The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and The Unforgiven - 2021 Edition

2020 was wrecked by Covid-19 and the shut down of so many movie theaters(even my local AMC is still struggling for showtimes). But 2021 has been a bit better, and even HBO Max/Warner Bros took the initiative to simul-release all of their titles on the streaming service(sad... we won't have that in 2022).

But because 2021 has been better as it pertains to movies, it also deserves a year end post.

Time to bring back... THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY, AND THE UNFORGIVEN!

For those of you who haven't seen this post before, a brief explanation.

The Good: The Best movie, actor, or moment for the year.

The Bad: The Worst movie, actor, or moment for the year.

The Ugly: The Best Positive Surprise for the year.

The Unforgiven: The Biggest Disappointment for the year.

So... let's get into it... starting with...

THE GOOD: This year is the first year I have given THREE Perfect scores, and thus ALL of them deserve the Good. First one is... Dune Part 1. One of my favorite Sci-Fi books of all time, and the original movie raises some vision questions. There were no questions here. It looks great, the story was presented directly, and it was the adaptation I've always wanted. Expectation were high, and they were surpassed. 

The second one is... Ghostbusters Afterlife. The single greatest Legacyquel released so far. Nostalgia at its finest, yet setting up for a bright future, bringing a new generation in while satisfying the lifelong fans. Harold Ramis would be very proud of it. 

And the third one is... The Matrix Resurrections. Another Legacyquel using it's foundation a competely different way. Mixed reactions from audiences and critics alike, but I personally LOVED this movie. This one took nostalgia down a different path, and utilized it in real time(well, during the movie). Watching Neo try to recover from a nervous breakdown because he couldn't tell the difference between reality and fantasy... and then coming to terms with the fact that his fantasy WAS his reality. The psychological experience and experiments done by the Analyst is deep enough to question the whole first half of the movie. And THAT is why I LOVED it. One moment changed the whole movie(up to the moment and then after the moment). Tonal shifts, when done right, can be the catalyst for a massive pay off or total diappointment(look at the career of M. Night Shyamalan). And for me, this one had a massive pay off.

Honorable Mention: Zack Snyder's Justice League: I loved this version(the only version). Sad that it took as long as it did to get finished. It is a bit long, but worth the wait.

THE BAD: I struggled to find a Bad at first... but boy did I find one during the holiday season. And that movie is... Home Sweet Home Alone. Why did this happen? It didn't need to happen. But it happened. In the original Home Alone movies, Kevin was bullied, picked on, but he still loved his family. He defended his home(and a toy store in the second movie) against a pair of burglars that we the audience had little to no sympathy for. And Kevin, though a slight jerk, he was still the lovable protagonist. This movie...... got the formula wrong. Max Mercer is a jerk, much more so than Kevin. Not a lovable jerk... a tiny asshole. And the burglars, the movie took the time to make them relatable. Some wonderful talent wasted on this movie... all because they forgot the foundation of the franchise.

Dishonorable Mention: Encanto: Sweet story, but it is a boring movie. And I love Disney movies. It might be the Disney Movie in a LOOOOOOONG time that I can't recommend. Boring. Lin-Manuel Miranda makes great music... this is just a huge misstep.

THE UGLY: This one has to go to an actress. Awkwafina. I admit, I'm not the biggest fan of her comedy or how she portrays herself when she is being funny. She feels like a walking Asian stereotype, and I'm not sure if that was on purpose or just part of the schtick... but it's there. But... voice work... she had an AMAZING turn in Raya and the Last Dragon. Almost a heartwarming difference. And I think she would be great in some more voice roles or even some more serious roles. We will see...... but until then, this was great example of what she CAN do.

Honorable Mention: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Marvel has had some success with taking a relatively unknown property and making it interesting. Just look at Guardians of the Galaxy(though I credit James Gunn for it). Shang-Chi has a very cool backstory in the comics(even with the retcons). But he isn't a major player in print. More martial arts epic than MCU movie, it was a nice surprise it worked so well.(Awkwafina is in this too)

THE UNFORGIVEN: This one was very clear... Black Widow. No, I don't think it was a bad movie. It is disappointing for what it represented. ScarJo was finally getting her own solo movie...... but... it wasn't her movie. It was both a family movie... and a passing of a torch movie from Natasha to Yelena. A Black Widow solo movie that wasn't enough about her...... I'm also not saying it was a bad movie... it could've been split up into two movies. "Family"... exposition. "Sister"... exposition. "Villian" exposition. Marvel could've made both of those matter, but they didn't.

Dishonorable Mention: Space Jam: A New Legacy: I thought it was better than the original, but a family movie with so many references from IPs that kids shouldn't watch(like Game of Thrones)...... Warner, you can do better than that! Right?!...... Right?

As you saw above, I struggled to get a Bad in here. And I contemplated omitting it completely. 2020 was bad for the movie industry... 2021 has been great. We got the first GORY Mortal Kombat movie... we got a Ghostbusters Legacyquel that was phenomenal... a proper Dune epic... a few great Disney movies... Zach Snyder got his vision out there for Justice League. The best Spider-Man movie. And a new Matrix movie, that I hope has kickstarted a new trilogy.

Spider-Man No Way Home cracked the $1 Billion mark, globally. First movie to do so since the Covid pandemic era began. And I hope this is a sign of things to come.

2022 looks to have some contenders. And I hope we get some awesome results.

Yeah... I know... 3 perfect scores. And it does feel a bit awkward. At first, I thought it was because I was happy we were back in the theaters again. Happiness over quality. But... really... those 3 movies stand out. Not only this year, but the past few years. 2 Legacyquels with different takes on how a Legacyquel should be done... and a movie that shows that sometimes remakes are necessary.

New IPs are awesome. Classic IPs are awesome. "Hollywood needs to come up with more original movies." Do they though? Some remakes need to happen... (the original Dune was messy as best). Some franchises need to be introduced to new generations. And new original stories are going to come out. Just be happy. Enjoy what you like... let other people enjoy what they like...... but above all else, no matter what movie you are watching(or not watching) or where you are watching it at......

Don't forget...

Happy New Year everyone!!!

ONWARD TO 2022!! I hope it isn't 2020 Part II...

The New Review - The Matrix Resurrections

Copyright by Warner Bros

The Matrix Resurrections

Directed by Lana Wachowski

Starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Concept: Going back to the Matrix. Legacyquel for such an innovative franchise!

