No witty remarks, just geting into it!
Streaming Series
Cobrai Kai S5 (Netflix)
Or as Mrs Dex has started calling it, Karate Soap Opera...and she's not wrong.
I really enjoyed it when it started out but it's just getting a bit silly with
all the drama now. How has no one called the police? Hopefully the series will
go out on a high note.
Slasher S2 (Netflix)
The story this season revolves around an incident that happened at a summer
camp five years prior. The way it unfolds between modern day and flashbacks is
really well done and keeps you guessing. The kills are on par with some some
of the best movies and they don't shy away from showing the violence.
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount+)
I'm an easy mark for anything involving 50s/60s culture but even I was thinking "Do we really need a Grease prequel series?" The answer is yes, yes we do! There's a couple of fun callbacks to the movie as well as the requisite teen high school drama and musical numbers. My minor complaint is that some of the songs sound like modern pop which feels odd in the time period. Not that the songs aren't good, just kicks me out of the setting a little.
Star Wars Visions S2 (Disney+)
I really got into this run of episodes. There were some I didn't like as much
as others but there was always something good about each one. This is a great
concept and I hope they keep doing new things like this to expand and freshen
up the Star Wars brand.
Movies
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Sure, it could have been shorter but I will take every second of time I can get with
this crew. There's plenty of action, fun, and even feelings. As someone that's
been a Rocket Raccoon fan since his limited series in '85, I never imagined
we'd see a version of his story on screen. I am a little sad that this
iteration of the team has ended but hopefully the new crew won't be strangers.
Rating: 9/10, I'm docking this a half star for something I won't spoil
but felt was needlessly done and didn't make sense
Slashening: The Final Beginning (2021, Tubi)
While this is a Troma production, it's not quite as crazy as you might expect.
Don't get me wrong, there are a couple scenes that are definitely are Troma
bonkers! Their oddball humor is all over this and it plays out like a bunch of
sketches connected by the killer. One of the best things throughout are the
sound-alike, knockoff pop songs.
Rating: 5/10
Orphan (2009, HBO Max)
It may not offer much new in the psycho-kid genre but it's absolutely worth
seeing for 11 year old Isabelle Fuhrman's performance. She absolutely kills
it, pun fully intended. She is suitably creepy and you have no trouble
believing her malicious intent.
Rating: 7/10
Fuhrman is still decent here but did we need a sequel/prequel after 13 years
when the actress is now in her 20s trying to play 10 years younger? Several
scenes felt like they gave her the LOTR hobbit treatment and other times you
can tell it's a stand-in. It starts off around a 5, hits an 8 in the middle,
and then peters out around a 4 at the end. The other big problem is that there isn't really anyone to root for, it's almost like they want you on Esther's side and I don't think she's that kind of killer.
Rating: 5/10
Not being familiar with Taiwanese culture and history in the 1960s probably
did not help with me getting the full story here. It's also told in a
non-linear fashion which adds a little extra confusion. It has creepy and gory
moments sprinkled throughout but feels more of a cerebral horror. I will say
it is a great looking movie and would never have guessed it was based on a
video game.
Rating: 6/10
As 80s slashers go, it's pretty middle of the road but would be a good one to watch with a group. One of the kills actually surprised me with it's originality and brutality. The theme song is a totally mismatched breezy pop song that will likely get stuck in your head for days.
Rating: 6/10
This was a hell of a lot of fun! It's like Die Hard but with Santa as John McClane...if McClane's weapon of choice was a sledgehammer. The violence is over the top, brutal, and played for laughs. Surprisingly, by the end it comes around as a feel good holiday movie. I really liked this take on Santa's origin.
Rating: 8/10
Month Total
New: 7 Rewatch: 0
Year to Date Total
New: 40 Rewatch: 4
I'm gonna have to watch The Pink Ladies and Violent Night.
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