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This movie has 3 things: style, themes, and sex appeal. There are a lot of people who love The Watchmen and honestly, I have a hard time getting into it. The characters are interesting and the themes are thought-provoking but something about it just doesn’t reel me in. This is definitely an important graphic novel and movie in the superhero genre. Watch it for that reason if nothing else. As I said, this movie is very stylistic and has good themes. It just weirdly isn’t for me. It felt like a crawl getting through this one. Maybe you will have better luck. The Boys is a better version of what this is. Story - 16% Characters - 16% Pacing - 10% Spectacle - 18% Entertainment - 15% Total score: 75% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

This was a much more story driven X-men movie and it was a solid movie. It managed to avoid the prequel trap of false stakes and just focused on the characters and their relationships. This also shows the divide between mutants on their views of the humans that hate and fear them. Its a great story but just felt a little slow due to minimal action and a lot of story. That is not a bad thing and it helped the movie in a lot of ways. Story - 18% Characters - 17% Pacing - 14% Spectacle - 16% Entertainment - 16% Total score: 81% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

I don’t think I’ve seen a more soulless action movie in my life. The main character’s motivations are generic and thin. The film has moments where you are supposed to be sad a character died but it does nothing to you emotionally. The whole thing is a bland mess of a “we are in the Middle East, let’s try to get to a plane out of here with bad guys chasing us”. I didn’t genuinely care about the characters because every “character development” scene was boring and generic. I haven’t felt so blah about a movie since Morbius. There are a couple of cool scenes, particularly with the use of a night vision gunfight. I don’t really think I can recommend this movie unless you are a sucker for Gerard Butler action movies. This felt more like filling an action movie quota than a well-thought-out movie. Story - 10% Characters - 14% Pacing - 15% Spectacle - 17% Entertainment - 13% Total score: 69% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

These movies really do be getting better and better. The biggest win for this movie is hands down, Jason Mamoa. He is basically a Jack Sparrow, Deadpool, and Joker hybrid. The film continues the trend of personal connections and family that grow this Avengers-sized roster. Honestly, watching this movie in a weird way felt like Fast and Furious’ Infinity War. Everyone is separated and on their side quests. It even ends on a cliffhanger. From what I’ve read online, this is the first of a trilogy that may actually end the main franchise. Obviously, Hollywood will push a spin-off at the very least when this cash cow ends. It is over the top, emotional, and reminds you of its roots while admitting to its impossibilities. This is the best movie in the franchise. It does feel a little bloated but it kept moving and never felt dull. It still manages to squeeze in brief character moments as well. Expect the unexpected. Watch this and prepare for the Endgame. Story - 18% Characters - 19% Pacing - 20% Spectacle - 19% Entertainment - 19% Total score: 95% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

This was my first time watching this movie so I was able to see this without The Dark Knight effect. Essentially, I was able to see it through the lens as just another movie rather than have the passing of a main star passing away influence the movie's quality. There is a bit of sympathy bias when a movie comes out after the loss of an actor. That being said, the ending tribute to Paul Walker was very sweet, and would have been wrong for them not to include it. I bring in the sympathy bias because, like The Dark Knight, I thought this movie was not as good as people say it is. I generally look at the Wiki pages of the movies I’m reviewing, and the consensus was it was the best Fast and Furious yet. I think storywise, it is the weakest movie since Tokyo Drift. It had very generic motivations and was too basic, high-stakes action. The set pieces were insane. I do think we are entering into the Saints Row territory of wackiness in the set pieces. Jason Statham’s character started strong but after his introduction scene, he just felt bland. I also hate when macho guys feel the need to fistfight when the villain can just be shot and save so much time. This movie sucks compared to the last couple of entries. I do get they had to do some rewrites because of Paul but this just didn’t hit the way it should have. It’s an ok entry in the saga. It won’t hurt to watch while doing a binge of the series. Story - 14% Characters - 17% Pacing - 16% Spectacle - 20% Entertainment - 17% Total score: 84% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

I wonder how many more movies until we reach the leap from a GTA vibe to a Saints Row vibe. I feel this movie was full GTA 5 wild. Still realistic, but with a little over the top. This time around there are plot twists and connections to previous films. It is actually starting to feel like actually well-written movies. Some dialogue can come across as campy one-liners. The villain is 100% evil for the sake of being evil. No code, morals, or remorse. That ruthlessness kind of makes him a bit more menacing. They are really stretching to keep these movies going, but once the gang is together, they know what they are doing. And yes, the set pieces continue to be bigger and bigger. They also continue to be a solid reference for GTA 5 online. I’m sorry to keep bringing it up, it is just that this is a pg-13 version of GTA! Worth a watch though. Story - 18% Characters - 18% Pacing - 16% Spectacle - 20% Entertainment - 18% Total score: 88% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

Stylistically, this movie is fantastic. It’s a fun, over-the-top superhero movie. The plot is ok and very heavy-handed at times. This is definitely a fun watch if you want something visually different than what you are used to. Not much to say outside the story is fine, the characters are comic booky, and it's a visual piece. Story - 12% Characters - 14% Pacing - 16% Spectacle - 20% Entertainment - 16% Total score: 78% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