Execution

Here we go

Cast: As always, Keanu Reeves was breathtaking. Nice to see Carrie-Anne back. The new crew members are amazing. But the highlights are Jonathon Groff and Neil Patrick Harris. All of the performances are wonderful, but those 2 stand out. Score: 20/20

Presentation: Retro and futuristic. Color schemes the original trilogy introduced are still present. The flashbacks were a bit choppy, but it was done on purpose... manipulating the audience. Subliminal throughout. The action scenes felt different, but it parallels the story. All of the action scenes before the climax were indoors, isolated, like Neo through the story. Nice touch. The little details throughout the movie make piecing the story together even better, small clues, blink and you miss it moments. Score: 18/20

Chronicle: Some points in the movie feel like nostalgia in overload(especially the flashbacks). But as I was going through the film, I realized that it was done on purpose. Those were memories as Neo was seeing them, we were seeing them when he was seeing them. The "villain monologue" by Neil Patrick Harris(you'll know the one)... it all clicked for me. The original trilogy was focused around innovation in technology... but this one was a straight up psychological thriller. An experiment of the human mind. I started piecing things together, and any problem I had with the film leading up to it just melted away. I was engaged, and I want to see it again for those pieces. I love those kinds of things. An amazing Legacyquel, and makes me feel better about Reloaded and Revolutions. I really like what Lana was able to, and this deserves bonus points. Score: 33/30

Impact: There are no real technological innovations in this movie, but the workings of the human mind, the manipulation. I felt the franchise is in good hands with this movie, and I can't wait to see how the Analyst and the new Smith take psychological evil to the next level. It wasn't what I expected, but I'm glad. And I hope other franchises take note. Nostalgia is good, but you must use it wisely. And Lana pulled it off beautifully. Score: 19/20

Extra Oomph: It made me think. I love that. This is my kind of movie. Also, an appearance from Christina Ricci always makes things better(*wink*)(even if was just a cameo with one line). We also had a surprise Chad Stahelski(stuntman turned John Wick series director). And...... is that a Telma Hopkins?(checks cast list) it IS a Telma Hopkins!!! See... not all nostalgia is bad. Score: 10/10

Final Score: 100/100

FINAL GRADE: A++

Conclusion: It isn't like the original trilogy. And that is perfectly okay. It also isn't going to be for everyone. If you were looking for technological innovations, you will be disappointed, but this is perfect for anyone into the psychological thrillers.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: I know this isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I loved it. I recommend this movie to every sci-fi fan, but I also recommend to drop all expectations. This isn't the same Matrix we all know and love. But... it has so much potential going forward.

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There you go folks! I have given The Matrix Resurrections a score of 100!

Yes... I docked a point off Impact... and two off Presentation because of the fight scenes... but I loved the story/psychological aspect SOOOOOOO much, that it deserved the extra points there. So... it isn't a perfect movie, but I fully believe that deserves the rub from me! And the performances were all better than solid!

What did you all think? Aspect of the franchise that is missing? Something unexpected that pleased you? Something anger you? Disappointed? Surprised? Comment down below, share this with the masses!!

And there is my final review of 2021. Hopes that 2022 will have some spectacular movies!

Until then, don't you ever forget...

Happy Early New Year!

The New Review - Spider-Man: No Way Home

Rights belong to Sony and Marvel

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Directed by Jon Watts

Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Benedict Cumberbatch

Concept: Jon Watts is the first to complete an MCU Trilogy with this 3rd MCU Spider-Man movie. Set directly after the event of Far From Home, Peter needs to navigate the aftermath... while making a stupid decision that brings villains from past franchises to the MCU.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: As I said, Tom Holland is back, Zendaya is back, Jacob Batalon is back... and Benedict Cumberbatch is along for the ride. And they each has significant character growth here. But we also get Willem DaFoe, Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, Thomas Haden Church, and Rhys Ifans back(with their respecting villains)... and it doesn't seen to be overwhelming. It is extremely balanced... and I don't get how. Worries me that I missed something, but I didn't. Packed tight, yet very balanced. Score: 20/20

Presentation: I've said this before: it is a Marvel movie. Great soundtrack mixed with stunning visuals. But... this movie had some scenes that had WAY too much going on, but you can still see all of particle effects and it looks beautiful. For me, it is most visually impressive MCM movie, above and beyond the typical Marvel/Disney movie. Score: 21/20

Chronicle: So, I'm going to compare it to Raimi's Spider-Man 3. I had an issue with Spider-Man 3. There were at least 3 MAIN plots going at once, and the movie couldn't focus. No Way Home has MUCH MORE GOING ON, yet they found a way to make it focus on ONE main plot, AND balance all of these villains. I told Bob(yes... that Bob) that it felt balanced. And that is one of the best compliments I could ever give a movie with all that they packed in. But not all is sunshine and roses. There is a plothole that carries with you... one the movie addresses, but never explains why it happens. And... not a spoiler, it's in the trailers. Supposedly, these villains came over due to the botched spell... and they are villains that knew Peter Parker is Spider-Man.....  except one of them didn't know: Electro. He never knew. So why was he there? The movie addresses that he didn't know, but it forgets to figure out why he was there if he didn't know. It is a glaring plothole, but Jamie Foxx is SO good, I can't dock too many points. But... it can't be ignored. Score: 25/30

Impact: Without spoiling the movie, it is definitive within the grand scheme of the MCM... AND for a Spider-Man movie. Reports of a SECOND MCM Spidey Trilogy, this movie ends one ENORMOUS arc, but sets up Spidey as we know him... Solitary and somber. Also... the 3rd largest opening weekend of all time, it is promising for the theater industry. You can't really argue with success... and considering how many chances we have had since the Covid pandemic, the theaters need a win. If you completely ignore the movie itself, the success it has so far...... it is VERY important. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: I highlighted this already, but I must touch on it again. The balance. But the balance goes much further than that. It balances how much Strange is involved, how the villains were used, the personal crisis that Peter Parker is having through the movie, the terrible choices he had to make, and balancing him stuck to Iron Man's legacy to him setting out on his own... and it didn't drop a single plate(the Electro thing is like dropping a glass). I went in and expected something HUGE to not fit in, and everything just be a mess(again, like Spidey 3), but it subverted my expectations. And what we got was beauty that was both cohesive and chaotic...... beautiful controlled chaos. Score: 10/10

Final Score: 96/100

FINAL GRADE: A!

Conclusion: I can forgive them for the plothole, because the story balanced how exciting the situation was with how depressing it was going to be. Many characters... but none of them felt like they weren't important to the story overall. Massively cohesive.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: No Way Home is my favorite Spider-Man movie so far... and it is easily the best of this MCM Trilogy. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. Not just recommend it once... watch it twice. And don't just do it for me... do it to help your local theater. But... yeah... do it because it IS an epic movie.

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There you go, readers... Spider-Man: No Way Home has gotten a 96! That is pretty damn good.

What did you all think about it? What could they have done better? What do you hope for the next Trilogy? Comment... share...

Until next time, don't forget...

