Film 2401 - Together

Intro: I was curious to see this movie, the trailer seemed interesting.

Film 2401: "Together" (2025), Michael Shanks
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: I'll be honest, not a big fan of this one. It's not bad per se, it just didn't deliver to the potential of its premise.
The imagination is there, the story has some interesting twists - althought the biggest one you can see it coming from a mile away - but ultimately "Together" is not as gripping as you would expect. The body horror and physical stunts are great - the visual effects really help here - but there's something missing and ultimately the movie didn't resonate too much with me. Something similar we've seen last year could be "The Substance", but that movie reaches a level of iconic that is never matched here. Dave Franco and Alison Brie are really committed though, and they're a great pair on the big screen.
Cast: Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Damon Herriman, Mia Morrissey.
Box Office: $32.3 million
Worth a watch?: "Together" could be the baby of "The Substance" and "Midsommar", although this movie never reaches the peak that the other two films are able to achieve. It's not bad, but not great either.
Awards: /
Key word: Muscle relaxers.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2400 - Materialists

Intro: I think it's kinda funny - in a twisted way - that I finally get to write about this movie that I saw a while ago on a date night with Yegor, the day after we broke up.

Film 2400: "Materialists" (2025), Celine Song
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor
Thoughts: I think this movie has a lot of potential, but I didn't necessarily loved it. The ending is bittersweet - we all knew about it, of course - and the fact that she gets back with her boyfriend is never a good storyline in my opinion, but "Materialists" explores a lot of interesting teams, and very current ones (the title gives it away from the get go, to be fair).
I know this is not a rom-com, we cannot really blame the story for turning into something less expected and exploring heavy themes, still it caught me a bit off guard. I appreciate that this film is more than just a fairytale with an happy ending and actually grounds itself in reality more than other outings in the genre, my issue was more with the tone and pace, although nothing is really wrong overall here.
Dakota Johnson delivers an honest performance and I think she really carries the whole movie. She doesn't have that 'grandeur' when acting, but with the right project she's absolutely able to shine. Both Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal are fine, but she really is the star of "Materialists".
Cast: Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Zoë Winters, Louisa Jacobson.
Box Office: $108 million
Worth a watch?: Probably not the best movie to watch on a romantic date nor one to talk about the next day your relationship ended. It's not groundbreaking, but overall a good film.
Awards: /
Key word: Checking the boxes.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2399 - Weapons

Intro: I decided to wait for the Golden Globes nominations to be announced before writing this review because I was curios to see if this movie would actually get the nomination everyone was talking about.

Film 2399: "Weapons" (2025), Zach Cregger
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi, Yegor
Thoughts: This year, no other horror movie has been this successfull and a performance achieved this level of praise and iconic status since "The Substance" came out last year and Demi Moore was nominated for her first Oscar. Amy Madigan seems to be heading in the same direction (and disappointment?).
To be honest, I don't think she really has a shot at winning - especially considering what happened this year at the Academy Awards - but it's nice to finally see a great performance in the horror genre being recognized and brought front and center of the award season ahead. Madigan and her aunt Gladys are the glue of this film, not to mention the most entertaining part of it.
What I liked about "Weapons" is its dual nature: there's a mystery to be solved that feels very mch grounded into reality and there's the horror movie components that lurk in and elevate the story. Yes, one would have to be fun of the genre to better appreciate the scary moments, but this is still a pretty compelling story and entertaining piece of media.
The cast is on point, the screenplay well written thanks to a very intreaguing premise and, overall, Zach Cregger's latest cinematic effort is one of the best movies we've seen in this otherwise lucklaster 2025.
Cast: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Justin Long, June Diane Raphael, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan.
Box Office: $268.2 million
Worth a watch?: One of my favourite movies that came out this year and definitely one of the best horrors we got in a while.
Awards: Nominated for 2 Golden Globes: Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture (Amy Madigan) and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.
Key word: Aunt.
Trailer
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Bengi