I honestly went into this thinking my score was going to be in the low 70s at best. I never adored the movie, but I couldn't find much to complain about. The frost giants were forgettable outside the general race. Other than that, it's a good film. Lovely cinematography. Asgard is beautiful. It explained Norse mythology in a easily digestible way. Thor’s arc to be a hero is amazing. This movie isn’t flawless, but mentally I haven't given this movie enough credit. Story - 16% Characters - 17% Pacing - 15% Spectacle - 18% Entertainment - 17% Total score: 83% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

This week's movies were a super weak lineup and I almost didn't want to post my reviews. As a compromise, I put all three in one post in case something seems interesting. Book Club: The Next Chapter For a movie called Book Club, they barely read books in this movie. A brief montage at the beginning is all you get. I want more of a proper Golden Girls Book Club. Instead, we get an Italy tourism promotion with the stupidest small things to create conflict. The funniest jokes do happen in the final part of the movie but they are not really worth it. This is an unnecessary sequel that did nothing for the characters. This movie is not really worth the time. Story - 12% Characters - 13% Pacing - 15% Spectacle - 15% Entertainment - 14% Total score: 69% Fool's Paradise I feel like the best way to describe the movie is a satire on Hollywood and the LA lifestyle with a weird oldie but modern blend. It wasn’t terrible but it was mostly a mute character going from one lucky or unlucky break to the next. He is clueless but people just go along with it and so does he. It was a bit nonsensical and didn’t really say much in my opinion. If you like Ken Jeong, he is the best part of the movie as a broke actor rep. It had star power but lacked execution. Charlie Day did his best but needed some more meat. Story - 15% Characters - 16% Pacing - 15% Spectacle - 16% Entertainment - 14% Total score: 76% Hypnotic This is the most confusing concept I have seen since Tenet. Basically, there is a group of Professor Xs and they are looking for a girl who is the child of two hypnosis parents. It has twist after twist after twist. There is even a twist during the mid-credits that could set up the sequel. It is a good story but you are left questioning everything every time a curtain is pulled. The constant twists were what kept the movie interesting but that’s all it really has going for it. If you want a thriller that has endless “you thought” moments, then this is for you. Story - 17% Characters - 16% Pacing - 17% Spectacle - 19% Entertainment - 17% Total score: 86% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

I guess this was the movie they said “Screw it, let’s have some fun.” This time around we get one long heist plan with some bounty hunters for good measure. The set pieces are definitely on an upward trend. The climax of the film honestly felt stripped right out of a Grand Theft Auto video game. We haven’t made it to Saints Row level insane yet. This movie brought together all the characters of the franchise so far. It felt a little forced, but seeing everyone bounce off each other was quite entertaining. The runtime is a good bit longer than the previous entries. It went from a normal hour and 45 min to a little over 2 hours. The franchise is starting to own that it has the potential to be a mindless, fun, popcorn flick. The franchise isn’t movie perfection, but it is a decently fun time. Story - 15% Characters - 18% Pacing - 16% Spectacle - 20% Entertainment - 18% Total score: 87% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

This was a much better version of the first movie. It is continuing the franchise’s build to bigger and bigger set pieces. This is also the first movie with a genuinely well-thought-out plot. The villains are still bland as hell and evil because they just are for the sake of getting rich. I think the movie is definitely the strongest one so far. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker are definitely at their best when they go off each other. Polar opposites except for their love of cars. The pace did seem to drag slightly compared to its predecessors but we got more story which is more important. There is more CGI and the cinematography continues to nail the driving parts of the film. Definitely an action movie worth checking out. Story - 18% Characters - 17% Pacing - 16% Spectacle - 19% Entertainment - 18% Total score: 88% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here

A good story has three acts. Any great trilogy in history will follow the general formula for that structure. The first act is world-building. It sets the stage for the world you are going to inhabit. You see the hero go through initial trials and tribulations. The second act is the meat of the story. The hero comes into his own and the obstacles are only growing. The hero goes through the wringer and by the end of act two is on the ropes. There is the smallest glimmer of hope, but the hero is left broken and in shambles. That’s what this movie is. This is Batman’s second act. The storytelling is immaculate, but like most Nolan movies, you could feel the runtime. The length is the only complaint, but for the most part, every scene was necessary for the plot or characters. As much as I loved Jack Nicholson’s acting for the Joker, Heath Ledger became the Joker. Every Joker before him felt like a caricature, but this version is an embodiment of crazy and chaos. This movie is often regarded as one of the best superhero films ever made. As a solo movie, it 100% is. It is a masterclass in storytelling and the exploration of the human psyche. That storytelling held it back from being a fast-paced thrill ride and that’s ok. My rating system forces me to have higher and lower scores based on story vs mindless fun. The score is hard-fought and deserves every point. Story - 20% Characters - 18% Pacing - 16% Spectacle - 18% Entertainment - 18% Total score: 90% Grade scale: 90%-100% = must watch 80%-89% = solid, but could be better 70%-79% = Not terrible, watch if the characters or story interests you 60%-69% = only watch for completionist reasons 0%-59% = just skip it, I find the positives and they don't exist here