Monthly Media Recap - July 2021

July was quite the month for new content releases!

What have you seen lately that was good? Let me know in the comments.

Streaming

 

Black Summer (S2, Netflix) - I'm still struggling to get through this season. The first was a breath of fresh air after the Walking Dead soap opera but I'm just not into this season. I think part of it is the Pulp Fiction non-linear story telling.

Gilmore Girls (S3, Netflix) - You may recall last month when I said I wasn't addicted or anything and I was trying to watch an episode a day? Well, it's now pretty much the nightly routine to watch one before bed.

 

Loki (S1, Disney+) - I really enjoyed my time with Loki, Sylvie, and the other Lokis but it's hard to make a final verdict when there's still more to come. I'm sure it will all make more sense down the road.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation (Netflix) - The extent of my MotU fandom was watching the cartoon when it originally aired and owning a Skeletor figure. Despite the massive toy line, I never got far into it so I didn't have any expectations here. To keep this short, I really enjoyed it and LOVE how it ended! Bring on the next season. Tri-klops and his tech cult were awesome!

Behind the Attraction (Disney+) - From the folks that brought you The Toys/Movies That Made Us! If you enjoy the Disney parks, this is look behind the "making of" some of the biggest attractions is a no brainer! Page Brewster is perfection as narrator.

 

 Movies (technically still streaming)

Fear Street Trilogy (2021, Netflix)

I knew nothing of this going into it other than it was a series written by RL Stine (I was more of a Christopher Pike fan when it came to YA horror). I was expecting a little more mature Goosebumps but boy was I wrong! Basically loved the whole thing: the brutal kills, the mythos, backtracking through time to tell the story. I'd love to see more stories about some of the other killers!

My only real gripes with it were the overuse of music and the fact that the "rules" didn't seem consistent. If you set it up, you gotta stick to it! 

Also, 1978 used two songs from Guardians of the Galaxy, totally yanking me out of those moments.

Rating: 1994 & 1978 - 8, 1666 - 7

The Hunt (2020, HBO Max)

Despite what the trailer shows, there is a fair amount of humor to go along with the violence. Both the far left and far right get poked at here and I had a fun time watching Betty Gilpin (GLOW's Liberty Belle) kick some ass. The opening 30 minutes or so are great because you don't know what's coming around the next corner.

Rating: 7/10

Impractical Jokers: The Movie (2020, HBO Max)

I love the show but do we really need a movie? The "plot" that ties everything together is kind of lame and honestly turned me off to the movie at the start. Thankfully, there's more of them doing the usual ridiculous challenges than "story".

Rating: 6/10 (rating as a movie, it's basically an extra long show with flimsy narrative)

A Fistful of Dollars (1964, Amazon Prime)

Sadly for me, I saw Django (1966) a few years ago so it almost felt like I was re-watching that movie because it's so similar. Still, Eastwood's dark humor makes the Man with No Name a character to remember and how can you not appreciate Sergio Leone's visual style?

 

Rating: 7/10

 

For A Few Dollars More (1965, Amazon Prime)

Now this is what I'm talking about! The first one was good but lacking another charismatic presence for Eastwood to play off. Lee Van Cleef practically steals the show when he's on screen making this pair of hombres not to be messed with.

Rating: 8/10

By the way, if you never thought Westerns were your "thing" but enjoy the Mandalorian, check these movies out. Also, I do plan on seeing The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly at some point. It's not streaming free anywhere, you only have a limited time to watch a rental, and it's a long movie.

Mass Hysteria (2019, Shudder)

I really wanted to love this since it takes place in Salem and was actually shot there. The fact that I'm so familiar with the city might even be a mark against my enjoyment. The tourist crowd, and the city itself, feel underpopulated. It was fun seeing places I know on screen but this indie comedy/horror just didn't enchant me. I've seen a lot of good reviews for it so it's definitely some people's cup of tea.

Rating: 5/10

Freaky (2020, HBO Max)

If you saw the trailer, you pretty much know what to expect: Freaky Friday the 13th. But what you don't expect is that it actually has a little more heart than you're average serial killer/body swap flick. Sure it's got the usual horror tropes but it's very aware of itself. I kept getting Happy Death Day vibes, which is a good thing! Plus there's one gorgeously gruesome kill that rivals Freak Street's bread cutter! I had a really fun time with this and both leads were great with their body swaps.

Rating: 8/10

Monthly Total

New: 9

Year to Date

New: 49   Rewatch: 0