Golden Globes 2026: nominees and winners

83rd Golden Globe Awards 

Best Motion Picture – Drama
Frankenstein (Netflix)
Hamnet (Focus Features)
It Was Just An Accident (Neon)
The Secret Agent (Neon)
Sentimental Value (Neon)
Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Best Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy
Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)
Bugonia (Focus Features)
Marty Supreme (A24)
No Other Choice (Neon)
Nouvelle Vague (Netflix)
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Best Motion Picture – Animated
Arco (Neon)
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle (Aniplex, Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Elio (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Kpop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
Little Amélie Or The Character Of Rain (Gkids)
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Cinematic And Box Office Achievement
Avatar: Fire And Ash (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
F1 (Apple Original Films)
Kpop Demon Hunters (Netflix)
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (Paramount Pictures)
Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Weapons (Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema)
Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
Zootopia 2 (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
It Was Just An Accident (Neon) – France
No Other Choice (Neon) – South Korea
The Secret Agent (Neon) – Brazil
Sentimental Value (Neon) – Norway
Sirāt (Neon) – Spain
The Voice Of Hind Rajab (Willa) – Tunisia

Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama
Jessie Buckley (Hamnet)
Jennifer Lawrence (Die My Love)
Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value)
Julia Roberts (After The Hunt)
Tessa Thompson (Hedda)
Eva Victor (Sorry, Baby)

Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama
Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams)
Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein)
Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine)
Michael B. Jordan (Sinners)
Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent)
Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere)

Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy
Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You)
Cynthia Erivo (Wicked: For Good)
Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue)
Chase Infiniti (One Battle After Another)
Amanda Seyfried (The Testament Of Ann Lee)
Emma Stone (Bugonia)

Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy
Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme)
George Clooney (Jay Kelly)
Leonardo Dicaprio (One Battle After Another)
Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon)
Lee Byung-Hun (No Other Choice)
Jesse Plemons (Bugonia)

Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role In Any Motion Picture
Emily Blunt (The Smashing Machine)
Elle Fanning (Sentimental Value)
Ariana Grande (Wicked: For Good)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas (Sentimental Value)
Amy Madigan (Weapons)
Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another)

Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role In Any Motion Picture
Benicio Del Toro (One Battle After Another)
Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein)
Paul Mescal (Hamnet)
Sean Penn (One Battle After Another)
Adam Sandler (Jay Kelly)
Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value)

Best Director – Motion Picture
Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
Guillermo Del Toro (Frankenstein)
Jafar Panahi (It Was Just An Accident)
Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value)
Chloé Zhao (Hamnet)

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Paul Thomas Anderson (One Battle After Another)
Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie (Marty Supreme)
Ryan Coogler (Sinners)
Jafar Panahi (It Was Just An Accident)
Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier (Sentimental Value)
Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’farrell (Hamnet)

Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplat (Frankenstein)
Ludwig Göransson (Sinners)
Jonny Greenwood (One Battle After Another)
Kangding Ray (Sirāt)
Max Richter (Hamnet)
Hans Zimmer (F1)

Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“Dream As One” –– Avatar: Fire And Ash
Music By: Miley Cyrus, Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson, Simon Franglen
Lyrics By: Miley Cyrus, Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson, Simon Franglen

“Golden” –– Kpop Demon Hunters
Music By: Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, Park Hong Jun
Lyrics By: Kim Eun-Jae (Ejae), Mark Sonnenblick

“I Lied To You” –– Sinners
Music By: Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson
Lyrics By: Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson

“No Place Like Home” –– Wicked: For Good
Music By: Stephen Schwartz
Lyrics By: Stephen Schwartz

“The Girl In The Bubble” –– Wicked: For Good
Music By: Stephen Schwartz
Lyrics By: Stephen Schwartz

“Train Dreams” –– Train Dreams
Music By: Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner
Lyrics By: Nick Cave

Best Television Series – Drama
The Diplomat (Netflix)
The Pitt (Hbo Max)
Pluribus (Apple Tv)
Severance (Apple Tv)
Slow Horses (Apple Tv)
The White Lotus (Hbo Max)

Best Television Series – Musical Or Comedy
Abbott Elementary (Abc)
The Bear (Fx On Hulu)
Hacks (Hbo Max)
Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
Only Murders In The Building (Hulu)
The Studio (Apple Tv)

Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
Adolescence (Netflix)
All Her Fault (Peacock)
The Beast In Me (Netflix)
Black Mirror (Netflix)
Dying For Sex (Fx On Hulu)
The Girlfriend (Prime Video)

Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Television Series – Drama
Kathy Bates (Matlock)
Britt Lower (Severance)
Helen Mirren (Mobland)
Bella Ramsey (The Last Of Us)
Keri Russell (The Diplomat)
Rhea Seehorn (Pluribus)

Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Television Series – Drama
Sterling K. Brown (Paradise)
Diego Luna (Andor)
Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
Mark Ruffalo (Task)
Adam Scott (Severance)
Noah Wyle (The Pitt)

Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy
Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This)
Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
Selena Gomez (Only Murders In The Building)
Natasha Lyonne (Poker Face)
Jenna Ortega (Wednesday)
Jean Smart (Hacks)

Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy
Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This)
Steve Martin (Only Murders In The Building)
Glen Powell (Chad Powers)
Seth Rogen (The Studio)
Martin Short (Only Murders In The Building)
Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)

Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Limited Series, Anthology Series, Or A Motion Picture Made For Television
Claire Danes (The Beast In Me)
Rashida Jones (Black Mirror)
Amanda Seyfried (Long Bright River)
Sarah Snook (All Her Fault)
Michelle Williams (Dying For Sex)
Robin Wright (The Girlfriend)

Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Limited Series, Anthology Series, Or A Motion Picture Made For Television
Jacob Elordi (The Narrow Road To The Deep North)
Paul Giamatti (Black Mirror)
Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
Charlie Hunnam (Monster: The Ed Gein Story)
Jude Law (Black Rabbit)
Matthew Rhys (The Beast In Me)

Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role On Television
Carrie Coon (The White Lotus)
Erin Doherty (Adolescence)
Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)
Catherine O’hara (The Studio)
Parker Posey (The White Lotus)
Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus)

Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role On Television
Owen Cooper (Adolescence)
Billy Crudup (The Morning Show)
Walton Goggins (The White Lotus)
Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus)
Tramell Tillman (Severance)
Ashley Walters (Adolescence)

Best Performance In Stand-Up Comedy On Television
Bill Maher (Bill Maher: Is Anyone Else Seeing This?
Brett Goldstein (Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night Of Your Life)
Kevin Hart (Kevin Hart: Acting My Age)
Kumail Nanjiani (Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts)
Ricky Gervais (Ricky Gervais: Mortality)
Sarah Silverman (Sarah Silverman: Postmortem)

Best Podcast
Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard (Wondery)
Call Her Daddy (Siriusxm)
Good Hang With Amy Poehler (Spotify)
The Mel Robbins Podcast (Siriusxm)
Smartless (Siriusxm)
Up First (Npr (National Public Radio)

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Bengi

Film 2398 - Flow

Intro: I forgot to include this movie in my list of movies to review and I'm including it now!

Film 2398: "Flow" (2024), Gints Zilbalodis
Watched: On the laptop
Language: /
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: The experience of watching this movie is a very interesting one for me.
Back in February, I decided to give it a go on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote, Spain. I wanted something nice and easy to watch on the 4 hour Ryanair journey, something to keep me company, but also wouldn't require too much brain power. And because we were really, REALLY deep into Oscar season, it only made sense to watch one of the nominees. And, to be honest, it was the best decision.
One thing I have to say beforehand is that the journey to Spain was insane. Turblence would get so bad at moments that it would be impossible to hold my laptop on my lap. Considering my second most irrational fear is dying in a plane crash, it's fair to say that it wasn't a pleasant experience. But watching "Flow" definitely helped.
One thing I didn't expect is the complete lack of dialogue. No human interactions - although humans are definitely part of this world considering the amount of man-made items present - just a cat on his journey to... I'm still not sure.
It's a very fascinating movie, it feels kind of magical at times and the story just progresses at its own pace, while the sea level (I guess?) is rising and our cat protagonist is trying to escape it.
There are a lot of wonderful shots in this movie, a lot of creative vision and an aesthetic that is simple, yet extremely effective. All of this, wrapped in a soundtrack that absolutely complements the end result.
I didn't know what to expect when I started this journey - both the cat's from the movie and mine on the plane - but I sure did enjoy it.
Cast: /
Box Office: €50 million
Worth a watch?: Definitely. It's an interesting movie and story, well crafted - amid a fairly low budget of €3.5 million - and executed. The absence of dialogue forces you to carefully follow the story, you can't get distracted or you'll miss some detail of the story. It's unusual and it takes a second to get used to it, but it's also so calming at times to just listen to the wind or the sound of the surroundings. Not to mention that there is definitely a very contemporary message being carried by the story: climate change and its effects on the planet.
Awards: Nominated for 2 Oscars for Best International Feature Film and Best Animated Feature Film, it won the latter. 2 BAFTAs nominations (Best Animated Feature Film and Best Children's & Family Film) and 1 Golden Globe win for Best Motion Picture - Animated. The movie also won the César for Best Animated Film and was in competition for the Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes 2024.
Key word: .
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2397 - The Naked Gun

