Film 2515 - 10 Things I Hate About You

Intro: On a break from "The Traitors" and waiting for the new "Celebrity UK" season to start, Kate and I decided to go back to our roots and watch a good old movie instead. So I picked this one, which neither of us had ever watched before.

Film 2515: "10 Things I Hate About You" (1999), directed by Gil Junger
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Kate
Thoughts: I really enjoyed this movie, I have to say. I don't know why I hadn't decided to watch it earlier. It's fun, heartwarming, and surprisingly deep for a film aimed at a younger audience, to be honest.
I'm not sure if it's because it's a very loose adaptation of William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" or simply because it's a good film, but "10 Things I Hate About You" definitely delivers when it comes to its plot. I'm trying not to sound too surprised because, hey, teen romcoms can be brilliant too! But I guess I didn't expect to enjoy this film so much, so maybe that's part of what made it such a pleasant surprise -- along with the shame of having waited so long to actually give it a chance.
Overall, I think a) "10 Things I Hate About You" has a well-written, rich screenplay that not only emphasizes the romance but also explores deeper themes (like peer pressure, sex, and abandonment); b) the cast is a testament to this film's legacy (Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Gabrielle Union, and Allison Janney all went on to have incredible careers in Hollywood, and two of them -- Ledger and Janney -- went on to win Oscars); c) despite the weight of some of its themes, "10 Things" is quite the fun ride. It's silly when it needs to be (especially the dad character), and it doesn't take itself too seriously, yet it's still able to convey its deeper message. They're not alike, but in a way, this movie reminded me of "Mean Girls" in its tone, broader themes, and general vibe: the social commentary is there, the teenage school life is there, love and romance, absurd characters, and funny jokes -- all of it perfectly curated and crafted to make the film look like one thing (when, in fact, it's that thing and so much more): just another teen movie.
Cast: Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Larry Miller, Andrew Keegan, David Krumholtz, Susan May Pratt, Gabrielle Union, Allison Janney.
Box Office: $53.5 million
Worth a watch?: If, like me, you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it. It's a fun ride, and it's nice to see Heath Ledger's talent showcased once more. Julia Stiles is in her prime here, so if you're a fan, "10 Things I Hate About You" can't be missed.
Awards: At the MTV Movie + TV Awards, Julia Stiles won for Breakthrough Female Performance and Heath Ledger was nominated for Best Musical Performance (for the song "Can't Take My Eyes Off You").
Key word: Date.
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Bengi

Film 2514 - Jurassic Park

Intro: On the same night, after going to the cinema and watching "The End of Oak Street", I felt the need to watch an actually good dinosaur movie. So here we are.

Film 2514: "Jurassic Park" (1993), directed by Steven Spielberg
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I love this movie. As the beginning of an iconic franchise, it's a masterpiece. The visual effects are still incredible today, John Williams' score is perfect -- crazy that he didn't win an Oscar for it, to be honest -- and, overall, "Jurassic Park" is a landmark in filmmaking (and blockbuster filmmaking in particular).
Steven Spielberg's filmography alone makes him one of the greatest directors of all time, and "Jurassic Park" is undeniably one of his best works. No wonder it's considered a classic.
Film 953 - Jurassic Park
Film 2514 - Jurassic Park
Film 955 - Il mondo perduto - Jurassic Park
Film 957 - Jurassic Park III
Film 961 - Jurassic World
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Film 1668 - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Film 2115 - Jurassic World Dominion
Film 2430 - Jurassic World: Rebirth
Cast: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, BD Wong, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight, Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards.
Box Office: $1.058 billion
Worth a watch?: Definitely yes. A big yes, in fact.
Awards: 3 Oscar wins for Best Sound Effects Editing, Sound and Visual Effects. The film won the BAFTA for Best Special Visual Effects and was nominated for Best Sound. 1 nomination for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television at the 1994 Grammys and 3 nominations for Best Movie, Best Action Sequence and Best Villain at the 1994 MTV Movie + TV Awards.
Key word: Glass of water.
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Bengi

Film 2513 - The End of Oak Street

Intro: Back from my holidays in Argentina, I'm pushing myself to get back to writing some new reviews, or I'll fall even further behind schedule after my two-week break... Vámonos!

