Top Gun: Chuck Norris/10:
I like F-14s. What else can I say?

 

But that's what gives the current online series a lot of its weight. And actually, I'd go ahead and pass on the rest of the Karate Kid movies (if you think the first one didn't age well, the others age worse), skipping ahead directly to Cobra Kai.

 

Daniel of Karate Kid and Karate Kid II - which I personally think is a pretty good sequel - are as different as night and day. In fact under different circumstances Johnny and Daniel could have been friends because they're kind of alike. Except Johnny was gotten to by Kreese, and Daniel got Miyagi-sensei instead.

Karate Kid III was pretty crap though, I wasn't a fan.

 

The Karate Kid Part 2:
I might be in the minority here, but I prefer this movie way over the first. It didn't recycle the first movie, it gives Miyagi his spotlight to the point you think Daniel didn't even need to be here, Daniel himself is written far better and makes him a likeable character, the antagonists are far more engaging and threatening than the high school bullies, and the final fight felt like a fight with hard hitting blows.

My only complaint about is the the language of the Okinawa people. It felt off that almost all of them talk in broken English between each other instead of Japanese if only for us (and Daniel) to understand them.

8.5/10

 

King Kong (2005) - 10/10
Peter Jackson did a perfect retelling of beloved 1933 classics with addition scenes, new fictitious dinosaurs, and more.

 

Interstellar 4.5/10

 

Imagine people's reaction when they rewatch or watch for the first time The Next Karate Kid.

 

The Karate Kid Part 3:
A huge downgrade from part 2. The villains are way over the top silly you can't take them seriously, Daniel got so stupid he screws up everything he does to help, the tournament is full of bullshit moments with the final insult being Daniel saying he's scared of his opponent who is just a bully when he just fought a no-rules death match against someone who wanted to kill him just the previous movie.

Now some ideas in it could've worked if it was by a better writer. The conflict between Daniel and Miyagi was one of them, Kreese needed more presence because he barely does anything despite the plot being about him wanting revenge, not his friend. Also felt it was odd none of the previous Cobra Kai students were available in a plot revolving around the revival of their dojo.

4.5/10

The Next Karate Kid:
Yeah, I know this one is not fondly loved, but I honestly like this over part 3. It is the silliest of the 4 movies, but I think Julie was written better than Daniel in his 1st and 3rd movie combined. She is more understandable and her character growth is more convincing.

Sadly the more sillier parts are still hurting the movie. Michael Ironside and his goons are very comically evil and the 2nd half is filled with its silly moments like the out of nowhere Zen magic.

But if I'd choose between this and part 3, I'd choose this one over it.

5.5/10

 

Back to the Future - 9.5/10

Rewatched the whole trilogy over the past week. I'm amazed at how well-done these movies are. Time travel stories are hard to make coherent, and Back to the Future manages to create a series of time travel movies that not only make sense, but connect with the average moviegoer. It's amazing how many things are set up, then come into play later. There are a lot of neat plotpoints, as well as subtle background details.

I think the first movie is the strongest for me. It's just a nice self-contained package that tells a fun story. While the time-travel plot is super creative and well-thought-out, it's really the charming characters that make the movie great, along with the clever writing.

Back to the Future Part II - 8.5/10

I think the sequel is quite good too, albeit probably the weakest of the trilogy for me. It jumps around a lot, and the plot can feel sort of disjointed and even a bit repetitive. Still, it's a really fun ride with some great moments, and definitely a solid movie. I love the idea of Bif giving his past self the sports almanac, and then him becoming rich. Marty trying to get the almanac from him was a lot of fun.

Back to the Future Part III - 9/10

This one is between the first and the third for me. I think it's a bit more focused than the second movie, and follows a more simple plot. I love the old west setting, and all the gags and clever scenarios that come from that. I don't think it can quite beat the first film, but it's a close second.

 

Watched Twilight Samurai the other night. Damn good movie, really shows of Sanada's acting chops (as if it were in question). 8/10

 

Terminator Dark Fate: 7.5/10

So out of all of the post T2 terminator movies this one is the best. I was expecting it to be bad but besides the John Connor death in the first 10 min the movie was pretty good. It’s strange that they did something so daring so early just to play it safe for the rest of the movie. Like Terminator 3 and Terminator Genisys they have to somewhat follow the T2 outline but shake it up just a little.

 

After sleeping on the movie I can give it a 2.5/10

 

On a serious note though, despite my strong disagreement with you, I hope you know I'm messing with you. 

 

I do.  

 

I rewatched Konosuba movie and it was better the 2nd time. I love Megumin. 9/10

 

Just finished The Outside with Leto. Pretty damn good. The atmosphere of the film is very tense throughout. Though I'm 100% sure this would never have taken place, very entertaining, very well shot, excellent narrative, great performances. Solid 8/10

 

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! Movie: Take On Me I liked it better the 2nd time 8.5/10

 

In the Tall Grass
7.5/10
Pretty good thriller/horror movie. People hear someone lost in a giant field of grass, so they go in to find them. Like, ok. Guess we got 2 1/2 hours of grass. But then they toss in time warps, rips in space & things start getting crazy.
Everyone dies but keep getting 2nd chances thanks to the time loops & all that. There were only 2 times where I thought that this fairly tame horror movie went too far. Both scenes involved a baby. Those scenes were at least kept obscured and mostly off- screen, but still. Don’t even go there.
Overall pretty enjoyable. Didn’t end quite the way I figured it would, but pretty close.

 

Transformers: Dark of the Moon - 7/10

Hadn't watched this one in awhile, and I've seen it enough times that I was moreso distracted by doing other things...but despite it being my #2 of the Bayformers films, at times it feels a mess. I don't know what it is about Bay thinking "anger/attitude equals characterization," but it feels that's the mode Sam Witwicky is in this film for so much, and it doesn't help me like him. Then again, maybe he's an avatar for Bay who hasn't really grown-up over the years.

There are still some moments in this film that stick out, and I do still watch the Chicago scenes, remembering that summer wandering around the city watching them film (even found myself walking 5 ft behind Shia one day). Sentinel Prime to me is still one of the more interesting characters, this father-figure who loses his way thinking it's the only way to save a way of life, though he also dooms the Autobots on Earth to be seen as the bad guys given his actions.