I love that Misty is a part of this season — which is actually fairly enjoyable.
3 Thoughts After Re-Watching ‘Alien’:
Another reminder as to just how much of a badass Ellen Ripley is. Sigourney is a queen.
The alien design is so iconic and genius. From the Facehugger to the final grown abomination — acid blood and all — it’s a pretty damn perfect (and grotesque!) concept.
While altogether impressive and obviously a pure CLASSIC, there are parts that drag. A few impatient moments when you’re just waiting to get to the good stuff. Something, from what I remember, the sequel improves upon.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘The Green Inferno’:
The acting in the beginning was awful. But they were good at being scared, which sometimes seems like “enough” to some filmmakers when casting these b-movie horror films.
I didn’t love it. I didn’t hate it. And it wasn’t as shocking as I expected it to be.
The fart sound effects during one character’s violent bowel movement, Alejandro’s “release,” and the tribe’s munchies were absolutely ABSURD.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Hustlers’:
As if we needed anymore proof, Jennifer Lopez clearly has quite the presence. Stunning and scene-stealing, it was great to see her flex her acting muscles in a way I haven’t seen before.
Sure it was hella flashy, but it certainly had substance to match, particularly in the chemistry between Constance and Jennifer. Their characters accurately served up that stark reminder that, while the best of friendships can disappoint, they still have an unwavering capacity to save us.
Palisades Center Mall food court cameo! The scene where they were recruiting new members. My mall!
Yaz’s “Only You” perfectly sealing that symbol of hope. Love it so much.
This single episode was better than the entirety of Luke Cage’s second season.
Major improvements on Danny’s whole demeanor and the fight scenes.
I’m SO over Mariah talking about her family.
And I’m so over people — Danny, Claire, Luke’s father — telling Luke that he has to face all his internal issues and be at peace with himself. Luke has been ridiculously one-dimensional this whole time that it makes no sense, and their concern only comes across as super melodramatic.
It’s been a challenge making it through this season.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Onward’:
I loved the message that sometimes we need to appreciate what we’ve always had more than what we never knew.
I thought it was an interesting choice to use fairytale creatures in a world that resembles our own. And I believe that there’s an analogy in there somewhere, involving a kind of wonder and magic that we as humans have forgotten about over time.
The brotherly bond was incredibly touching and may have inspired a tear or two. The sacrifice at the end was painful, but perfect.
The lack of screen time for our main character here is a testament to how uninteresting he is. And these Marvel show episodes typically end with a solid, fairly-intense cliffhanger. This one? Luke gets sued.
Sounds about right.
That last scene between Luke and Claire was painful to watch — and not because I was overwhelmed with emotion. I just don’t buy into all the over-the-top melodrama. And why does Claire care so much about the father stuff? It’s all just a bit much.
Luke is 100% the least charismatic Defender. It almost makes complete sense how this episode barely focused on him. It wouldn’t be entertaining otherwise. This show is held up by its female characters... Mariah... Misty... and Claire, when she’s not with Luke. Go figure.
I am, however, into this new guy with his own mysterious set of powers. Curious to see where that goes. But other than him and the ladies... this just isn’t a strong series.
I hate Luke’s one-liners with a fiery passion. Super cheesy.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘A Simple Favor’:
Henry Golden is absolute perfection.
The character of Stephanie Smothers was just a little TOO over-the-top at times, bordering on obnoxious.
Overall, I didn’t think the film was unenjoyable. But the mystery felt a little thrown together and the twist at the end — for me personally — was a bit overhyped and anticlimactic.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘God’s Own Country’:
A beautiful film about loneliness and the power of companionship. The power of love and someone else’s ability to make our lives infinitely better. To complete us.
The beginning of this film was VERY “Brokeback,” in more ways than one. So, as a viewer, I immediately felt like I was watching something super unoriginal. But it eventually found its own footing to its own story... and to a refreshingly-lovely ending.
I was hoping the L-word would’ve been said. But I get it. It took a lot for John to say all he did in the end. And that was enough.
Bonus Thought: Those scenes. Is it hot in here??
I like gruff. Not Christian Bale/Batman gruff. Bernthal is coming awfully close to Christian Bale/Batman gruff.
I despise the whispering at tribal. That was never a thing before. They used to remain seated, uncertain, and had to rely on the trust of their alliances to vote accordingly, after a day of deliberating. That was fun to watch. This sudden, last-minute, inordinately-long scrambling with each other... is not.