Film 2513: "The End of Oak Street" (2026), directed by David Robert Mitchell
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: I was quite excited about this one, to be honest, as I love both Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, and a movie about dinosaurs is always welcome when well made. Judging by the reviews and the trailer(s), it looked like "The End of Oak Street" could be a new hit for the genre.
But it wasn't. At least not for me.
I'll start by saying that it's not the actors' fault, as they deliver great performances. The issue for me is the story. It doesn't really matter that the screenplay doesn't explain what's happening in a way that makes sense, or that the explanation is relegated to just a brief moment of dialogue towards the end. To me, the real issue is that... I didn't really get who this movie was made for.
The (CGI) dinosaurs only come out around the middle of the story, and all the hype leading up to the first encounter is counterbalanced by a lack of interaction between the creatures and the protagonists. I'm not saying that there isn't any interaction -- cause there is -- but considering this was heavily marketed as the new (if not better -- ahahahahahah!) "Jurassic Park", then I'm expecting dinosaurs galore. Like, I expect to see a new dinosaur appear every minute or two. They have to rain from the sky, emerge from the abyss, climb down from trees, and chase humans like there's no tomorrow.
Here, instead, we get very slow interactions and mainly walking dinosaurs. I mean, they do eat people and chase our protagonists, but I was expecting way more.
Additionally, there's another element that confused me: the time-jump combo. We're in the 80s, then the dinos appear. That's absolutely fine with me, but... why? Going back to what I was saying earlier, it felt to me that the "explanation" the story gives is extremely technical, comes too late, and doesn't necessarily answer the question: why should this movie exist? Because, let me tell you, it doesn't add anything to the dinosaur genre, nor to the time-travelling one.
Overall, I can't say I hated it, but "The End of Oak Street" definitely left me disappointed (though, I was happy to see Mrs. Kim from "Gilmore Girls" once again!).
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, Christian Convery, P. J. Byrne, Emily Kuroda.
Box Office: $122 million
Worth a watch?: Please don't believe the reviews that claim this film is better than "Jurassic Park" because, I'm sorry, it isn't. It's an OK movie with an intriguing premise that fails to deliver. It's not bad by any means, but it lacks a sense of purpose that goes beyond the starting idea: what would happen if a whole neighborhood were transported from the 80s to the age of the dinosaurs?
Awards: /
Key word: Light.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2512 - Stop! That! Train!

Intro: RuPaul has been promoting this movie for so long that it felt like I'd been waiting a lifetime to finally get the chance to see it at the cinema! Finally, at the end of the summer, the Lighthouse Cinema scheduled a screening, and off we went to see the first "Drag Race" movie ever to grace the big screen.

Film 2512: "Stop! That! Train!" (2026), directed by Adam Shankman
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Marysia, Jane
Thoughts: I'm well aware this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I have to admit I had a great time.
"Stop! That! Train!" is obviously intended to be silly, so there's no surprise when I say this movie is bonkers: it's a disaster movie featuring a storm named "Stormaganza" that tells the story of two train stewardesses who, when their train line, the Stank Rail, is discontinued, sneak onto the Glamazonian Express and eventually create chaos and save the day. And who's RuPaul playing? President Judy Gagwell, who used to work in the rail force herself and has a crazy and wild secret: (*SPOILER*) she killed a child!
I'm quite pleased that they went all in on the absurdity and comedy. Some of the jokes really land, while others aren't as funny, but overall, this movie is way better than I expected. Being a huge fan of the show, I'm quite familiar with the kind of humour "RuPaul's Drag Race" goes for, and I wasn't sure what to expect, considering how bad some of the sketches, short videos, and commercials the queens have to prepare for the main challenges on the show can be. Here, though, the quality of the end product is on a whole different level -- from the production value to the image quality -- and the story doesn't require you to be familiar with the show to follow what's going on. For as absurd as it is, this film is genuinely funny.
In particular, I was surprised by Ginger Minj's and Jujubee's performances: they're so good! Kudos to them. The acting is so professional, their chemistry is undeniable, and I was genuinely surprised to realise how much of the story relies solely on them. What an amazing way to showcase their talent! Also, although I never thought RuPaul was a particularly great actor, I appreciated how he played along here and fully committed to his role.
All in all, I had a really fun time watching "Stop! That! Train!": it's a silly little movie that aims to entertain you and make you laugh. It's a little bit scandalous and politically incorrect, but in a wink-wink kind of way that somehow gets away with it. The cast is spectacular, and the gays will love it. I'm so happy all these queens from the show got this opportunity, and although this movie didn't really make a splash at the box office, I hope that doesn't mean we won't get more projects like this on the big screen. This is all I had to say. Now:

