of reality into it: when faced a life-or-death situation, people's deep nature come out. It's flight or fight. The characters turned from sweet, naive teenagers to killing machines in under an hour.

And yes, people nowadays are pampered and entitled. 

Perfect for your nightmare! 😂

Search Results

Web results😂

😂

I'm sorry but i just find the acting a bit over the top. They look like they're having a seizure while being electrocuted. 

And question: when will his gun run out of bullets??!

Casting & Acting:      6.5
Plot/Story:             10.0
Editing:                    8.5
Sound/Music:            8.5
Overall Production:   9.0
Rating:                 8.500

KINGDOM Season 1-2

TV Series, 2019-2020)

I did not watch this last year because I thought it was a period drama. It is only during the pandemic that I noticed it involves ZOMBIES! 

I have not watched Asian TV shows for a long time as I don't like reading subtitles. I find keeping my eye actively reading while watching the actors daunting. I do not mind 1-1/2 to 2-hour movies though. Asian TV series are mostly lengthy. I want shows that I can still understand even if I'm doing something else. You know, multi-tasking! But when I noticed that some Netflix shows are English-dubbed, and when I saw that Kingdom is only 6 episodes per season, I proceeded right away!

Kingdom is like GAME OF THRONES-WORLD WAR Z mashup: it's about politics, power-grabbing, plus really fast zombies. It's good. It makes me bawl for Philippine TV. 

I knew from the start the Queen is  the truest spawn of evil. 

Do not disturb the nurse - she's still working on a vaccine for this pandemic. 

Note: I would not officially rate this series. For TV shows, I only rate an episode. Highly recommended, though. ★★★★★

Teen Spirit

 

(Movie, 2018)

Elle Fanning is a fine actress but her singing voice is not strong enough. She also is not a performer. I bet Hailee Steinfeld could give a better performance as a music artist though Fanning is better as a naive Polish girl. 

I like that the story is not so dark; though it's already common and somewhat predictable. 

Casting & Acting:        7.5

Plot/Story:                 6.0

Editing:                      6.0

Sound/Music:             5.0

Overall Production:    6.0

Rating*:                 6.100

* Updated to new rating system

Beware the Gonzo

(Movie, 2010)

These "wokes"... these are their problems? 🙄 🙄 🙄 

Casting & Acting: 8.0 
Plot/Story:          1.0 
Editing:         5.0 
Sound/Music: 5.0 
Overall Production: 5.0 
Rating:     4.800 

OSCARS 2020

These are the Best Picture nominees for 92nd Academy Awards. The point system I gave is different from the usual scorecard on this blog. 

FORD V FERRARI: I was nice. Commercial. Got hooked on the first 20 minutes, then unnecessary drama. 🙄 But it got my attention again on the last 30 minutes, though I felt too theatrical. 6.5⭐

THE IRISHMAN: Good but just not my type. It didn't have something surprising that made me engrossed or engaged. Robert de Niro should win though. 7.0⭐

JOJO RABBIT: I'm sure it is a good film. But I stopped watching when they killed the rabbit. Awful & unnecessary. 👎

JOKER: Too much drama. I prefer De Niro to win for The Irishman but I wouldn't mind Joaquin Phoenix winning for his efforts. 6.5⭐

LITTLE WOMEN: Nothing surprising. I got confused with the timeline. For me, it would have made a greater impact if told chronologically. Though the last part was intricate. Soarsie Ronan, though I'm not a fan, is a natural. She'll get an Oscar one day if not for this one. 8.0⭐

MARRIAGE STORY: White people problems. But I hope Adam Driver gets an Oscar. If not for this then someday. But I hope he gets this. 7.5⭐

1917: The directing style is legit! I don't like the musical score though. But if this wins over Parasite (directing categoy), I would be OK. I'm still rooting for Parasite for the film category. 9.0⭐

The contenders for the acting category are very strong. Too bad George MacKay didn't make it. 

ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD: Too long. There are scenes that are unnecessary. Like Inglorious Basterds, it's satisfying to see different outcome of awful real events. 7.5⭐

PARASITE: My choice! I hope this wins! The cast should have been nominated for acting, too. 9.5⭐