Categories: Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) 2.5/5

Categories 2.5/5, Action, Comedy, Crime, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller

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

Categories 3.5/5, Action, Comedy, Crime, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller

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

Categories 2.5/5, Fantasy, Horror, Movie and Series Reviews, Mystery, Thriller

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.

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.

Sweetwater (2013) 2.5/5

Categories 2.5/5, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller, Western

It felt like it wanted to do a lot of things but without much planning. This left a lot of beats feeling shoehorned in purely “because.” The few things it does well are fun to watch but its a movie where the cast largely drag it to its better moments. If Jason Isaacs, January Jones, and Ed Harris weren’t here, I think it would be immediately forgettable.

Don’t Breathe 2 (2021) 2/5

Categories 2/5, Action, Crime, Horror, Movie and Series Reviews, Thriller

This sequel does not play as well as its predecessor. Characters act against their own interests and common sense too often and a lot of suspense is missing that was there first the first film.

Nothing is mysterious anymore and the delivered twists are not delivered in any way that sticks the landing. If anything it is all a bit too mustache twirly — not a good counter to the Blind Man who’s crimes we know and feel much more grounded.

Now I am going to turn heel a little here and disagree with people saying the whole idea of having the Blind Man be a sorta-protagonistish-person is a bad one. I just think making the audience root for a bad guy is hard, and the film did not really try to do that. Sitting with the bad a little more, less attempts at action and twists, less environments to move the movie through, and some self awareness. Probably with a different lead character and having Lang still as this ominous figure, but instead stepping between a situation and getting involved. A lot less screen time would have kept some of the mystery and probably bothered less people.