Pitchfork Retreat

 

The Pitchfork Retreat started off in a darkly humored way, the eay that feels Lynchian.  The film itself is not but it started off nice. The first act we get to semi know a few horror authors and none seem like decent people. Then we get the very long second act where the authors tell their tales turning the film into an anthology.  The first goes a bit too long, the next two feel a bit rushed but overall I was digging it. The last act tries to force all the tales into being one with them haunting the authors. It is enjoyable but such a cluster. That was how the entire film felt. With that said if I go to Frightmare(where I saw this) next year amd there is a sequel,  I will still check it out.

Mandalorian & Grogu

 

The Mandalorian & Grogu is every single thing I wanted it to be. It felt like the show, which every 25 minutes or so being a different task. Yet everything ties together. The action sequences are very John Wick and the sets are either dusted,  grassed or neon drenched. This is a spaghetti western,  neo noir space opera and it is also the saddest film in the Star Wars saga. As sad as it was i was either tearing up or smiling ear to ear. 

One Last Kill

 

The Netflix Punisher lost me as did Daredevil.  The Disney Plus Daredevil won me back so I had to check out One Last Kill, even if Punisher wasn't on DD I still would have checked it out, even if he wasn't in the new Spidey. This is short, only 45 minutes but it takes about 15 to get rolling. It was kinda dull at first but they were trying some surreal shit that didn't always work, but it was all needed to see that Frank is done with this world. And that is where the 30 minutes of carnage begins. This is badass as fuck.  Think those hallway fights from DD or John Wick and you get the idea. This is The Punisher. It reminded me a bit of Dirry Laundry only more brutal and I loved that MCU signed off on this. The end truly shows that Frank is not done with this world. 

Mortal Kombat 2

 I love the Mortal Kombat games, I had the figures growing up, I love the 95 film and the 2021 film. Hell even the animated films were awesome from the past few years. Mortal Kombat 2 takes what didn't work in the 2021 film, which honestly for me almost everything worked except for Cole, and here hevis secondary.  He would have worked if maybe he turned into Scorpion but alas. This film also feels highly inspired by 90s fandom. Here is an update of sorts of the 95 film, we get a video game color palette and fighting stages. The characters are great, the humor is great, the fight scenes for the most part feel lifted from the games.  Part 3, get over here. 

Daredevil Born Again

 Season 1 kinda dragged for Daredevil, I feel season 3 of the Netflix show did too. With a new Spidey and Punisher on the way i needed to step back in and watch season 2 of Born Again and holy fuck was it tense. Kingpin became Trunp, Bullseye stole the show, we got Jessica Jones. It was a bit court room dramaey at the end but that same finale wound up going for the jugular. 

Night Patrol

 

Night Patrol is kind of a perfect vampire film even though the movie itself is extremely flawed. Perfect in that it follows From Dusk Til Dawn and Sinners as films that start off non vamp but end in carnage. Now this is no Frkm Dusk Til Dawn and neither are Sinners but you get the point. Honestly I enjoyed the crime aspect with gangs and crooked cops....I mean cops, better than I did the vampire portions.  Regardless it was a good time, it might not be anything I reflect on but I enjoyed my 2 hours. 

The Pitt season 2

 

The Pitt had an amazing and tight first season. Tight in terms of tension, story telling and the structure of the show. Season 2 started off with new characters that you were forced to know.....and eventually love, and was more lenient with the time structure.....which honestly flowed better for terms of characters. Both seasons were amazing and I loved every bit of every episode. Even at times when you question why....such as Robby essentially being a plot device to combat another character's decision, or Santos just being in pure hate mode.....it all pays off. I was hoping for the worst in the finale, not expecting a bad episode but expecting the Empire Strikes Back, a series of down endings. Instead while we got a bleak peak into what is to come we also were comforted.  And the stinger sent the audience home happy.