Intro: After watching "Scary Movie 3", another movie with Pamela Anderson in it and connected to Leslie Nielsen.

Film 2397: "The Naked Gun" (2025), Akiva Schaffer
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: no one
Thoughts: Critics were enthusiastic and the movie was doing well at the box-office over in America, so I really, really didn't want to miss this one. Not to mention that it represented another good outing for Pamela Anderson, on her way to her career resurgence (so happy for her!). So I rushed to the movies to see this new "The Naked Gun" movie. And yeah, it was good.
I'll be honest, it wasn't the masterpiece that most of the reviews were making it out to be, but still quite the fun ride and I appreciated that the humor here is absolutely in tune with that of the previous movies. Also, although it's a strange casting decision, Liam Neeson definitely does a good job as the main character (and son Frank Drebin, played by Leslie Nielsen in the original films). Pamela Anderson is definitely a great surprise, funny and perfectly fitted for this universe.
Overall a good, funny movie and, at least to me, a respectful tribute to the original work.
Cast: Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, CCH Pounder, Busta Rhymes, Priscilla Presley, Danny Huston.
Box Office: $102.1 million
Worth a watch?: If you enjoy crazy, funny over-the-top humor, this new "The Naked Gun" is definitely a movie to watch. I had a great time (and some of the jokes are hilarious).
Awards: /
Key word: New Year's Eve.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2396 - Scary Movie 3

Intro: I don't remember why we decided to watch it, but this movie is iconic, so why not?

Film 2396: "Scary Movie 3" (2003), David Zucker
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor, Gigi, Seamus
Thoughts: My favourite one of the 'Scary Movie' franchise, I think this one is so good it always makes me laugh (funny enough, both in Italian and English, which is quite the feat!).
Ahead of the 6th movie coming out, it made sense to rewatch this one: so many iconic moments, movie references and actors. Chef's kiss.
Film 1038 - Scary Movie
Film 383 - Scary Movie 3
Film 1449 - Scary Movie 3
Film 2041 - Scary Movie 3
Film 2396 - Scary Movie 3
Film 1603 - Scary Movie 4
Film 550 - Scary Movie V
Cast: Anna Faris, Anthony Anderson, Kevin Hart, Leslie Nielsen, Camryn Manheim, Simon Rex, George Carlin, Queen Latifah, Eddie Griffin, Denise Richards, Regina Hall, Charlie Sheen, Pamela Anderson, Jenny McCarthy.
Box Office: $220.7 million
Worth a watch?: This movie is comedy and parody gold. Well worth watching it!
Awards: /
Key word: Aliens.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2395 - The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Intro: I'm not super into superhero movies lately, but this one got me intrigued.

