Categories: Movie and Series Reviews

A Quiet Place Part II (2020) 4/5

Categories 4/5, Drama, Horror, Movie and Series Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Building off of what came before, Regan, the daughter, is now empowered and her and the movie at large are reconnecting humanity. If the first movie was about grief, sacrifice, and survival, then this one is about hope and resilience.

I’m just going to make a list here because I don’t have it in my to explain properly why I like this movie and yet have a lot of issues with it at the same time.

• Multiple times adult characters just up and leave children when everything tells us they would let them know first, if at least so that they do not follow.
• There is also a blatant misunderstanding of how a basic amplifier works and I looked really close for a battery compartment. You cannot just cut the cord off and immediately use it.
• Then there is the use of a record player as a two parter issue, one being that it is convoluted way to get attention and two being records do not just keep playing nonstop like an mp3 would. The second I can let go and assume the station had some automatic arm that was able to repeat the record.
• Oxygen tanks do not explode. Oxygen cannot make a fire, only contribute to it.
• There is a bit where a young character suddenly explores, but the characters motivation doesn’t really exist for this, and I would argue it exists in the opposite direction. I think there is a reason this scene is cut alongside another: one is good and one is not.
• The first movie showed that the creatures seemed like good swimmers. It seems retroactive to now make them die in water. It is around the hour and four minute mark in the original, the basement scene. I went back to check and the thing lowers its head in the water and slithers into it. Shallow? Sure, but that thing clearly was comfortable with water. It was submerged for almost 30 seconds of screen time. Also, Signs did it first.

That all having been said, I still enjoyed the movie and a lot of the touching sentiment was not missed on me. The list makes it seem as though I am going super hard on the movie, but I only say something because I got invested. The only truly awful thing was the amplifier, that hurt my soul. My mind says it is a 3 1/2, but my heart says to give it a 4.

Slingshot (2024) 3/5

Categories 3/5, Movie and Series Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller

People will call this movie derivative and misinterpret that the point is the twist. I think that the movie knows it is easy to see what is coming and I think that is not the point. Watching skilled actors and considering how people feel and think, that is where the movie is.

It does trip over its own feet at times though in its simple explanation. Even still, I enjoyed myself.

Prometheus (2012) 3/5

Categories 3/5, Adventure, Movie and Series Reviews, Mystery, Sci-Fi

The technology in Prometheus feels out of place, even considering a simple mining vessel in Alien vs this top of the line endeavor. I was willing to set that aside though, imagining that perhaps Scott wants each film to be far future technologically and is simply modernizing that.

Visually, Prometheus is no doubt impressive. Expansive shots and tightly framed ones mix with all sorts of effects to capture both the expansiveness and the claustrophobic feel of horror.

The problem with Prometheus is it feels like it is very uneven. At times it is brilliant and at others it falls on its face. The cast all does their part, nobody is a bad standout. Charlize Theron is the only one who initially comes across too mustache twirly, but that does not last past the opening.

I only took larger issue with the encroaching of the directors and films needs versus what made sense for the story. Most visible was how immediate everyone is prepared to remove their protective gear, and undoubtedly easier way to film but nonsense for a bunch of people only just landed on an alien planet.

Still, Prometheus is interesting and has a couple of moments that I feel could have been iconic if not tied to the larger whole of a film that from my understanding has been divisive amongst fans of Alien. I still want more and I am willing to give more rope for the philosophical elements it was proposing and mostly not answering. Hopefully the next movie grows this better. I commend Prometheus, at the very least, for not mimicking Alien or Alien 2. It is, as they were, unique.

Watchmen: Chapter II (2024) 3.5/5

Categories 3.5/5, Action, Animation, Drama, Movie and Series Reviews, Mystery, Sci-Fi

The story is enjoyable to watch and consider, but I think more impact could exist in various scenes if they were allowed to breath. Often things come across stilted by either delivery or a sense of immediacy in moving the plot along. How quickly awful things happen and ten seconds later acceptance emerges.

Watching Snyder’s interpretation of Manhattan is shocking, while here the story is laid out in a different order and it detracts. I am no Snyder disciple, but he has an eye for presentation that was sorely missed here.

I have Watchmen, in its written form, on my shelf. Maybe me two months from now will be reading it.

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.

28 Days Later (2002) 3.5/5

Categories 3.5/5, Drama, Horror, Movie and Series Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller

I don’t get so pumped for the finale but it isn’t bad. It is a fun zombie flick with some cool presentations in its visuals and audio.

The young actor who plays Hannah seems to have trouble delivering believable dialogue. Like its really bad and I am surprised Boyle didn’t step in, especially at a big loss scene.

With Garland and Boyle, now more recognized both as directors, involved in a proper sequel, I am excited.