The New Review - The Eternals

 Copyright for Marvel/Disney

Marvel's The Eternals

Directed By Chloé Zhao

Starring Richard Madden, Selma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie

Concept: Some of Marvel's earliest players are finally in the MCU.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: There are PLENTY of characters in this movie. Maybe even too many. It makes sense, but it also doesn't. And hard to explain without spoiling some twists in the movie. The actors and actresses all do a very fine job of making their characters shine. This "team" is much different than what we have seen in the MCU thus far... and... the beginning of the movie lack enough exposition to fully introduce the characters fully... and 2 of them are killed. It makes sense in the overall scheme of things, but the lack of connection between audience and characters make it so I didn't feel anything when the two characters die. Again... it make sense overall, but in the moment, it was jarring. On a second watch I bet it'll feel different, but hindsight isn't always a good thing for a movie. Each cast member did great... it was the writing for character development that hurts... even if the movie explains it away. Score: 13/20

Presentation: This one is easy. It is a Marvel Movie. Soundtrack is excellent. Visually stunning, and that is including the Celestials. Stunning, as per the course for the MCU. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So, as with the character development issue, the story is tied directly to that. And the film does a good job of explaining why things are the way they are. A surprise twist involving a traitor(it wasn't who I was expecting). But there is this problem with the time jumps. It goes to when they landed on Earth, to Present day, back to a different era, back to Present Day, back to a different era. And it makes sense in context overall, but still feels confusing a bit. Believe me when I say, it makes sense...... but it is still jarring. Just a forewarning. Score: 25/30

Impact: So as of now, there is very LITTLE Impact on the MCU. But the potential it has could easily make Eternals the sleeper when it comes to shaping the future of the MCU overall. The implications for Marvel Cosmic are limitless. But that is the point... potential. If they end up not making a sequel, that all goes to pot. So... we have to see how much this movie/franchise has for the MCU. Because of it being POTENTIAL, I have to dock some point. I can only hope that it works out... we will see. Score: 18/20

Extra Oomph: I could talk about how the inclusion of Dane Whitman is an AWESOME thing, but he is barely in it.(I get it. Not his movie). Instead, we are going to highlight one of the implications that were briefly mentioned in Impact. The connection that Arishem has to the Eternals in the movie, it lays some very important groundwork... the blueprint on how Galactus is connected to his Heralds. It is a VERY similar relationship between the Celestials/Eternals as it would be for Galactus/Heralds... ultimately ending in similar results for the planets. If this relationship was indeed the blueprint for getting Galactus in the MCU, then dammit... this makes the movie VERY important to the MCU. I know that I docked points in Impact for potential, but since Eternals isn't the only reference to Galactus I think we've seen, it makes the Comic Nerd in me very excited. So... bonus points? Bonus points!!! Also, I would be doing a disservice to the movie if I didn't mention the LGBT representation. Phastos has a homosexual relationship with a human guy with a kid. He had a family. And... it didn't feel shoehorned in. It felt natural. It was a good spot... made sense... and gave Phastos some real stakes. It gets a bonus point too. Score: 13/10

Final Score: 89/100

FINAL GRADE: B+

Conclusion: In the face of the issues I had with the movie in real time, Eternals also explains it. I feel it does, might not do it exactly right, but it does it. The time jumps can be jarring... it DOES make sense. And deserves a watch. It's like a jigsaw where the pieces are blank to begin with, but eventually the image appears to look like what is on the box. And the best part... it is entertaining enough to keep you engaged.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: I do recommend seeing this movie. I feel it will be important to the MCU(or can we start calling it the MCM now?). It is entertaining, the action sequences are amazing, and I wanna see more Kumail Nanjiani!

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There it is... Marvel's The Eternals gets a B+!!!!!

Honestly, I originally didn't want to see this movie. It didn't look interesting to me. Now that I have seen it, I'm glad I did. Better than I expected, and some really cool concepts. It was worth the money.

Who has seen it? What did you think? Leave a comment. Share the post.

One more MCM movie to go, and I'm excited. And with it, 2 more chances for ANOTHER perfect score.(Matrix being the other chance).

Glad the movies are pretty much back, and I'm looking forward to the slate in 2022!

Until next time, don't forget...

Renewed Bottom 10 - Worst Christmas Movies

There are a whole lot of wonderful Christmas movies. For all ages... for all peoples... and for all backgrounds. And if you don't follow the holiday, still... that is okay too.

But there also are plenty of terrible Christmas related movies. I had a large pool to work from.

So... ready?

Bottom 10 Christmas Movies

Disonorable Mention: Christmas With The Kranks: Conformity. A couple gets shamed for not getting in the Christmas spirit. Their kids have all moved out. And this couple decides they want to go to the Caribbean... and they are basically shamed about "Lack of Christmas Spirit".

10. The Gingerdead Man: Imagine... Child's Play. But inside of the killer possessing a doll, he possesses a Gingerbread Man Cookie. Oh... and voiced by Gary Busey. It isn't as entertaining as it sounds.

9. Unaccompanied Minors: This movie had some promise. But instead of being original, it feels like it stole from all of the other movies like it.

8. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause: The worst of the 3 Santa Clause movies. It was short. Convoluted. After a strong 2nd movie, it was disappointing to see the 3rd movie be so... bad. But... give it up for Martin Short, because he nailed it.

7. A Christmas Story 2: I wasn't the biggest fan of the first one, but this one seemed off. More so.

6. Black Christmas(2006): Remake of the original. This one doesn't have the air of mystery like the original. Notable names casted at the time, but wow did this movie not work. The original was awesome... the 2019 remake was awesome. This 2006 version is hot Holiday Garbage.

5. Home Alone 3/Home Sweet Home Alone: The Magic of the first 2 movies was a combination of Macaulay Culkin and 2 bumbling crooks the audience had no attachment to. Home Alone 3 bumped the Crook count to 4, but the kid wasn't as great. And Home Sweet screwed up by making the kid unlikable and the crooks relatable.

4. A Merry Friggin Christmas: Joel McHale and Robin Williams. For some reason, they just didn't work. The Chemistry... I didn't see any... I didn't feel any. And it's sad because it's Joel McHale and Robin Williams. And I don't blame them. Don't watch it.

3. I'll Be Home For Christmas: Jonathan Taylor Thomas... in a movie where he is tasked with getting home, all the way across the country, for the holidays. But... not for the beauty of spending time with family. No. Because of the expensive car he was supposed to get if he got there in time.

2. Santa's Slay: An interesting concept. All the gift giving Santa does, every 1,000 years, he turns into a hulking rage monster going on a killing spree. Played by BILL GOLDBERG! Sounds like a good horror film? It... wasn't. It felt like Leprechaun... with the Warwick Davis. And... that doesn't work.

And the Number 1 WORST Christmas movies...

1. Santa With Muscles: Hulk Hogan. During the nWo era. Hogan decided he wanted to make another kid friendly movie. Mongul gets amnesia, becomes a mall Santa....... and then throw in Ed Begley Jr and MAGIC CRYSTALS UNDER AN ORPHANAGE. Hulk Hogan fever dream

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These are some of the worst Christmas movies I've seen. Some of them are some of the worst movies I've seen period.

What do you think? Did I miss a stinker? Tell me what you think!

Comment... Share... CRAP ALL OVER THESE MOVIES

Merry Christmas

Happy Holidays

Hug your loved ones.

And don't forget...

Renewed Top 10 - Non-traditional Christmas Movies

Part 2 of the Christmas lists.

Time for Non-traditional Christmas movies. These are going to be movies that are either Christmas related(but don't feel like it)... or movies set during Christmas, but it is a set piece more than a plot point... or a combination of the two.

You'll get it, just like the other list.

Top 10 Non-traditional Christmas Movies

Here we go...

Honorable Mention 1: Iron Man 3: Shane Black has a hard on for setting movies during Christmas time. And this is THE MCU movie that had to do with that setting.