Cast: RuPaul Charles, Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Latrice Royale, Marcia Marcia Marcia, Monét X Change, Symone, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicole Richie, Raven-Symoné, Michelle Visage, Chris Parnell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Charo, Joel McHale, Rachel Bloom, Daniel Franzese, Riki Lindhome, Missi Pyle, Jerry O'Connell, June Diane Raphael, Lisa Rinna, Matt Rogers, Angeria Paris VanMicheals.
Box Office: $4.5 million
Worth a watch?: I had a blast. I recognise that this movie isn't for everyone because of its themes and language, but here's what I can say: it's not necessarily just for "Drag Race" fans. There are a few callbacks to the show, but nothing major. If I had to describe it in a nutshell, I'd say it's a gay feast for the eyes. It's funny, outrageous, full of cameos, and it doesn't take itself too seriously (or at all). I'd say give it a go: support queer media, support the queens, support silly little comedies.
Awards: /
Key word: Stormaganza.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2511 - Sin City

Intro: I wanted to rewatch this movie for a while but never really found the right opportunity. For a moment, I was saving it to watch with Simon, but it didn't happen... so one evening, I just went for it. Finally.

Film 2511: "Sin City" (2005), directed by Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, Quentin Tarantino
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I'd forgotten how much I like this film. 21 years later, it's still one of the coolest pieces of cinema I've ever seen.
I'll admit straight away that I've never read the comic book, but I'm pretty sure the film's visuals are quite similar to what you'd see printed on the page. Stylistically, I think this was such a bold choice... And it paid off big time.
Visual achievements aside, I like "Sin City" for two main reasons: its story is bold and unapologetic -- the baddies are real baddies, and they get no redemption or excuses; they're just big pieces of shit -- and the sheer star power this film packs. To this day, it boasts one of the most impressive casts, including the likes of Bruce Willis, Benicio del Toro, Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson, Elijah Wood, Jessica Alba, and so many more. It blows my mind every time.
I also love that Alexis Bledel has a small but very interesting role here. Before this movie, I'd say she was mainly famous for "Gilmore Girls", and I think we were all pretty much in shock when we saw Rory Gilmore playing a backstabbing prostitute in a film where one of the main characters castrates another. I mean, the shift in tone was quite remarkable.
All in all, I really enjoyed rewatching "Sin City". It has some problems -- the love story between Bruce Willis and Jessica Alba's characters hasn't aged well -- and it's definitely a film full of violence that glorifies criminals and gangsters. But for a movie with a very specific target audience that came out more than 20 years ago, the fire and grit are still there.
Film 754 - Sin City
Film 2511 - Sin City
Film 914 - Sin City: A Dame to Kill For
Cast: Jessica Alba, Benicio del Toro, Rosario Dawson, Brittany Murphy, Josh Hartnett, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel, Nick Stahl, Jaime King, Michael Clarke Duncan, Michael Madsen, Carla Gugino, Tommy Flanagan, Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Elijah Wood.
Box Office: $158.7 million
Worth a watch?: "Sin City" isn't for everybody, but if you enjoy bold movies that take a swing and actually stick the landing, this is the film for you. The cast is amazing, the visuals are mind-blowing, and the whole aesthetic is so refined and well thought out -- iconic! And Quentin Tarantino directed one of the scenes for just $1.
Awards: The movie competed at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival for the Palme d'Or. It won Sexiest Performance (Jessica Alba) at the MTV Movie + TV Awards over 3 nominations (Best Movie and Best Kiss for Rosario Dawson and Clive Owen).
Key word: Nancy.
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Bengi