Was never the biggest fan of Adam, but my heart hurt for him here.
Calista Flockhart + Lisa Kudrow = Perfection
I love you so much, Ally McBeal.
I doubt anyone will see this review, but I just came to say that Lisa Kudrow is an absolute TREASURE. ‘Web Therapy’ may not have been a mega hit, but its little dose of levity is quite needed these days.
And who doesn’t love Gwyneth?!
I wish the ending could have been stronger, but this outing probably feels like the most Twilight Zone-y episode out of all of ‘em in this reboot. It doesn’t hurt that the “To Serve Man” aliens are back! One of my fave OG episodes.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Nine to Five’:
This one was a good ol’ rewatch with family, reminding me that I apparently hadn’t seen it in its entirety. So much I didn’t remember.
I got ‘First Wives Club’ and ‘Witches of Eastwick’ vibes with this. Three iconic women being pure badasses. Who would today’s trio be?
This gets a higher rating for the theme song alone.
Kristen Wiig is still a riot.
Badass episode. Definitely my fave of the season. Maybe even the entire series.
I think I’m realizing that I’m purely anti-Serac. He reminds me of Thanos... good intentions (in his own mind), evil execution. But if it comes down to Maeve and Dolores, I’m :pound_symbol:TeamMaeve all the way. And that girl is PISSED.
Regardless, I’m living for all the strong female characters in this show.
Maeve! How I’ve missed you. How I’ve forgotten how pivotal you‘ve been to my enjoyment of this series. Maeve IS Westworld. Dolores who?
MUCH better episode than the premiere. As much as I DO enjoy Dolores, this episode proves how much more compelling and complex Maeve is as a character. And I looooooove how they’re building to a head-to-head between these two women.
Team Maeve, all the way.
I had read that this season wouldn’t be as confusing/complicated.
Ummmmmmm...
This might’ve been the most confusing premiere yet. :pound_symbol:wtfdidijustwatch
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Carnival of Souls’:
That bus scene was pure nightmare fuel.
I give this old film points for the creepy vibes. All brought on by a super atmospheric score and some haunting visuals (see thought :pound_symbol:1).
I thought the story was lacking. About to do a deep dive into the meaning of what I just watched. I have my theories. And I’m sure many of today’s horror films learned a thing or two from this movie. But, in the end, I was scratching my head.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Mother’:
Wow. They got me. I didn’t see that entire conclusion coming from a mile away — and I totally feel like I should have. That’s the sign of a good film.
I’m really enjoying Bong Joon-ho as a storyteller. After seeing three of his films, I’m getting a better sense of his style and the quirky moments. I look forward to what he does next.
The ending - with the kid they found guilty for the crime - was heart-wrenching.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘Dark Phoenix’:
This movie was insanely predictable, almost every step of the way. And it all started with a trailer that gave away wayyy too much.
I love Sophie Turner. She’s a fantastic actress. But I thought this was a poor casting choice. I feel like the whole character was done wrong. Never did I feel intimidated by her. Never did I sense this all-powerful being filled with rage. Never.
Call me crazy, but I prefer ‘The Last Stand’ to this. I miss Hugh. I miss Halle. I miss Rebecca Romijn and Famke. The villain here was so poorly executed. In general, this was rough.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘The Shape of Water’:
I couldn’t buy into the romance, at all. I just couldn’t. It was a little too “out there” for me.
Did this remind anyone else of a backwards (a :asterisk_symbol:very:asterisk_symbol: backwards) version of ‘Splash’?
The one and only aspect of this film that I enjoyed was Guillermo’s vision. I love his style. I love his creatures (Doug Jones is remarkable.). His penchant for dark fairytales. The way he’s able to deliver such a rage-inducing villain. I was just NOT able to connect with this story.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘A Cure for Wellness’:
This movie does NOT deserve its 42% Rotten Tomato score. I thought it was a solid film that actually has solid rewatch value. It’s a complicated story where everything, I believe, makes a refreshing amount of sense in the end. And I thought it was shot extremely well.
I was very satisfied with the ending. And there was a large amount of doubt (no thanks to the RT score) that I would be. I reeeally thought this would be another “he was crazy the entire time” ending, or another bleak conclusion where the main character is just plain f’d. But I was happy to see Lockhart in a better place and to leave with the absolute realization that he had actually found his cure after all.
Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed the score. It was incredibly eerie and haunting — and I thought it contributed wonderfully to the film’s equally eerie atmosphere.