Honorable Mention 2: Eyes Wide Shut: Stanley Kubrick's FINAL film... about... an underground orgy. Think... Fight Club, but with sex. Holds the Hollywood record for LONGEST principal shoot, over 400 days. Set during Christmas.

10. Rocky IV: Culminating on Christmas Eve, this is ultimate boxing gift that keeps on giving. And good ol Rocky got the gift of brain damage.

9. The Long Kiss Goodnight: This is a Jason Bourne movie before Jason Bourne movies were thought of. Geena Davis discovers that she is a highly trained assassin, but with amnesia. The government wants her back. She wants to be Mom. All during the Christmas season!

8. Bad Santa: The name says it. This is not a heartwarming comedy. This is a ballbusting satire. And Billy Bob Thorton kills it as this asshole. 

7. Black Christmas(1974): This Christmas murder movie is highlighted by wonderful performances by Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder. Sorority sisters getting picked off one by one...... watch the classic, NOT the remake.

6. Edward Scissorhands: The collaboration between Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. A gothic Christmas tale about a lonely boy and the plush society that tried to corrupt him. Yeah... that is exactly what that movie is about. Conforming in the face of individuality.

5. Lethal Weapon: THE Buddy Cop movie. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover creating their own trope. Cop soon to retire paired with new hotshot. But this one... this one is set during the Holiday season! Lead to a wonderful franchise. Written by Shane Black. Directed by the Legendary Richard Donner.

4. Gremlins: Screw Baby Yoda... this is GIZMO!!! The pet with so many weird rules, or it spawns creepy versions of itself. The sequel had a much bigger budget, but had no direction other than utter chaos. This original had a very cute mascot... and a wonderful story. Just remember... follow the rules of the gift you got.

3. Batman Returns: Tim Burton Batman sequel, introducing Danny DeVito as a creepy Penguin man and Michelle Pfeiffer as the tasty Catwoman... and... clowns? And no Vicki Vale? Anyway...... one of my favorite Batman movies. And set during Christmas. Just... for the snow lol

2. Die Hard: NYPD detective John McClane trying to save people in a tower sneaking around avoiding the gaze of Severus Snape himself, Alan Rickman. This is also a New York prequel for Harry Potter. I disgress... this movie has John trying to connect with his estranged wife and 2 children during Christmas. This... is a Christmas movie.

And the Number One Non-traditional Christmas Movie is...

1. A Nightmare Before Christmas: The Definition of Non Traditional Christmas movie, yet... it is a tradition for me to watch. Halloween meet Christmas. There is no other way to put it. It is iconic. Nothing exactly like it. And I love to sign along to Jack's Lament.

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Some non-traditional holiday presence! And I had a larger pool of movies to choose from.

Any that I missed? Have any other great movies that you think should be on the list?

Comment... share... Ho Ho Ho!!!

Stay tuned for Part 3...

Renewed Top 10 - Christmas Movies

It is time for some Christmas Movie Madness!

I need to remind the readers that I am not religious. And I say celebrate the holiday that fits you and your faith. But I still love Christmas Movies. Because... I love movies!

I have 3 Christmas Movie Lists coming your way. They are going to be "Traditional Christmas Movies", "Non-traditional Christmas Movies", and "Worst Christmas Movies".

This first one will highlight "Traditional" Christmas Movies. So what criteria am I using? These would be movies that are more associated with the Holiday than anything else...... or movies that fit the theme of Christmas celebration. Non traditional Christmas movies are going to be those that are maybe set during Christmas, but the purpose of the movie isn't Christmas related.

You'll see.

Top 10 Christmas Movies

Here we go...

Honorable Mention 1: White Christmas: The Bing Crosby classic. I admit, someone I can't stand introduced me to this movie, but I liked it. Not big on Musicals, but this... is a classic.

Honorable Mention 2: Elf: I know this is one is a favorite of many, and I do like it. But the list was too crowded for it. Will Ferrell is a legend for this movie, but it is Zooey Deschanel for the win.

10. The Santa Clause: Tim Allen as the man who killed Santa, and then took his job. It is a heartwarming movie, filled with great sight gags and Tim Allen grunts. But it is a sweet film about the definition of family.

9. Miracle on 34th Street(1994): Mara Wilson was America's sweetheart at the time, and something about her made the movies better. That is why I put this version of the original.

8. Krampus: Based on confirmed Folklore, Krampus was used to scare children into behaving. This horror film based on that is an EXCELLENT use of weird Christmas traditions.

7. Klaus: A Netflix original about a Postman who accidentally creates the legend of Santa Claus. It is a great story, and WONDERFUL animation.

6. A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Peanuts gang serving up small commentary about commercialization of the Holiday... while making it about friendship, family, and acceptance. A cute little special(and I'm counting it as a movie) 

5. How The Grinch Stole Christmas(2000): Jim Carrey as the green Christmas heathen. Over the top, flashy, colorful. And... something that would make Dr. Suess proud. And a bonus... Jim sings the Grinch theme.

4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vaction: The second best of the Vacation movies(only to the original). So memeable... so quotable. And funny as hell. Instant classic that shows how easy it is to have a mental breakdown.

3. Home Alone & Home Alone 2: Lost In New York: The movies that made Macaulay Culkin a child star. The McAllisters are more negligent than Liam Neeson in the Taken trilogy. And then we get to see a little kid take down two crooks... twice. Not the holiday season without them.

2. A Christmas Carol(various): there are 4 movies with the Christmas Carol tale that needed to make this list, and thus... they all share the number 2 slot. They are: A Muppet Christmas Carol, Michael Caine acting proper amongst Jim Henson's Muppets; A Christmas Carol(2009), with Jim Carrey playing all 3 fateful ghosts AND Scrooge, it IS a sight to see; A Christmas Carol(1999), the one with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge, because... Patrick Stewart; and Scrooged, with Bill Murray as a modern-ish day business man version of Scrooge.

And the number one Christmas Movie is...

1. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town: 10 entries, and this is the only Rankin and Bass claymation classic to make the list. Not saying I don't like some of the others, but this one is my favorite. Mickey Rooney kills it. The story is cute, memorable, and memeable. And I love the songs. This... is my favorite Christmas movie. Reminds me... I have to watch it soon.

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The holidays aren't the greatest of times for me, these movies make it bearable. And these are wonderful movies, some for the whole family(and one that isn't).

Any Christmas movies I missed that you love? Gives you that wonderful holiday spirit? Maybe something from your Childhood?

Comment... share...

SPREAD SOME CHEER!!!!

Stay tuned for Part 2...

The New Review - Ghostbusters Afterlife

Copyright by Sony

Ghostbusters Afterlife

Starring Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, Paul Rudd

Directed by Jason Reitman

Concept: The Ghostbusters franchise coming back around for a Legacyquel of emotional proportions.

Execution

Here we go

Cast: Paul Rudd being his best Paul Rudd. Mckenna Grace was a great lead. And Finn Wolfard is so talented, he will be a legend some day. Surprise Bokeem Woodbine in there too! No doubt... Score: 20/20 (did you find the Josh Gad?)

