Change Your Image
mawhinney
Reviews
Baby Reindeer (2024)
I Really Liked It But...
I am only up to episode 3 and I really like the show but I don't believe it is 100% true. Sure, I believe he had a stalker but I think he made up a good chunk of this show. If it all did actually happen, then he and his stalker both have mental issues.
The show kind of gives me vibes of You.
I've been watching on a smartphone so one pet peeve I have is the incessant switching from live action to Martha's emails. Pretty small font on a smartphone screen so numerous times I've had to pause and zoom to read them. There's so much narration already, heck, I would have preferred Martha narrate that transition.
Jessica Gunning needs awards for her performance.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Was Expecting More
I did the Barbenheimer thing and in that order. In my city, every Barbie screening is selling out and most Oppenheimer screenings are selling out. Oppenheimer was given the largest auditorium at my local cinema for evening screenings but they could only do one in that auditorium per evening due to length. The late Oppenheimer screening was in a tiny auditorium. Barbie only got matinees in the largest auditorium. Then old movies like Elemental and Across the Spiderverse wasted 4 evening screenings. Both films have hit the jackpot this weekend but this seemingly disorganized planning of what screens would show what could have been avoided. I guess theatre math must be more complicated than toilet paper math.
Most of the audience in my screening were males 18-25. Interesting. It didn't take too long to figure out why. Florence's scenes. At this point, I should just assume that if it isn't a Disney/Marvel movie, she's going to be naked at some point. I saw several people get up and leave about halfway through the movie, I think because they knew her nude scenes were over. Now, speaking of nude scenes, I was not expecting to see Murphy in a creepy sex scene or sitting naked in a chair. It just wasn't pleasant. His acting is fine, I just want him fully clothed at all times.
Back to the movie. Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and RDJ were great. If you like courtroom scenes, you'll probably love this. I was expecting more science and more relationships. I wasn't emotionally invested in any character.
It wasn't a bad movie. It was way too long of a movie.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Another Tom Cruise Vanity Project
I am not a die hard fan of Tom Cruise but I have seen all of his films. Edge of Tomorrow is by far my favourite.
I would have called this Tom Cruise vs ChatGPT.
An AI who grunts and can't speak? What?
Can Tom move his face any more? There was no emotion.
Ethan tired of Ilsa pretty quickly, replacing her with Grace in the blink of an eye.
The Italy car chase was too reminiscent of the ridiculous Fast X car chase. The train top fight scene reminded me of the latest Indiana Jones. And if you give me the choice between an aging Cruise versus a de-aged Ford, I will take Ford every time.
At almost 3 hours, it was monotonous. I was bored. I had already seen the "making of" the jump scene. The air conditioning was great though.
Knock at the Cabin (2023)
Could Have Been A Good Film
I think I have seen every M. Night film he has made but I really am starting to reconsider whether I will watch any more.
I am a fan of Dave Bautista so I looked forward to this film. He did what he could with a horribly boring and predictable script.
I love horror movies but I don't even think I would categorize it as one. They hid what should have been shown. It didn't make it mysterious. It looked like they didn't want to spend the money on some nice chi and practical effects.
Perhaps some backstory on the four would have made me care more about the characters.
It could have been good but when a person knows the ending just by seeing the trailer, then someone failed back at the drawing board.
Oh, and the rack focus. I don't believe I have ever seen a film use it so poorly and be so distracting. Total amateur hour.
How I Met Your Father (2022)
Too Much Laugh Track
Too much laugh track. I couldn't stand it every 5-10 seconds. I know when to laugh or not laugh. I don't need sound effects to tell me what to do.
To the studios, please hire writers who don't rely on such crutches.
Ma (2019)
Missing Something
I thought Octavia Spencer did an amazing job. I can't quite put my finger on what is missing from the film but it was okay, not amazing. I suppose I was hoping for more horror, less thriller.
With a tiny $5M budget, they will make a profit.
The Happytime Murders (2018)
Big Disappointment
I really wanted to like it. I'm a big fan of both the Muppets (and all of the other Henson creatures) and Melissa McCarthy so this combination should have been a home run.
The trailers showed all of the amusing scenes. It was shot okay, the actors could have been good with a better script. I'm just so disappointed at the waste of a great premise.
I wonder if Jim Henson were still alive what he would have thought of his son's creation.
Little Italy (2018)
Average But Enjoyable
It was a predictable rom-com but it had some laughs. I enjoyed it far more than Crazy Rich Asians.
It isn't Oscar material but it isn't a 1/10 either.
For being a Canadian production, I was pleasantly surprised as they have a reputation for being really bad.
I Feel Pretty (2018)
Oh Look, The Trolls Are Out In Full Force
I knew as soon as I looked at the reviews I would see all of the people dead set on trashing every single thing Amy Schumer does.
This movie was cute and funny. It wasn't an Oscar-quality film by any means but it was entertaining.
I am not a fan of Amy's raunchy for the sake of raunchy schtick which she got used to doing so this film was a pleasant surprise that it was quite tame.
I'll give it a 10 instead of a 7 to cancel out a troll.
Truth or Dare (2018)
Mediocre
I've seen better, I've seen worse. This will be forgotten in a few weeks.
I just didn't care about any of the characters. I typically enjoy BlumHouse horror films but this just felt lazy.
The Hurricane Heist (2018)
Worth a Watch for Disaster Movie Lovers
I like cheesy disaster movies. I liked Hurricane Heist much better than last year's Geostorm.
Having said that, the acting was mediocre but a lot of that can be blamed on a poor script and awkward dialogue.
The CGI was pretty good for quite a low budget film. Fairly steady action throughout the film kept my attention.
My previously watched film was The Strangers: Prey At Night so pretty much any other film would get a generous rating from me after that mess.
Coco (2017)
Bring Tissues
Simply the best and most emotional Pixar film I have ever seen. I didn't need the Frozen mini-movie at the beginning though but that was a studio choice, not a flaw of Coco.
It may be animated but it definitely speaks to adults.
Breathtaking artwork, insanely realistic textures and beautiful music. Perfect casting.
I haven't shed this many tears watching a film since The Notebook.
Snatched (2017)
Something Missing
I like Amy Schumer and her last film Trainwreck wasn't bad at all.
I had been looking forward to Snatched for months after seeing the trailer and I was expecting a lot of raunchy comedy but I left the theatre last night disappointed.
Goldie Hawn was wasted by the director. Amy Schumer felt awkward, as though she was holding back.
I laughed a few times but not enough times.
I'm going to blame Paul Feig. Why didn't he put his foot down as producer? Why didn't he get a better director, or heck, direct it himself? Bridesmaids, Spy, The Heat and Ghostbusters were good (not all awesome, just good and enjoyable). This doesn't make sense, the writer was the same writer as Ghostbusters and The Heat so how did Snatched go wrong? Maybe that creative group just doesn't mesh with Schumer, that they only click with McCarthy?
CHIPS (2017)
Misrated in Canada
I did enjoy the film but it wasn't what I was expecting.
In the US, it is correctly rated R but here in Atlantic Canada only a 14A. With plenty of violence, profanity and nudity it should have been R in Canada as well.
I am not saying those are negative things for a film. I just think some parents might believe the 14A and be in for quite a shock.
Forget the original series, go in expecting a raunchy buddy cop comedy and you should be entertained.
I adore Vincent D'Onofrio in everything, this film included.