The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell story - 7/10 I enjoyed this and never knew the cast had so much beef with each other, particularly Lark and Tiffany. Everyone knew about Dustin Diamond and his substance abuse issues, but I didn't know what it stemmed from or his friend betraying him for fame. Still, it seemed this glossed over a great many issues to keep from hurting people's feelings... or possibly lawsuits.

 

Avatar: The Way of Water:
New setting, new characters, new culture, and at the same time old characters and repeating stuff from the first one, but it's not necessarily bad as they are still new things to explore. Visual effects are a big improvement since 2009 and I loved all new creature designs.

8/10

 

Avatar 2: 5/10

 

Klaus: 9/10

 

Black Adam: 6.5 / 10

Most average comic book movie ever. It does nothing new or special. In the end it’s just generic. I just see a blend of better movies. Black Adam is just a stoic living destruction machine. JSA doesn’t feel right. It’s more Hawkman hiring people to make a super team. JSA just feel like Colossus in Deadpool but they are meant to be taken seriously. Doctor Fate is the only JSA character that I liked. If you are bored it’s worth a watch. It’s not as bad as WW86, Suicide Squad, BVS or Justice League. Of the DCEU still it would sit in the middle.

 

Del Toro’s Pinocchio - 8.5/10

Beautifully done, and surreally gracious in how someone hoping the main character will die is actually a very positive and meaningful note.

 

I saw two Netflix exclusives recently.

del Toro's Pinnochio

A nice Laika-esque film from del Toro's mind and a really good one. An excellent voice cast alongside some reasonable changes (miss the Fox and Cat) to the original story. Loved the monkey. Yes, it takes some time to get used to the implementation of fascist Italy in a movie like this but I do see the messaging as one of discovering oneself. A contender for animated movie? Sure is.

8.5/10

Troll (2022)

Too be honest, I was kinda bored with this one. Yes, it's a Norwegian movie about trolls but it's a run of the mill monster movie that moved as sluggish as the troll in the movie. The acting was fine across the board; no major complaints and the troll was actually rendered pretty good for a movie outside of Hollywood. I feel like it's a bit of a forgettable experience sadly; but I would still like to see Godzilla or Kong fight a monster humanoid like this.

5/10

 

Technically the fox is in it. Count Volpe serves as the fox, since Volpe is latin for Fox and his facial features/hair is designed to be fox like. As in his pointed nose and his fox ear-esque hairstyle. His red and fur trimmed coat also.

The cat is just the monkey in a way too, being his partner and having cat like ears.

 

I too went to see this yesterday with a buddy. This was a no nonsense, to the point, fun action flick. I love how everything was explained under the "It's Christmas magic, I don't really know how to explain it..." banner.   Really enjoyed this film for the mindless fun, would recommend for your holiday action movie marathon. 7/10

 

Yeah, I figured. Some things were changed for a less ‘fantastical’ approach.

 

Devotion: Biopic about Naval Aviators Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner 9/10

Wish they would’ve shown more of the missions (20) he flew during the war but I get it was cut for time.

Great film, but do not go in expecting Top Gun, this is not an action movie, it pulls at the heart.

 

Avatar: The Way of Water - 10/10

I've been hemming and hawing about how exactly I'd rate this movie, but I simply can't think of any reason not to give it perfect marks. It never drags despite being over three hours long (hell, I honestly think it could and should have been longer), it looks absolutely stunning from start to finish, every character is distinct and fully-realized, the story is emotional and heartfelt, hitting familiar themes of family and environmentalism with perfect, dead-center accuracy. More than anything else, the movie made me feel something while watching it. I felt attached to these characters, to this world, and found myself wanting to take some of that emotion and carry it with me out of the theater. It did everything the first Avatar did right, and honestly, did it even better. I'm very happy that we've got more of these in the works.

 

The new Scrooge movie on Netflix is great! 8/10

 

Top Gun:
It got its cool moments, liked the characters, but didn't love it enough to go all crazy about it like it's the best film ever made.

8/10

 

Couldn't have expressed it better, so I'm dittoing your comments.
Avatar: The Way of Water 10/10

 

The Menu
I didn't have much interest in this from the trailers however I heard several glowing reviews and general positivity so I went to give it a try. In the end, it was solid. I didn't love it but I was never bored. I feel like the ideas were there but they were not pushed to the point of intrigue. Some subjects were really interesting but were quietly pushed to the side and not explored far enough. I feel like it had elements of Speak No Evil and Melancholia, but rather those films went the next step and made it more powerful. I wasn't looking for something horrific but it did feel like the movie, perhaps, was pulling its punches. The film was an enjoyable one, it is just I was never challenged. The Menu was definitely funny with the way specific types of people are lampooned throughout which was fun. Overall a solid glossy film that won't ruin your day but I don't know if I would recommend it.
7/10

 

Avatar: The Way of Water

My rating: 8/10 but only just.

Watched it at our local Odeon Luxe in 3D. I don't do great with 3D but family wanted it so I went along. Once my eyes adjusted I got used to the motion blur and what not and enjoyed the film.

 

Top Gun Maverick:
This is a sequel that surpasses the original. The stacks were higher, it's treated as a serious military drama than a goofy testosterone flick, the flying sequences were much more intense, doing more than just honoring the original

9/10

 

TÁR - 10/10

The only things that I can confidently say about this movie are that it's extremely well made, utterly fascinating, and Blanchett is immaculate. It's a film that invites, if not demands, you to continually reflect on it and come to your own conclusions about the character and her actions, and it will absolutely linger in your mind long after you finish watching. I wasn't exactly enamored with it immediately after seeing it, but as the following day has gone on, I've scarcely stopped thinking about it, and for that I have to give it full marks.

 

Silent Night, Deadly Night - 7/10

Silent Night Deadly Night 2 - 9/10
Hilariously bad.