Sunday, January 31, 2021

Match of January




1. Mens Royal Rumble 

2. Dalton Castle vs Josh Woods

3. Womens Royal Rumble

4. Kay Lee Ray vs Jinny

5. Roman vs KO

6. Walter vs A Kid 

7. Pretty Deadly vs Hunt vs Webster and Morgan vs Ashton Smith and Oliver Carter 

8. Devlin vs Carter

9. Raquel Gonzalez vs Rhea Ripley  

10. Cross vs Priest 

11. Ospreay vs Okada

12. Finn vs Kyle 

13. GoD vs Dangerous Tekkers 

14. Ibushi vs Jay White 

15. Ibushi vs Naito


Saturday, January 30, 2021

The Little Things




The Little Things is one suspenseful scene followed by another one followed by another. From the opening scene until the finale, we feel the tension build. Denzel Washington gives one of his best recent performances, Jared Leto returns to diving into his characters and it is so weird seeing Rami Malek not play a depressed or drug addicted character. It feels like a 90s serial killer thriller like Silence of the Lambs or Se7en and it makes sense since it was written in the 90s. Also the little things might be in the details, but they are also the details of the soundtrack, which helps tell the story. The first of the WB/HBO releases and so far so it is off to a great start! 

Favorite Film of the Year





King of Staten Island 
Spontaneous 
Arkansas 
Guns Akimbo
Save Yourselves
Invisible Man
Birds of Prey
Love and Monsters 
Vast of Night 
Mortuary Collection 
Letters to Satan Claus 
Freaky 
Scare Me 
Bill & Ted   
Attack of the Demons
Promising Young Woman 
Palm Springs  
Jiu Jitsu 
Tremors: Shrieker Island
Trial of the Chicago Seven 
Soul
Broken Heart Gallery  
Big Time Adolescence
After Midnight  
VHYes
The Lodge
Becky 
Devil All the Time 
Borat 
Run
VFW 
#Alive
Pale Door 
Followed 
Host
Extra Ordinary 
Sound of Metal
Fatman 
Gentleman 
Da 5 Bloods
Sonic 
Onward 
Antebellum
Vampires vs the Bronx
We Summon the Darkness
Underwater 
Project Power 
Old Guard 
The Binge 
I Used To Go Here 


Thursday, January 28, 2021

The Queen of Black Magic




 The Queen of Black Magic is a visceral and at times weird Indonesian horror film. Not quite a slow burn, but just artsy enough. Haunting imagery and at times fucked up modes of horror, it is both whimsical and and treacherous. I am still wrapping my mind around it.  

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Songbird




 As i said last week with Locked Down we are in a era of film where covid exists. I guess it is time to get used to Corona VirusSploitation, mid 2020 we had Corona Zombies from Full Moon and Charles Band, now we have Michael Bay producing(NOT directing) a shot during quarantine, based around a quarantine, thriller that exploits covid, not in a grindhousey way but is a way that just feels inappropriate. I'm not one to get offended by a film, nor am i by this, but while i respect the balls to shoot this within a month it almost feels like a short film parody. Only is is not a parody, is is Covid 23 and just feels wrong to see right now. THat aside even if covid didn't exist and this miraculously was still a film, even as an original virus, it would still feel poorly executed. Go watch Contagion instead, it predates covid but speaks more to what people need to see, as opposed to the convoluted plot we had here. It is not boring, it doesn't look bad, it is just really contrived with all over the place acting. I admire this film but i can't recommend it!  

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Batman Soul of the Dragon




 Batman: Soul of the Dragon is the best animated Batman flick since Batman vs Two Face. It is a unique, original and refreshing tale. A funky score and exploitation themes, set in the 70s and oozing with martial arts goodness! It teases a sequel, and it would be the sequel we deserve, but not the one we need right now. 

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Outside the Wire




 Outside the Wire starts with questionable war tactics and ends with questionable war tactics. Throughout the film we see the morale dilemma and decisions soldiers face and the guilt that weighs on them, especially when AI is involved.  The first half is pretty solid but then it gets convoluted like many military espionage films, sure it could happen but quit trying to have so many twists, turns and double agents in a sci fi/action film, it doesn't improve your prestige. 