Film 2395: "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" (2025), Matt Shakman
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: Is it the best Marvel movie out there? No, but it's definitely a big improvement compared to other films released in the recent past. Not to mention that this new Fantastic Four outing is definitely better than the one from 2015.
To be honest, I really appreciated the more "domestic" and intimate tone of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps", the dynamic between the main characters is really interesting and it's easier to empathise with the characters when the scope of the story is scaled down and presented as a group issue. In this sense, it was a smart move to include how the public perceives the group while the story develops, giving a grater insight into how the protagonists feel and why they act the way they do.
Being that this a movie from the Marvel Universe, of course it has to be connected to a greater plot and serve not only as a reboot, first installment of a new franchise, and origin story, but also as a vehicle for a sequel and other superhero movies to come, so we don't escape this mandatory step here. Still, it is less prominent compared to previous films and, because of the characters' charm and the overall tone of the story, it's not as annoying.
Overall, I enjoyed "The Fantastic Four: First Steps", I think it's well-cast, the 60s vibe suits the franchise, and the adventure is entertaining and well enough crafted. Definitely a win for Marvel.
Film 757 - I Fantastici 4
Film 760 - I Fantastici 4 e Silver Surfer
Film 1018 - Fantastic 4 - I fantastici quattro
Film 2395 - The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Ralph Ineson.
Box Office: $521.9 million
Worth a watch?: Superhero fatigue has been happening for a while now, so it's completely understandable if this is not your cup of tea. "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is a good superhero movie, it has a nice aestetics, a good cast and, overall, it's quite entertaining. If you like the genre, it's a good watch.
Awards: /
Key word: Baby.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2394 - I Know What You Did Last Summer

Intro: I was really excited to see this movie as I am a fan of the original from the 90s.

Film 2394: "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (2025), Jennifer Kaytin Robinson
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: Not that the OG one is a masterpiece, but it's definitely one of those movies that I grew up with and fall into that 'so bad is good' category. Not to mention that the title is iconic.
That said, there's nothing iconic about this sequel/reboot, the story isn't great and, actually, the ending kinda ruined the franchise for me. I'm sure this "I Know What You Did Last Summer" 2025 is better than the other sequels that came out before (and I haven't seen, nor am I planning to), but I honestly think there was no need to bring back this IP if the end result is so meh.
Cast: Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, Austin Nichols, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Brandy Norwood, Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Box Office: $64.8 million
Worth a watch?: Only for the fans of the franchise. It's nice to see the orginal cast back, but some of the storylines are questionable.
Awards: /
Key word: 4th of July.
Trailer
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Bengi

Grammys 2026: nominees & winners

68th Annual Grammy Awards 

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
A Complete Unknown – Timothée Chalamet
F1 the Album – Various Artists
KPop Demon Hunters – Various Artists
Sinners – Various Artists
Wicked – Various Artists

Best Score Soundtrack Album for Visual Media
How to Train Your Dragon – John Powell
Severance: Season 2 – Theodore Shapiro
Sinners – Ludwig Göransson
Wicked – John Powell & Stephen Schwartz
The Wild Robot – Kris Bowers

Best Song Written for Visual Media
"As Alive as You Need Me to Be" (from Tron: Ares)
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, songwriters (Nine Inch Nails)

"Golden" (from KPop Demon Hunters)
Ejae & Mark Sonnenblick, songwriters (HUNTR/X: Ejae, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami)

"I Lied to You" (from Sinners)
Ludwig Göransson & Raphael Saadiq, songwriters (Miles Caton)

"Never Too Late" (from Elton John: Never Too Late)
Brandi Carlile, Elton John, Bernie Taupin & Andrew Watt, songwriters (Elton John & Brandi Carlile)

"Pale, Pale Moon" (from Sinners)
Ludwig Göransson & Brittany Howard, songwriters (Jayme Lawson)

"Sinners" (from Sinners)
Leonard Denisenko, Rodarius Green, Travis Harrington, Tarkan Kozluklu, Kyris Mingo & Darius Povilinus, songwriters (Rod Wave)

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Bengi

Film 2393 - Superman

Intro: Did I really want to go and watch it? Not exactly, but I was indeed curious to see if DC could finally turn things around.

Film 2393: "Superman" (2025), James Gunn
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I wasn't sure what to expect about this movie: I'm not a huge Superman fan, but the reviews were good and James Gunn directed some of the best superheroe moments, so there was hope.
In general, 2025 "Superman" is a movie well done and entertaining, but I have to admit it didn't stick. I remember liking it while watching it, but now a few months later... do I remember anything that happens in the story (other than the dog and the cousin)? Not much. I had to rewatch the trailer to refresh my memory.
This is not to say that "Superman" isn't a good outing - again, I liked it - but it's nothing memorable, let's put it this way. The overall feeling is more Marvel-esque, Nicholas Hoult is a f*cking star and should be a more prominent A-lister, and I appreciated the fact that Lois already knows Clark's real identity, at least we get to skip that for once. Other than this... a good movie for the Summmer?
Cast: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nicholas Hoult, Edi Gathegi, Anthony Carrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabela Merced, Skyler Gisondo, Angela Sarafyan, Alan Tudyk, Pom Klementieff, Bradley Cooper.
Box Office: $616.6 million
Worth a watch?: Superheroe movies and/or Superman fans should appreciate this new DC era, as a fresh(er) take on these characters seems to approach. Nothing that we haven't seen before, but enjoyable still. It's an easy watch enough, perfect for some good old fun.
Awards: /
Key word: Selfies.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2417 - Bugonia