Film 2510 - Practical Magic

Intro: Kate and I watch a lot of stuff together in the living room, lately especially "The Traitors", as we're both obsessed. After finishing the second season of the Irish one and before UK Celebrity season 2 started, we decided to take a break from it all and watch a movie for a change. And because the sequel to this one was about to come out -- and, crazy enough, Kate had never seen the original film -- we opted for this cult classic.

Film 2510: "Practical Magic" (1998), directed by Griffin Dunne
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: Kate
Thoughts: I've seen "Practical Magic" many times in the past and, somehow, it's always a comfy, cosy watch.
On paper, it shouldn't even work -- the pace and tone of the story are all over the place -- but the overall charm of this film and the incredible chemistry between its two protagonists, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, more than make up for it.
And sure, look, it's not groundbreaking or a landmark in cinematic achievement, but it is a magical fairytale in its own right and, overall, a lovely movie to (re)watch.
Film 1425 - Practical Magic
Film 2510 - Practical Magic
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Dianne Wiest, Stockard Channing, Goran Visnjic, Evan Rachel Wood, Margo Martindale, Aidan Quinn.
Box Office: $94.4 million
Worth a watch?: This movie encapsulates the charm of the late '90s, perfectly capturing the vibe of a small American town. Add to the equation two movie stars in their prime, two iconic veterans (Dianne Wiest & Stockard Channing), and a darker-than-expected witch story, and you get "Practical Magic" -- the perfect movie to watch right now, as the leaves start to fall and Halloween is right around the corner.
Awards: /
Key word: Belladonna.
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Bengi

Film 2509 - Reading Lolita in Tehran

Intro: Years ago, I started reading the book this movie is adapted from because "Lolita" is my favourite novel of all time. I'll be honest, I couldn't finish it -- my English wasn't as good as it is now, and I was struggling big time to follow it -- so when I learned about the movie adaptation, I immediately gave it a go.

Film 2509: "Reading Lolita in Tehran" (2026), directed by Eran Riklis
Watched: From the computer
Language: Italian
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I tried to watch this film in its original language, but I found the English subtitles too distracting. So I decided to go with the Italian-dubbed version, as it was much easier to follow. I don't regret this decision, although I would usually prefer to watch a movie in its original language.
I have to admit I didn't remember much about the story, so watching "Reading Lolita in Tehran" felt like discovering it for the first time. To be honest, "Lolita" isn't at the centre of the story, as it's just one of the many banned books that this group of women read. It's interesting to see how something I found so accessible when I first decided to read "Lolita" has a completely different meaning and set of implications here: reading this book is dangerous, and these women know it all too well, as the regime has forbidden them, along with the rest of Iran's population, from reading it or even talking about it. Instead, I read "Lolita" while on holiday in Greece.
I enjoyed "Reading Lolita in Tehran". It explores the history and culture of a country I know very little about, and it felt refreshing to consume content that wasn't produced or conceived for a Western audience (or specifically an American one).
It's a very quiet movie in the sense that, although deeply unsettling things happen, tragedy isn't sensationalised. I'd say this is mainly thanks to Golshifteh Farahani's portrayal of the protagonist, Azar Nafisi, the author of the book the film is based on. She's assertive but never loud, and practises a form of quiet, almost understated rebellion, with real-life consequences: she refuses to wear the veil, creates a book club for her students, and discusses forbidden Western literature with them.
Her marriage dynamic also feels quite modern, especially considering this story is set in the 70s: she's on equal footing with her husband, has her own job and career, and fights for what she believes in, risking everything in the process. Compared to the other women's romantic relationships, the contrast couldn't be greater. All in all, "Reading Lolita in Tehran" succeeds in showcasing the struggle, uncertainty, and fear that define this period in Iran's history. I'm no expert on the subject, so I'm judging it solely on what I saw in the film. I wish the story had focused more on the actual discussions of the books the women read. I think the film would have benefited from including more of those conversations, but I understand that, with so many characters, historical events to portray, and the challenge of doing the novel justice, there was a lot to cover. All these elements inevitably compete for screen time. I wouldn't say the movie completely succeeds in delivering a balanced story, but its achievements outweigh its limitations.
Cast: Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Mina Kavani, Bahar Beihaghi, Isabella Nefar, Raha Rahbari, Lara Wolf, Arash Marandi, Catayoune Ahmadi, Reza Diako, Shahbaz Noshir.
Box Office: $1,580,815
Worth a watch?: It's not a loud film, and its subject matter might limit its appeal to a wider audience. Still, I'd recommend it. It's well made and focuses on topics we rarely get to see in modern mainstream cinema.
Awards: At the 2024 Rome Film Fest the film was nominated for Best Film in the Progressive Cinema section.
Key word: Iranian Revolution.
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Bengi