Most Anticipated Films of 2021




Psycho Goreman was on this list but i already have seen it(yes it is awesome) 


1. The French Dispatch-Wes Anderson's latest was my most anticipated of 2020 and it is again this year. 
2.Last Night in Soho-Edgar Wright's latest was my second most anticipated of 2020 and it is again this year.
3. Halloween Kills-C'mon, it was my third most anticipated of last year and...
4. Godzilla v Kong-The last two have been kaju filled dreams, so  i am stoked.
5. Ghostbusters Afterlife-Finally a third Ghostbusters
6.Suicide Squad- With James Gunn at the helm and the latest DCEU films being awesome it feels like a perfect storm. 
7. Maligant- The last original horror film Wan did was the Conjuring, i am hoping this is just as brilliant. 
8. The Forever Purge -Original director(and director of Anarchy) is back.
9. Mission Impossible 7- This franchise gets better and better. 
10. Army of the Dead- Zach Snyder returning to the zombie genre? Yes please. Dawn is his only film without his stamp on it, this will feel total Snyder. 
11. Space Jam 2- The original is classic for kids of the 90s, basketball fans and Looney Tune marks, 25 years later? I'll take a new Looney Tune adventure. I still wish WB and WCW would have done a wrestling twist one in 98 or 99. Space Slam writes itself
12. Nobody- Alot of Post John Wick action films don't pack a punch, but the trailer for this is badass.
13. A Quiet Place 2- Unneeded sequel but if it is as good as the first i am down.
14. Venom 2-First one got too much hate.
15. Matrix 4.-Sure 2 and 3 were messes as have most Wachowski films since then but i feel they would only do this is they felt they needed to send a message.
16. Mortal Kombat.- I love the original, it is fun crap, and the latest game is badass. Game films seem to be better understood these days so here is hoping.
17. Candyman- The trailer for this honestly looks better than it should, in fact is looks excellent. 
18. Don't Worry Darling. New film from Olivia Wilde
19. Death on the Nile-Sequel to Murder on the Orient Express
20. Samaritan- From the director of Overlord, starring Sylvester Stalone in a super hero flick? Fuck yeah!
21. Conjuring 3- The second one was solid but no where near the first, The director did the Conjuring spin off Cure of the La Llorrona so it could go either way.
22. Dune-I dig the David Lynch film, but it is a mess. Imagine what can be done with Dennis Villeneuve on board. 
23. Free Guy-The video game premise alone is original enough for me.
24. No Time to Die-Main reason i am stoked for this is Rami Malek, the trailer is quite blah otherwise.
25. Without Remorse-From the director of Sicaro: Day of the Saldado
26. MCU. You all know these flicks. 
27. Boss Levl. Joe Carnahan directing Mel Gibson and Frank Grillo in a time loop action flick? Fuck yes
28. Green Knight- Trailer was badass
29. West Side Story-Steven Spielberg doing an epic musical? Fuck yes
30. Wrath of Man-Latest from Guy Ritchie 

 

Friday, January 22, 2021

Psycho Goreman




 In the tradition of ET and Mac & Me comes Psycho Goreman! Steven Kostanski returns to his Astron 6 roots delivering a film more in tone with Manborg than The Void. Take the look of the Guyver with some Power Ranger battles, mixed in with the heart of the Monster Squad, the effects of Street Trash, the humor of Troma and a dash of the wonder of the 90s Goosebumps series, and this is the result of all of those making cinematic bukkake! The characters are great, they hate each other yet hate out of love, the background characters are more oblivious to the plot than PG is to the ways of Earth. It's hilarious, heartfelt and full of gore....man! 

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Promising Young Woman




 Promising Young Woman is modern exploitation minus the sleaze. A cerebral revenge thriller with questionable methods and a diabolical plan that justify the means. Carey Mulligan delivers a great performance that is haunting with a touch of dark humor. The plot unravels and you dive into trauma with glimmers of hope until until the endgame is hatched, but even then it twists the knife and pulls the rug on you. Once that happens, the film does it again! 

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Come Play




 Come Play has a concept similar to that of Z, only this isn't quite as creepy. There is more heart in this film but it all feels a bit sappy. Decent jump scares, a good twist and an uplifting ending help make this above mediocre. 

