🍿 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, 1989 - ★★★½
(Watched this a few weeks ago, just now logging it.)
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🍿 The Polar Express, 2004 - ★★★
This movie is the most magical, mythological depiction of Santa Claus and Christmas spirit, and, at the same time, the most ugly, horrific thing. Could use a remaster (remake even?). Highlight is Josh Groban tho. IF YOU JUUUST BELIEEEEEVE
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🍿 Elf, 2003 - ★★★★½
Great as always.
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🍿 Wicked, 2024 - ★★★★½
Just incredible. Really really really enjoyed it.
My only criticisms:
1. Some of the shot pacing is kind of weird, especially in the Ozdust scene. Like two minutes straight of reaction shots.
2. Depth of field found dead in a ditch.
3. Those wonderful titles didn’t make it into the marketing at all! So tired of the metal 3D titles everywhere. -
🍿 Red One, 2024 - ★★½
Tomorrow I brief the president, prime minister, and the kings and queens of everywhere.
Honestly when it leaned into the goofy there were moments of brilliance. There’s an alternate universe version of this that is hammed up to 11 and maybe includes a musical number that I would love to see. Fight scenes were an utter mess, absolute hot garbage (with the exception of one sequence where a snowman’s carrot gets forcibly grilled). But tucked away in there was some great art direction, especially with Krampus’s lair. Some genuinely fantastic prosthetics work.
Stream it.
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🍿 Our Little Secret, 2024 - ★★
Everyone in this film is incredibly jaundiced and needs medical attention asap
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🍿 Hot Frosty, 2024
Can’t honestly review it because I didn’t really watch it but it played on a tv near me for a while and I figured that’s worth a log. Honestly didn’t seem terrible. Or maybe it did but also just goofy.
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🍿 Planes, Trains and Automobiles, 1987 - ★★★½
Screwball with a heart. ❤️ A little mushy at times. Would love to see this in a theater.
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🍿 Summertime, 1955 - ★★★½
Maybe the prettiest movie from its era? I love the use of natural light in this. Some shots were just breathtaking.
Didn’t love the story, but it’s fine. It’s mostly a vessel to go on a tour of Venice, and for that it is sufficient. Also an Italian guy passionately tells someone to “🤌 eat-a the ravioli” as a metaphor for love so there’s an extra star for that I suppose.
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🍿 Night on Earth, 1991 - ★★★½
Nothing but love to my man Helmet. It’s a bit uneven, but works as a collection of short stories. Starts high and ends low (in emotion, not necessarily quality). Split diopter engagement bait accounts haven’t discovered this yet which is nice.
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🍿 The Terminal, 2004 - ★★★★
Liked this better the second time. Silly, fun, low stakes Spielberg. Surprising lack of the Hanx Bobble™.
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🍿 Paterson, 2016 - ★★★★
Aha! 🕴️
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🍿 Uptown Girls, 2003 - ★★★★
It’s dumb and weirdly paced but I cried a bunch so four stars it is!
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🍿 Public Trust, 2020 - ★★★★
Worth a watch as we head into another election against the former guy.
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🍿 Lost in Translation, 2003 - ★★★★
Watched on Monday August 26, 2024.
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🍿 Dune: Part Two, 2024 - ★★★★½
Paul kinda… sucks?
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🍿 Raising Arizona, 1987 - ★★★★
Watched on Monday August 19, 2024.
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🍿 The Hudsucker Proxy, 1994 - ★★★★
JJL’s Katharine Hepburn impression is my new inner monologue voice.
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🍿 O Brother, Where Art Thou?, 2000 - ★★★★★
WE
THOUGHT
YOU
WAS
A
TOAD -
🍿 Inside Out 2, 2024 - ★★★★
Knew from the first twenty minutes or so that I’d cry. 🥲 Not better than the first, but a great addition and continuation of its themes. Very funny and very real. If you’ve ever struggled with anxiety, especially in high school, you’ll see yourself in this.
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🍿 The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, 2004 - ★★★★
Been a while since I’ve seen this. Not my fave Wes Anderson, but it might be his most impressive from a world-building perspective? Maybe outside of Grand Budapest.
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🍿 The Descendants, 2011 - ★★★★
This was a lot funnier than I expected it to be. Hits hard still. While watching, I could feel the Hawaiian humidity on my skin and smell the sweet air… paired with the slack key guitar soundtrack, mmm, it captures it so well.
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🍿 After Hours, 1985 - ★★★★½
Love this genre of screwball comedy where things just keep getting crazier. Feels like it followed in the steps of Bringing Up Baby or His Girl Friday with a nice dark Scorsese twist. The camera just never stops moving, which I love and am seriously impressed by. So many laugh out loud funny moments in this. Watch it with someone who has a good dry sense of humor.
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🍿 Stagecoach, 1939 - ★★★
I’m sorry there’s no way that woman was nine months pregnant.
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🍿 Come and See, 1985 - ★★★★★
Watched on Thursday April 11, 2024.