Film 2508 - Evil Dead Burn

Intro: The days of the couch are over and I'm back to the movies.
I really wanted to catch this one before it left cinemas, so I finally went back to Cineworld on the last day it was showing.

Film 2508: "Evil Dead Burn" (2026), directed by Sébastien Vaniček
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: Can a movie do too much? It definitely felt that way while I was watching this one.
I can't say I'm a huge fan of the "Evil Dead" saga, but I remember enjoying the previous movie, so I was quite excited about this one, especially considering how much "Evil Dead Rise" had scared me.
This sequel is scary too, but in a way I don't particularly appreciate. There's a lot of gore and splatter -- very graphic stuff -- and I have to admit I was a bit fed up with all the dismemberment and bloodshed, especially in the mid-section of the story as there's literally no time to catch a break. To me, it felt like the story took a back seat to the horror scenes and spectacle, so I guess you could say the violence started to feel a bit gratuitous after a while.
One element of the story I found interesting was the starting point for our protagonist: she's a widow who's just lost her husband, yet there's something off about her from the get-go. Without giving too much away, I appreciated how the screenplay starts with something that feels extremely real and grounded, only to then go balls to the walls and venture into the supernatural. I mean, it definitely wasn't subtle, but the parallel between the horror Alice (Souheila Yacoub) experiences in the movie and the abuse she suffers in her marriage was an interesting way to anchor the story -- and I liked that more than all the crazy, bloody scenes.
All in all, although it definitely delivers on the horror front, "Evil Dead Burn" wasn't for me.
Cast: Souheila Yacoub, Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Erroll Shand, Maude Davey, Alyssa Sutherland.
Box Office: $72.4 million
Worth a watch?: I'm sure hardcore horror fans can handle this without a problem, but I was actually quite surprised by the amount of graphic, explicit violence on display here. To each their own, but don't say I didn't warn you: "Evil Dead Burn" is not for the faint of heart.
Awards: /
Key word: Dagger.
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Bengi

Film 2507 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Intro: I'm not on the couch anymore, but it's still Summer and I keep feeling my movie fantasy.