Jiu Jitsu

 



Jiu Jitsu is essentially a martial arts version of Predator told as a comic book but in the style of a video game starring Frank Grillo, Tony Jaa and Nicholas Cage! If that isn't the way to sell a film i don't know what is. It is a past paced, badass, kick ass, action packed bloody knuckle punch to the face! 

Locked Down




 It is a weird time that we now have films about life during covid, but Doug Liman has delivered a super refreshing romantic heist dramedy in Locked Down. In terms of both plot and the visual style it really resembles a Steven Soderbergh film. Anne Hathaway has her best role since Colossal, if not even Havoc, while  Chiwetel Ejiofor has his best since Z for Zachariah. 

Favorite TV Show of the Year





Ted Lasso 
Mandalorian
Hunters 
Room 104 
Lovecraft Country
The Simpsons 
The Wilds 
High Fidelity 
South Park's Pandemic Special 
Fargo 
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Lucifer 
Teenage Bounty Hunters  
Muppets Now
Piccard 
Snowpiercer
Legends of Tomorrow 
Dispatches From Elsewhere
Two Weeks To Live 
Haunting of Bly Manor
Curb Your Enthusiasm 
Run 
Letterkenny 
Warrior Nun
Utopia
F is For Family  
The Midnight Gospel
Solar Opposites  
Rick and Morty 
Close Enough
 

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Save Yourselves




 Save Yourselves is one of the funniest, most charming and creative alien movies in recent memory. Sunita Mani and John Reynolds are excellent in  their roles as typical 30 somethings that go off the grid only to find out the world is being taken over by aliens. It's fast paced, cute, and is an adult coming of age tale with one of the best open endings you can ask for. 

Hunted




 Hunted is one of the more unsettling flicks of the past year. A revenge film in the vein as Last House of the Left or I Spit on Your Grave, it truly shows the diabolical nature of men and the courage women need. Creepy throughout, it rarely lets go, and keeps the tension building. The last act goes nuts but it is worth the payoff. 

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Synchronic




 Synchronic is Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson's best work since Spring. It is not quite as beautiful as that film but it feels more profound than The Endless did. Anthony Mackie thrives in smaller films like this, every flick he is in it just shows how much more charisma he has than the MCU gives. It is the mind bending, high concept sci fi that people deserved in 2020. 

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Freaky




 Christopher Landon hasn't only done three awesome slashers in a row, he's now done three awesome high concept slashers in a row. Freaky is bloodier than both Happy Death Days but it might be even funnier too. Witty script, likable characters, awesome kills, it is exactly what i expected and even more. It is full of horror nods but it isn't in your face with it. Now if only we get the Freaky Death Day Cross over film! 

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

War for Cybertron Earth Rise




 The second chapter in the latest Netflix Transformers saga was even quicker paced and more action packed than the first. It's like a comic come to television, with hints of game cut scenes, shades of the original cartoon and is worthy to be watched with Bumblebee. This is a kid playing with their action figures and by the end their mom bought em some Beast Wars! 

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Sabrina Part 4




 Holy shit! Well the first season was great, the Christmas special was underwhelming, season 2 sucked for the most part, season 3 truly did save maybe one episode here or there. The final season)or the second half of season 2, or Part 4 depending on where you read) was GOD AWFUL. The acting is wooden, the plots feel like parodies, the characters are thin, and most of those musical numbers, ugh, the chemistry this year was pure cringe. The only reason i carried through to the finale was cause i read how bad the finale was. It was a total chore to sit through, this entire season was. 

Saturday, January 2, 2021

Comics of 2020




Snotgirl Vol 3

Harleen 

TMNT/ Power Rangers

White Knight 2 

Joker 80th Anniversary 

Catwoman 80th Anniversary 

Batman/TMNT 3 

Detective Comics 1027

Last Night on Earth 

Three Jokers 


Cobra Kai Season 3

 



Holy shit! Cobra Kai keeps getting better and better. This show is near perfect. The characters, the chemistry, the tension, it's like a well built wrestling angle leading to the big blow off and full of turns on along the way. While this season didn't have as big of a cliff hanger as the past, it laid the ground work for season 4 perfectly and honestly right now season 4 is probably my most anticipated film or series with the exception of French Dispatch and Clerks 3. The final episode is one of the best finales i can recall, one of their longer episodes but the pacing is insanely quick, with a fight scene that rivals that in season 2.