Intro: A new Yorgos Lanthimos' movie is always an event, so I had to go and see it.

Film 2417: "Bugonia" (2025), Yorgos Lanthimos
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor
Thoughts: It was nice to go and see this movie at a different venue than my usual one, the Lighthouse. Unlike Cineworld, it meant sharing the experience with a different crowd: no one left the screening mid-show to go to the toilet and the room was quiet the whole time, everybody focused on the story, in silence. As an avid cinemagoer that values these things, it honestly made a difference. (There's nothing I hate more than people talking or laughing or coming and going to the bathroom during a movie.)
"Bugonia" is not my favourite film by Yorgos Lanthimos — I think that is still "The Lobster", yet I appreciated this new story. It's extremely well executed and tells an interesting story that conveys a green message, together with the satire of current corporate values. On top of that, it features the performances of two great actors at the top of their game: Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons are fantastic here — I imagine an Oscar nomination for both of them is definitely in the cards. Particularly, Emma Stone proves once again why she is one of the best actresses working in films today. She's brilliant in almost every role she plays (better forget about that "Aloha" movie) and here she once again delivers a career best. And it's not just because she went all in by shaving her head for real (which Natalie Portman did as well in another great movie that was a bit too overlooked in my opinion, "V for Vendetta").
I know "Bugonia" has already been called a masterpiece by critics, I'm not sure I'm there yet. I liked it, I particularly enjoyed the plot twist at the end — I mean, I'm not sure how surprising it was considering the story was pointing in the opposite way the whole time — but it isn't necessarily the kind of movie I would rewatch multiple times. It's interesting, well-written and acted, and tells a story that feels different from most things that came out this year. It reminded me a lot of Darren Aronofsky's "Mother!", for example. But, as I said, it's not my favourite (to stay close to the Lanthimos lore).
Cast: Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, Alicia Silverstone.
Box Office: $2 million (currently)
Worth a watch?: One of the most talked-about movies of the year, one has to see it. I'm sure it's going to play a big role in the upcoming awards season, so better be ahead of the curve and watch it. It's a very peculiar film, like Lanthimos' usually are. "Bugonia" is definitely not for everybody, some may consider it too artsy or brainy, but to those who appreciate this kind of stories, it's worth watching.
Awards: In copmpetition at Cannes 2025, it won the Green Drop Award. Nominated for Best Feature at the 2025 Gotham Independent Film Award.
Key word: Bees.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2392 - F1

Intro: Honestly curious to see this movie, as the reviews were good and the trailer looked fine. Also, an Irish actress in the leading performance? Couldn't miss it.

Film 2392: "F1" (2025), Joseph Kosinski
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: Funny enough, I like sports movies about car racing, yet I don't like the sport per se. I don't watch it and the few times I did, I found it extremely boring. But I did enjoy all the movies I watched in the past that portray this sport, like "Ford v Ferrari", "Rush" or "Gran Turismo" and now, this one as well.
I'm not surprised I liked "F1", to be honest: I usually enjoy Brad Pitt as an actor, I liked Joseph Kosinski's previous outing "Top Gun: Maverick" and, as I said, somehow I'm a sucker for sports films. This one is particularly well shot, I'm sure it has a very realistic shot at a bunch of technical Oscars (like sound and editing) and, most importantly, it's quite entertaining.
There's all you need in a blockbuster movie: handsome lead, underdog story, compelling visuals, exceptionally crafted shots, a protagonist to root for. I mean, it was a big gamble for Apple to produce it, as it cost $200–300 million to make, but it surely paid off.
Is it the best movie of the year? No, but I'd say it has a shot at making it into the Best Picture category at the Oscars, just like "Top Gun: Maverick" did, eventually winning Best Sound. It's not a given, but it definitely wouldn't be unheard of.
Ps. Many artists realead songs for the movie soundtrack, including Tate McRae ("Just Keep Watching"), Don Toliver and Doja Cat ("Lose My Mind"), Rosé ("Messy"), and Ed Sheeran ("Drive").
Cast: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Tobias Menzies, Kim Bodnia, Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Javier Bardem.
Box Office: $629 million
Worth a watch?: Definitely worth giving it a shot. Better on a big, big screen, possibly paired with Dolby Surround sound. Pitt is charismatic, Kerry Condon proves to be a great female lead after her Supporting Actress nomination at the 2022 Academy Awards and Joseph Kosinski once again proves that he's great at directing films that require a great level of spectacle and technical capabilities. "F1" is a good movie even for those who are not into the Formula 1.
Awards: /
Key word: Plan C.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2391 - 28 Years Later