Presentation: Imagine if the original movie never happened, and it was made now. You would expect better CGI and a modern soundtrack. Now... imagine that, but holding on to the spirit of the original movie. This is the modern Ghostbusters movie you were waiting for. I mean... I was waiting for...... dammit... WE were waiting for. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So, we have a bit of retread in this movie. Gozer, the Stay Puft Marshmallow man, the protagonists end up in jail. But it is also a means to an end. The original movie, they didn't destroy, trap, or DEFEAT Gozer... they sent it back to it's own realm. It is safe to say, Ivo wasn't destroyed either in the Video Game. So... we have tied it all together, a retread was a necessary journey. It was a great way to end an era from a long standing fan favorite franchise. Score: 30/30

Impact: In an era of Legacyquels, not only did it need to cap off an era in the franchise...... we need a lynchpin for where the franchise can go from here. And... that was accomplished, even more than Tron: Legacy or Blade Runner 2049. Ghostbusters Afterlife is the best Legacyquel I've seen. Period. And... sets the groundwork for future legends Finn Wolfhard and Mckenna Grace to take over. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: I cried. There is a moment. No spoiler from me...... but if you are a fan of the franchise, you know what is coming. And...... and it still hurt. It was emotional. And... it makes up for some of the harsh words Callie and Ray have for Egon during the movie. Also... I need to highlight that I think Phoebe is on the spectrum. Which means... she is even more like her grandfather. Because Egon was on the spectrum, as well. If I were to guess, I would say Egon was Asperger's. For those who know, how much sense does that make? And that adds more depth to a character who is...... gone. Good work! Score: 10/10

Final Score: 100/100

Final Grade: A++

Conclusion: Impressive Legacyquel that could've been made years ago, but...... the story was so wonderful, it was a better build. The best Legacyquel I've seen. I need more GHOSTBUSTERS!!!!

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat" that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: A MUST SEE! If you haven't yet, make time. It is a wonderful movie. Nostalgic. Emotional. Funny. And fits the formula. This is a Ghostbusters movie. Who you gonna call?

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Well, there you go! Ghostbusters Afterlife gets a 100!!!!!!!

Two 100s in a single movie season? That... happened. And we still have The Matrix Resurrections and Spider-Man: No Way Home to go.

What did you think about the movie? Did you get emotional too? Leave a comment. Share it. Go see this movie.

2021 has been good to us after the long hiatus from the theaters. Let's see if we get another 100.

Until next time, don't forget...

New Review Gaming - Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Pokémon Copyright Owned by Game Freak

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl

Developed by Game Freak

Exclusive on the Nintendo Switch

Concept: The latest in Pokémon remakes, Diamond and Pearl get the upgrade treatment. How does it stack up?

Disclaimer: I haven't finished the game yet, and I'm only looking at Brilliant Diamond. But... as with all Pokémon generations, both games are similar in function.

Execution

LET'S GO!

Presentation: This is a Remake. A remake of a older game with newer tech. Of course it is going to look great. The updated fight effect visuals are a welcome sight. Colors are crisp, and the original digital tracks from the DS era are remixed and present here. As expected... it is yet another solid remake. Not of the level of a new title though, I.E. Sword/Shield. Score: 23/25

Gameplay: So, Diamond/Pearl... remake. That is the foundation of the game, but some quality of life improvements have improved upon it! Retains the EXP Share concept from Sword/Shield. And the new HM system is SO much better. Instead of wasting move slots for the HM moves or wasting a roster spot on a mule, you call wild Pokémon to perform the moves. With it, the TM system has changed. Unlike Sword/Shield, the TMs break upon usage, but how you obtain them determines how many you get. If you buy or find a TM, you get 1. If a stranger gives you a TM, you get 3 of that TM. And if a Gym Leader gives you a TM, you get 5! The cost of them are lower. And they are more readily available. Battles have gained the Effective system, so you can see what moves are best for the fight you are in. Which is great... but even though I haven't finished Brilliant Diamond yet, I know how the original was. And watching a few YouTube videos, this one aspect has been changed...... HARSH level gap between the 8th Gym and the Elite Four. Expect to grind after getting that 8th badge. Score: 24/25

Chronicle: With the introduction of this new type of review post, we need to throw a new predecent in. I have never played Pokémon for the story. Not once. I love the gameplay. So, I will highlight the story...... um...... it's Pokémon. Kid go out with a animal, kicking the asses of other animals, all while an evil organization is taking on more than they can muster...... and that is it. But since I don't play it for story... Score: N/20

Legacy: Again, it is a remake. Diamond/Pearl was the first Pokemon game on DS, and that is a pretty solid achievement. So how do the remakes make an impact? Yes and no. So personally, Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby have been the best remakes... and Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl improve on the formula, incorporate some from Sword/Shield, but I wish they would've used the full sprites instead of the chibis. Now... it is the first remake to hit the Switch. Just makes me think they could make a game with all the areas. Keep the chibi sprites... give me all the areas. Still fun... but a health reminder what could be possible. Score: 16/20

Extra Oomph: For the first time, I don't have anything here. That isn't a single aspect that jumps out at me aside from the HM system. It is cute that Bidoof is usually the Pokémon that helps you when you call for an HM helper. Bidoof was the perfect HM Mule. So... tongue-in-cheek humor from Game Freak. So...... Score: 5/10

Final Score: 68/80 (85%)

Final Grade: B

Conclusion: It's a remake. A remake of a wonderful game. A wonderful remake of a wonderful game. And... it aspires to be more.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat" that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: If you have never played it, buy it. If you played the original, I leave it up to you if you want to. I bought it because I LOVE the Pokémon gameplay.

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There you go! Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl has gotten a B!!!!

Does that shock you?

What you think about the gaming review format? I will have better ones in the near future, consider this the test run.

Until next time...

Game Of Functions - Nintendo 2021 Edition

We are starting something new on here! We are going to start including gaming! And up above are the new logos for the segments(at least the ones starting up). Game Of Functions will be the Musings for Gamings. And New Review Gaming will be... reviews.

And we are startint with a hybrid. I want to highlight a product and service, give some opinions/reviews on them... but there will be no scoring on this post.

Let's begin...

The product in question is the Nintendo Switch OLED. After searching for one, I was finally able to get one. And this is my FOURTH Switch. I got one when it released... and sold it. I fell off it. Then I got a second one when Diablo 3 came out for it... and stuck with it. Earlier this year, I got the Mario Anniversary Red one, with the upgraded battery. And now... here we are on the OLED. I knew going into the OLED, I was primarily a docked user. Just the way I did it. But I had been playing handheld due to routine changes. And that is where the OLED shines. So many rumors about a Switch Pro, those people who bought into that were disappointed. And I get it. But they did it to themselves. Nintendo never promised that. Never even brought it up. What they released was a Switch with an OLED screen...

