I am probably going too easy on the movie, rating a little higher than maybe I would on another day, but I enjoyed it. My interest was kept throughout and I found the acting mostly good to great. The movie isn’t perfect but it also is not a bad flick.
Author: Verse
Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) 4.5/5
Categories 4.5/5, Biography, Drama, History, Movie and Series Reviews 
It must have been incredibly hard to balance this movie. I can’t fault the age of the actors too much vs the real life people when no doubt they probably got people in seats and the movie made. Everyone is on their game and the story carefully balances how much of each character we get. I did feel a little longing for more knowledge of the politics in it but I appreciate the movie nonetheless.
A Haunting in Venice (2023) 3.5/5
The twists aren’t so twisty, overly telegraphed to the point of being easy to see. However, the movie stays afloat above its necessity for subterfuge with careful direction and captivating atmosphere.
A house/hospital full of stuck people, literally and figuratively, makes a strong setting.
It is funny that you can walk away from the movie thinking Poirot gives some credence to mysticism or that you think he gives zero and everything can be explained. It makes for a little extra engagement.
I have a real soft spot for these movies. Even flawed, Hercule Poirot and Branagh are an attractive pair.
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) 2.5/5
It felt odd for the movie to not have Lisa Eilbacher as Jenny in some capacity. I think it would have worked better if Axel stayed with her while in town rather than the whole shakily done house acquisition thing that didn’t really deliver the laughs.
II Has sometimes transcends parts of the original, but it has trouble maintaining any momentum it gets. The dialogue gets sloppy, with characters repeating information the others would already know. The villain has an actual motivation but it is not leaned into so instead of Casino Royal we get mustache twirly.
Rosewood is fun to see escalate but the last ten minutes of the movie goes too hard and the action is very sloppy. It is really the ending that shaves off another half star. Sloppy action can be said for most of the movie though, it really is the whole way the finale was written. Too quick, too little, and too much somehow all at once.
Having said all that, I don’t regret watching the movie. I think there is some strong moments in the earlier half.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) 3.5/5
A classic movie for a lot of reasons. Eddie is great and so are all of the supporting cast, even down the smaller roles that elevate the film. The soundtrack is rightfully iconic. A lot of tropes keep the story very basic, but it dances around it in an enjoyable way.
There are some lulls in the movement though and not every scene is timed well, but overall it is a lot of fun.
District 9 (2009) 3.5/5
Categories 3.5/5, Action, Movie and Series Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller 
Copley deserves all the praise he gets for his role. The movie is certainly unique and gets a lot of love for that alone. A lot of the parts waver in quality, hitting highs and lows. Overall though I think its worth any science fiction fans time and probably from a lot of people who aren’t.
The Watchers (2024) 2.5/5
This felt like a Shyamalan film, and it turns out it was. The biggest twist of the film.
Characters reveal information and others ask no follow up and it makes the end feel cheap and predictable. When I watch a Shyamalan film, I hope to not know the ending up front.
The dialogue is a little off at times and there is a goofyness to how it all wraps up.
Atmosphere was neat, even if they showed too much in my opinion, and the overhead shots do a good job at evoking an enclosure.
The First Omen (2024) 2/5
Categories 2/5, Horror, Movie and Series Reviews 
I can see a lot of merit to the flick for some people, but not me. It is a lot of act-weird-be-spooky and sometimes that often takes front stage before story which kind of goes round and round and doesn’t try to surprise. In that way, it is probably doing exactly what a lot of people want.
For myself it all felt cliche, predictable beginning to end, and it wraps the ending so quick that it baits a sequel harder than a Marvel movie at the detriment of, again, story. The cast was good and the spooky is there. Just not my cup of tea and I am ticking stars (or lack of) for my own preferences. I am aware a lot of people really enjoyed it and I hope they get that sequel. I think I am good though.