Intro: I watched the first movie ages ago, I remember I liked it and that was kinda it. Probably my first introduction to Cillian Murphy.

Film 2390: "28 Years Later" (2025), Danny Boyle
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: I remember vaguely what happens in the first "28 Days Later", but I'd say it was enough to go off of and understand what's going on here: the zombies are still around, the world is still infected, the survivors are spread in communities far away from each other.
It might seem like your average dystopian-horror movie, but there's a bit more to it. First of all, the zombies are not our main concern straight away. The story takes its time to introduce the new characters, letting us familiarize with the environment and the general rules. At the beginning, it doesn't even feel like you're watching a horror movie. There's a fairly realistic approach to the first part of the story, the one on the secluded island, there's a sick mom, a dad, and a child and all of them are trying to cope and survive their own way. I appreciated the tone of this first section of the movie - in a way it reminded me how "Prey" recontextualized the Predator franchise by positioning it in a plausible scenario, the Northern Great Plains of 1719 - but after a while I was ready for the story to move on.
To be fair, when it does, things start to happen fast. The rest of the story is more zombie-hunt and horror-like, it works really well and it's very interesting till the very end, when a strange character named Jimmy (Jack O'Connell) appears together with a group of look alikes. It promises a sequel ("28 Years Later: The Bone Temple") that is coming out next January.
I liked "28 Years Later", I found it very entertaining and well shot (although the quality of the images sometimes would change and degrade a bit). Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes are superb, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Alfie Williams are great leads, and I was happy to see Jack O'Connell finally back on the silver screen.
Cast: Alfie Williams, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O'Connell, Edvin Ryding, Chi Lewis-Parry, Ralph Fiennes.
Box Office: $151.3 million
Worth a watch?: It's definitely worth the watch, especially this time of the year. It's a good movie in general and a well made horrow movie. It works for the fans of the franchise, but it doesn't require you to know what happened before to follow the story.
Awards: /
Key word: Doctor.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2390 - How to Train Your Dragon

Intro: Back to the movies to watch this live-action. And i wasn't necessarily thrilled at the idea...

Film 2390: "How to Train Your Dragon" (2025), Dean DeBlois
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: Not that I felt we needed a live-action version of this movie, but what the hell, "How to Train Your Dragon" was actually quite good. Definitely better than I expected.
I personally believe it's time to let go of this copy and paste frenzy when it comes to animated movies turned into real life adaptations, yet I was impressed by how well this movie brought the story back to the big screen. It starts in a way that recalls the original and you can't avoid comparing the two products, but after a while this one goes its own way, at its own pace and it works.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a masterpiece, but it definitely is a well produced homage to the original film, with its fun and heartfelt moments.
Film 762 - Dragon Trainer
Film 778 - Dragon Trainer 2
Film 1740 - How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Film 2390 - How to Train Your Dragon
Cast: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz, Nick Frost, Gerard Butler.
Box Office: $635.1 million
Worth a watch?: If you love the original, definitely worth giving this one a go. At times it reminded me of 'Avatar', but obviously the tone is different. Great fun, perfect movie to watch with your family, entertaining, fun and with its own interesting visual aesthetics that complements the original cartoon.
Awards: /
Key word: Queen.
Trailer
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Bengi