So... let's talk about WHAT Nintendo upgraded on this model. First, the screen. It is in the name. OLED. What is OLED? Organic LED. Individual pixel lit up with organic material. OLED gives you a better chance at clear brightness, color contrast(with OLED, 2 pixels next to each other can be ANY color), and OLED tends to draw less power meaning better battery life. The screen is bigger than previous models. It is brighter than previous models. The color contrast is wonderful. And Nintendo released the red box models with double the battery life, but I never got the full 5-6 hours on the Mario Red model, close... but never got it. The OLED, on the other hand, I definitely get the battery life out of it. They boasted better sound quality. And out of the Switch OLED's speakers, it is a drastic improvement. Tabletop mode boasted a better kickstand, and that is very clear, but I don't use it in Tabletop. And then... double internal storage, but if you aren't using an SD Card already, then the extra storage doesn't matter. And this...... is all in Handheld/Tabletop modes. The ONLY improvement for docked more is a LAN port. This was ALL Handheld. And......

It made me a primary Handheld user! It may still only be 720p in Handheld, but it looks so much better. And if you say you don't see it... you do, you are just whiny. I recommend the OLED for ANYONE that is primarily a Handheld user. Just... good luck finding one.

Now... the service in question... Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass. This caused so much controversy. Why? Entitled whiny ass bitches who don't understand that Nintendo makes money... off their stuff. So I will tell you how my pricing changed. I was doing a family membership(still am). Went from $35/year to $80/year. A $55 increase. That is quite a bit, considering what the cost was. But a family plan can have 8 users, that is $10/year/user. So... if you have an issue with cost, get 7 of your friends together and split the cost. Individual membership went from $20/year to $50/year. A $30 increase. For those that still have a Wii U, an N64 game on Virtual Console costs $10/each. And the N64 Switch Online service launched with 9 games. That is $90. So to play those games on VC, it would cost you $90. That is 3 years worth of the $30 increase to your Individual Membership cost...... and there are MORE N64 games coming, plus the other perks...... speaking of which...

The perks of the Expansion Pass are small, for now. It launched with the Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis Switch Online services. 9 N64 games(including heavy hitter Ocarina of Time) and 14 Genesis games. With a promise to grow those services(with the N64 highlighting Majora's Mask, Paper Mario, and Banjo-Koozie), it'll have more games to play with. And that isn't even including the long list of Genesis games coming too. And then the DLC. Currently, those with the Expansion Pass can get the Paid Animal Crossing DLC for FREE. $25 DLC. Free. On my account, I'm sure of 2 users, possible a 3rd, on my account that play Animal Crossing. That is $75(3 users) that no one had to pay for it. If that ends up being the standard, can you imagine a game like Breath of the Wild 2 getting DLC included on the Expansion Pass? This a great idea for the loyalists! I'm down. We will see how it develops. As for the value... it is a great value considering how much it would be get the equipment and games to play these classics legally. And if you don't see value in it...... that it YOUR opinion. Also... if you use emulation and ROMs as your reasoning, shut your damn mouth.

Last piece... we are going to touch on Anniversaries. Specifically, the Zelda 35th. So far... a Game & Watch, Skyward Sword HD, and Ocarina of Time on the N64 service... oh and a set of Joy-Cons. And that is it so far. What the hell is up with that?(of course I bought all of those)

There you go, everyone. The first edition of Game Of Functions. No need for reciew scores, because I haven't figured out what I need for a scoring system for gaming. But I will figure it out.

Until then... Game On Until It Is Game Over!!!

Renewed Musings - The Turkey and The Stuffing

Welcome Readers! I would like to introduce you to "Renewed Musings"! This segment will be opinion/editorial pieces. Whatever just... works. But I need to warn you before hand, in the past, these kind of posts never really had structure. I tend to ramble, and I don't mean to. But... passion is the name of the game.

So... let's get this going... with our first topic: Thanksgiving. More so... Thanksgiving in movies.

Before we get to the movies, I need to make clear my stance on the holiday season. I hate most of it. I'm not an overly positive person. But I get why so many people love the holiday season. And I do have a favorite holiday in the stretch. Halloween. Spooky season is amazing. And then of course, for many people, Christmas is a huge tent pole(if you don't celebrate Christmas, and celebrate another holiday instead... that isn't the point... doesn't apply here). But what about Turkey Day? I mean... usually, my local Walmart starts putting out Christmas shit the day after Halloween. This year, they started BEFORE Halloween! And either way, what about Thanksgiving? Turkey Day accessories? Maybe fall themed placemats? Plushie Cornucopia? I mean... the browns and oranges would make for GREAT decor! But...

Why forget about Thanksgiving!?!?! Sure... Halloween... dressing up in costumes... spookiness... and candy. And Christmas is the Holiday for Capitalism and gift giving. But Thanksgiving is about food, family, and togetherness. Makes me miss all my family and friends that I've lost, but makes me thankful for the ones that are still here. So why doesn't Thanksgiving get more love?

Same thing goes for Hollywood. Just about every long running TV series has some kind of Thanksgiving episode... but movies... not so much. I wanted to make a Top 10 list, but... I only got 5 or 6 movies(that I've seen) that I MIGHT consider Thanksgiving movies. Movies that have to do with Thanksgiving as a plot point. I make that distinction, because I was researching T-Day movies... and Ranker threw Rocky at me. Rocky isn't a Thanksgiving movie. So... I will highlight these few movies... and we will come back.

So let's start with "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving". At least Charles Schultz remembered the Turkey. He had plenty of holiday specials, including The Great Pumpkin... but he DID bring the stuffing. I just gotta point out, the dinner the Peanuts gang put together... WAS accidentally racist. It was awesome that they included Franklin(the only black kid in the group) to be a part of the dinner, but did they really have to give him a side of the table to himself? Regardless... it is a good animated movie highlighting the togetherness of Thanksgiving.

Next movie I want to highlight is "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles". Legendary inadvertent buddy comedy starring the iconic Steve Martin and John Candy, directed by another legend, John Hughes. Mishaps befall this duo trying to make it across country for this holiday. Sometimes regarded as the ONLY Thanksgiving movie. That means something. Watch it, if you haven't.

Another movie to point out is "Dutch". Starring Ed O'Neill(yes, Al Bundy). Dutch is dating a rich girl. Due to plans getting canceled, Dutch goes to bring her snobby son from a private school home for Thanksgiving. A road trip, buddy comedy with Turkey as the goal. Guess what? Written by John Hughes!!!

Next movie I need to bring up is "The War At Home". Starring Emilio Estevez. Directed by Emilio. Co-produced by Emilio. Co-starring Martin Sheen. About a soldier with PTSD being forced by his father to adjust to civilian life and Thanksgiving.

Don't worry, I'm not going to forget about "Son In Law". During the height of Pauly Shore's Paulyness. Farm girl goes to college, meets and falls in love with the Pauliest of Shores... and decided to take him back home for Thanksgiving. And then more Paulyness ensues. Did I mention this was a Pauly Shore movie?

And one Unlockable Gem for you all... "The Ice Storm". Ang Lee and I have a torrid history. Some GREAT Asian Epic films, Life of Pi, Brokeback Mountain... but I avoided Gemini Man and... Hulk(Eric Bana) felt like it was made from the perspective of a Nerd with ADHD that just came out of a coma. But "The Ice Storm" is underrated.

There are a few other movies where Thanksgiving is present or at least present, but not a plot point. "Spider-Man" and "Addams Family Values" are just 2 example. But it all goes to show that there isn't much love for T-Day in movies, and honestly... why the hell not!?!

And I have to highlight one more...... just to show you how absurd it is! The movie is... "Dan In Real Life". Steve Carell killed in this movie. And as the center of it is an annual family get together. An... annual... family... get... together. This could've been a Thanksgiving movie. This could've been a Christmas movie. But it was neither of those things. The perfect up for a wonderful Thanksgiving movie...... and it isn't set during ANY holiday at all...

People love family comedies. Thanksgiving is about family, and friends, and food! Hollywood... come on... you can do something with that! You have for DECADES! And honestly, you can adapt those random family comedies. It can't be that hard...

Just add the Turkey and the Stuffing...

The New Review - Dune(2021)

Copyright belongs to Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures

Dune

Directed By Denis Villeneuve

Starring Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Issac, Rebecca Ferguson, and many more

Concept: Frank Herbert's legendary novel that inspired decades of sci-fi epics, including Star Wars. Sci-fi mixed with geopolitical plots at the forefront of a Messiah story. Hollywood has struggled to get this movie made... and aside from one particular critically panned classic, this is the test to see if it can be done.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: A LARGE cast. Chalamet, Issac, Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgård, Zendaya, Brolin, Momoa, and did I see a David Dastmalchian? AND a Javier Bardem? AND a Dave Bautista? Stacked. And no part seems small. Even the ones that COULD be small serve a purpose. But breakout performances from Timothée Chalamet and Oscar Issac...... Score: 20/20

Presentation: An Epic score you would expect from a sci-fi epic film. One or two off CGI moments, but I saw an homage to old school sci-fi with a paper maché explosion and practical effects mixed with beautiful CGI. And if you feel comfortable enough, watch this on the biggest screen you can. Because Denis uses ALL of the screen real estate he could. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So, if you aren't aware... this is a part 1. One of the biggest issues I had with the original movie was how so much story was crammed into one movie. Sacrifices had to be made, like the nerfing of The Weirding Way. This one, however, showcases what Hollywood couldn't figure out... split it into 2 movies. Focusing on the Geopolitical portion of the story, it was built around the emergence of the heir to an empire he really doesn't feel ready for. Clever uses of premonition and foreshadowing, while making it a CHARACTER ATTRIBUTE. Even the short roles of certain characters, everyone has good to GREAT character development. Only the beginning. Score: 30/30

Impact: The Novel was the inspiration for MANY sci-fi franchises. And this movie is a masterclass on how to inspire many more. Hollywood has been afraid of making this into such an epic because of the plots and subplots throughout the first book... and well... the series of books overall. Denis Villeneuve did a WONDERFUL job at making Blade Runner 2049 as a vessel to bring Blade Runner to modern audiences...... and I TRUSTED him with making Dune as amazing as he could. And... not only did he not let me down, he exceeded my expectations. And it is an example of how if you believe in the material, you should take it... and run with it. So... not only do I hope Dune inspires more sci-fi franchises, I also hope other directors look at Hollywood's fear materials... and run with them(as much as I was okay with John Carter... I would LOVE someone else to take a stab at A Princess of Mars... I've even started a fancasting for it). Hopefully this(and subsequent part 2) inspire DECADES more sci-fi epics. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: So this one is gonna be a little spoilery, but not for this movie... for the trilogy as a whole, as compared to the original cult classic and the novels themselves. There are FIVE actors/roles I want to point out. They are Brolin/Gurney, Momoa/Idaho, Zendaya/Chari, Bautista/Rabban, and Skarsgård/The Baron. Brolin, Momoa, and Bautista... all feel a little typecast, each with only a small role this time around(at least 2 of them will get featured more going forward... up to you to figure out which 2), but each one serving a MAJOR purpose in the story regardless. And Denis did the same thing with Bautista in Blade Runner 2049. Then we look at The Baron... I thought that was Stellan Skarsgård, but I wasn't for sure the whole movie. And dammit...... I like that. And that leaves Zendaya. I credit my friend Bob for this one... because I saw it... and he put it into words. Chani isn't featured with solid lines until the end, but she was shown as the central figure in Paul's dreams/visions throughout the film(trailers spoiled that, sorry not sorry). And with that, she had MORE character development and was used in a much better way than she is as MJ in the MCU Spider-Man films. Denis Villeneuve's vision... but Zendaya's range. Zendaya has an Emmy already. I'm calling it... she will end up with an Oscar someday. And I'm ready to see what she does in Part 2. Thank you to Denis for bringing out MORE that potential in her. Score: 10/10

Final Score: 100/100

Final Grade: A++ or S-Class

Conclusion: Frank Herbert's legendary novel has been brought to life as it should be. Stunning. Emotional. Detail oriented. Fierce action met with rich storytelling that it NEVER lost hold of. Even the battles told stories(something that I feel Star Wars lost more times than not). Sci-fi Masterclass. Denis Villeneuve does it again.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat" that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: I have some evaluating to do for where to put this movie in my top 10 of all time. That should tell how bad I want each of you to see...... no... how bad I want you to EXPERIENCE this movie. Come back and thank me later.

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Well there you go...... Dune get a 100!!!!!!!! A perfect score!!!

Full disclosure... this was going be a make/break movie. I was looking forward to it. I had very high expectations. But... I do try to be fair. Small oopsies would've been forgiven, but this one... was important to me. So if Denis Villeneuve would've screwed up ONE part in a major way, this score might've been drastically different. But I put my faith in Denis, and he did me proud... so much so, I say once he gets through this trilogy, give him A Princess of Mars... give him any other sci-fi novel and just let him go do his thing. This was VISIONARY! And it could've gone wrong in someone else's hands.

I think the delays for release due to Covid made it that much sweeter. Great things come for those who wait...... well... get me a part 2... now!

So what did you all think? Comment down below. Share the hell of this. And if you haven't seen it... go... do... so... as soon as possible. You won't regret it.

My movie of the year for 2021. What else could top it? Yeah... nothing.

Whether you watch it at home or in the theater, don't forget...

Renewed Top 10 - Slasher Films

Another edition of Horror Themes Top 10!

Already posted the Non-Slasher Horror Films... now it is time for the Slashers.

Some of these will mention whole franchises. Some will be an individual movie in a franchise. And some will be multiple movies in the franchise when I only liked a few of them. You'll understand as you go along.

Also... some of these franchises have had reboots... and sideboots... and Erasequels. And that may or may not factor in each franchise. Like I said... You'll understand as you go along.

Oh... and the killer MUST have been human at some point.

So......

Top 10 Slashers Films/Franchises

Here we go...

11. Child's Play: The franchise centered around a serial killer possessing a doll, and contining the killing spree. Very successful franchise... with a recent reboot with Chucky being voiced by Mark Hamill AND a new TV series.

10. Sleepaway Camp: During the dawn if the Campy Slasher film, here is another one about a killer... in a camp. This one makes the list because it contains one of the GREATEST twist endings in movie history. So great...... you have to watch it. You won't find it here.

9. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Franchise... remake... prequel. One of the main franchises inspired by real life killer Ed Gein. The original film made for less than $140k($700k adjusted for inflation). All centered around a family of cannibals and the chainsaw wielding Leatherface.

8. Friday the 13th: Long standing franchise... machete... hockey mask. Iconic when it comes to the slasher genre. Not every movie in this franchise is gold... the idea of "Campy" horror... I associate with this franchise. And if you need proof of how Campy it is... look no further than Jason X, set... in space.

7. Candyman: Written by Clive Barker. Son of a slave murdered in the late 1800s comes back and spreads fear and terror. Tony Todd with one of the most iconic voices breathes life into this amazing Slasher Urban Legend. I haven't seen the new one yet, so for now... this is just for the original movie.

6. Scream: Wes Craven decided it was a good idea to start a franchise that lampoons the genre and the tropes. And one of the best openings, using a huge start like Drew Barrymore, and killing her outright. An enjoyable franchise with a new one coming very soon.

5. Hellraiser: Clive Barker directed inter-dimensional hellspace hellscape movie franchise(Barker directed the original... wrote the books). A lot to unpack about the franchise. But yes... even though the Cenobites are Extradimensionial beings, all of them but one were human at one time... even Pinhead.

4. Maniac(2012): A remake. But I will be honest, I didn't watch the original. This one though... stars Elijah Wood. And unless you knew that ahead of time, you would have a few small moments to see him... because he plays the killer, and the ENTIRE movie is filmed through the killer's eyes. Great idea. And the movie is a pretty good movie. It gets a high spot due to the uniqueness.

3. Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock's masterclass in horror. Psychological. Norman Bates has inspired many a parody and other copycats. And the shower scene is just as iconic and Hitchcock himself.

2. A Nightmare On Elm Street: Wes Craven. Freddy Krueger. The Razor Fingers gloves. The Boiler Room. A franchise about a man who was brutally murdered by the parents of children he was harming...... turning into a demon that can kill people in their sleep. Some very unique, over the top stories. Not all of them good... but still entertaining. New Nightmare was a very cool meta movie about Freddy coming to kill the ACTRESS that played Nancy. And then... a remake of the original film that was darker, and more fun(with Wes Craven's vision for Freddy's origin story). Plus... I share a birthday with Robert Englund.

And now... the Number 1 Slasher Film/Franchise

1. Halloween: THE Slasher. Michael Myers. This has had more than a few movies... some strange one. A remake helmed by Rob Zombie(2 movies... and I liked them). And we are in the middle of an Erasequel trilogy(as of posting, I haven't seen Halloween Kills yet). And you can point out any of the movies in this franchise that you want to...... but I want to focus on the original. As I said...... THE SLASHER. But look at this movie now, it gave birth to the modern Slasher, but this movie is NOT a Slasher at heart. It was a Psychological Thriller. Once Michael makes it to Haddonfield, his presence is in every scene. Not even just the obvious ones. Rewatch this movie. Look for the car. Even in scenes you shouldn't be thinking about the car... LOOK FOR THE CAR. Yes... Michael gets Slashy. But until then, it is 100% Subliminal for the audience. And this is why it takes the Number 1 spot!

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There you go... my TOP 11 Slashers. The pool I used was smaller this time, and Honorable Mention felt like it was disrespectful to whatever one got it. And they all belonged on the list.

Missing one? Different order? Leave a Comment. Share the post.

Happy Halloween and Spooky Season!

And don't forget...

The New Review - Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Copyright by Sony Pictures and Marvel Comics

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Starring: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson

Directed By: Andy Serkis

Concept: Sequel to Sony's solo Venom outing, starting an attempt at a Sony-verse of Spider-Man characters.

Execution:

Cast: Tom Hardy reprises his role as Eddie Brock. Still done very well(but I do wanna point out... Brock in the comics felt like a brute... this Eddie is a putz). And of course, Woody Harrelson having fun, being Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady. And a shout out to Stephen Graham as Detective Mulligan with a very "Danny Reagan from Blue Bloods" vibe going on. And that is a compliment. But for reasons...... everyone else feels like a background character regardless of role. The new characters introduced get ALL of the character development. And that... is okay too. Score: 17/20

Presentation: Andy Serkis knows his CGI. A smaller budget... but still had better CGI than the first movie. Whereas in the first movie, the big fight between Venom and Riot could be attributed to colors blending together, the big fight between Venom and Carnage felt cleaner, more vibrant... and Serkis didn't shy away from better lighting. Visually, it is a STUNNING action flick. Soundtrack-wise... it was missing something. But... it is SO visually stunning for the budget that any point I would deduct for sound would be made up by visual. So... yes... Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So... the plot is paper thin. But... I like to refer to a phenomenon I call "The Expendables Effect". A movie that doesn't have the best plot, but... you shouldn't be watching it FOR the plot. This movie should be looked at as a Symbiote Smackdown and how to get there. And... that's it. Simple... why is Kasady deranged? How does he get the Carnage Symbiote? When is he gonna fight Venom? There... there is your storyboard. Sprinkled in character development. Lack of world building development. I might've been okay wit it being longer(it is a fairly short film), but it really didn't need it. Here for a good time, but not here for a long time. Score: 27/30

Impact: The movie... the movie itself doesn't feel like it has any Impact. It doesn't. I thought Sony was building their own Universe? And Venom was supposed to feel like a cornerstone of that Universe? Why didn't it feel like it? Granted, the movie didn't leave enough time FOR that... aside from Ravencroft, there isn't anything to build off of. Mulligan? But even then... that is self contained. But... mid-credit scene sets up to make the "Venomverse" part of the MCU Multiverse. And... that has some major ramifications. It is the first official non-MCU Marvel movie to be considered canon to this new Multiverse. That makes the moment extra special. But still... I'm struggling with this one. Score: 12/20

Extra Oomph: This goes to Andy Serkis. First MAJOR film he solo directed(2nd Director for Lord of the Rings and some other non-blockbuster stuff). And Serkis showed that he is the master of CGI. But there is an element that some might overlook...... this is a sequel of detailed elements(I tried to find a better why to word it). What I mean is this...... when I director gets hired to take over a franchise or to do a sequel... most of the time, it doesn't feel like the same franchise. But if you didn't know it was a different Director for this movie, would you have been able to tell? Same feel, same banter, same locations, new characters casted within the same puzzle. Look at the X-Men franchise... X-Men and X2 felt like they fit together... but The Last Stand doesn't. Different director. Andy Serkis had new puzzle pieces for Venom that he was able to cut to fit the existing puzzle. And I think that is an impressive feat. I hope he gets to do the 3rd Movie. Score: 9/10

Final Score: 85/100

Final Grade: B!!!!

Conclusion: Don't go into this movie think you are going to get this amazing plot or for it to solidify a franchise in the "Sony-verse". But... if you are looking for a fun, entertaining movie with some action and some humor, this movie has all of that.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat" that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: See this movie. It is a great anti-hero romp that will keep you entertained for 90 mins. See this movie... and support any theaters. I don't care if it local or national chain. Let's all go to the movies. Especially this one.

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There ya have it folks! Venom: Let There Be Carnage gets a B!

Not sure what my next review will be, but stay tuned!

Hit up your theaters. Show some love to the movies.

And don't forget...