Film 2507: "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003), directed by Gore Verbinski
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I always liked the first one, but I've never been a massive fan of this franchise, to be honest. Let's say I like it enough.
I still think this one is the best of them all, and what Johnny Depp does with the Jack Sparrow character is, I think, amazing. He literally created one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in modern cinema, and he did it... for a movie inspired by a theme park ride! I'll never get over this.
Anyway, Depp aside, "The Curse of the Black Pearl" is entertaining and a good ride -- wink wink -- but I have to admit I forgot how long this film is and, to be honest, 143 minutes was a bit too much for me. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, but I think knowing more or less all the bits of the story made me anxious to get to the good parts and/or the end. I really enjoy the beginning of the film, but I couldn't stand the sword fight between Sparrow and Will (Orlando Bloom)... too choreographed, and the scene overstays its welcome. Same with the curse: it's amazing when you see the pirates go from normal human beings to just skeletons under the full moon for the first time, but the quest to get the last coin and the (double) voyage(s) to the island broke my spirit.
Again, I think this has more to do with me and possibly the fact that I decided to rewatch this movie but only remembered the parts that I liked. "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" is extremely entertaining and good fun. Keira Knightley is perfect for these types of period movies, Klaus Badelt's soundtrack is iconic, and overall, this film still holds up more than 20 years after it came out in cinemas.
Film 240 - La maledizione della prima luna
Film 1560 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Film 2507 - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Film 1570 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Film 1579 - Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Film 1242 - Pirati dei Caraibi - Oltre i confini del mare
Film 1415 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Cast: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport, Kevin R. McNally, Zoe Saldaña, Mackenzie Crook.
Box Office: $654.3 million
Worth a watch?: In general, this saga is good fun, especially the first three films. My favourite is still this one, and every now and again I like to rewatch it. But beware of the running time, because it goes over the two-hour mark. Other than that, go ahead and have fun.
Awards: Nominated for 5 Oscars: Best Actor (Johnny Depp), Best Makeup, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects. 1 win at the BAFTAs for Best Makeup and Hair over 5 nominations (Best Actor in a Leading Role for Depp, Best Special Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Sound. 1 Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Depp) and 1 win at the MTV Movie Awards for Best Male Performance (Depp) over 6 nominations for Best Movie, Best Comedic Performance (Depp), Best On-Screen Duo (Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom), Best Villain (Geoffrey Rush), Best Breakthrough Performance (Keira Knightley).
Key word: Curse.
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Bengi

Film 2506 - Sherlock Holmes

Intro: I wanted to rewatch this movie for a while and never got the right chance. So, thanks to my Summer couch session, I finally got down to it.

Film 2506: "Sherlock Holmes" (2009), directed by Guy Ritchie
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I'm a big fan of this franchise and have always loved this first one. I think it's great fun, and Guy Ritchie's take on the character of Sherlock Holmes is so dynamic and entertaining that it's still so refreshing to watch today. Also, I love how Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law play off each other. There's obvious chemistry between them, which makes this film stand out even more.
So, quickly, what I love about "Sherlock Holmes": the slow-mo montages, the humour, Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, the magic/occult vibe of the story and, above all, Hans Zimmer's soundtrack. It's a classic, go listen to it!
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Film 367 - Sherlock Holmes - Gioco di ombre
Film 769 - Sherlock Holmes - Gioco di ombre
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan, Kelly Reilly, Hans Matheson, Geraldine James.
Box Office: $524 million
Worth a watch?: If you're looking for a fun ride, a good adventure and a visually interesting take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters, this film is perfect for you. It's entertaining, funny, the action sequences are extremely well crafted, and the story (aka the mystery) is a good one. And this version of Holmes was made for Downey Jr. to play.
Awards: 2 Oscar nominations for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score and Best Achievement in Art Direction. 1 Golden Globe win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical (Robert Downey Jr.). 1 Grammy nomination for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. Nominated for 1 MTV Movie Award for Best Fight (Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Strong).
Key word: Magic.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2505 - Jumanji: The Next Level

Intro: Another Summer evening, another movie on the couch.

Film 2505: "Jumanji: The Next Level" (2019), directed by Jake Kasdan
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I watched this movie back when I was living in Ushuaia, Argentina, but I never got around to reviewing it because... Well, I was so far behind with the list of movies I had to write about on the blog that I skipped some of them to jump ahead in the queue and review newer entries. Then I never got back to the older ones. I'm talking about a backlog of possibly more than 50 movies -- including this one -- and I'm not sure I'll ever go back and finish what I left behind.
So, in a way, watching "Jumanji: The Next Level" for the second time a) helped me remember what actually happens in the story and b) finally allowed me to review it. Here we go.
Did I watch "The Next Level" a second time to actually realise it's a bad movie? Yes, because it felt like I was watching it for the first time, if I'm being honest. And... it'st nothat good.
Firstly, there are way too many characters. The story is complex enough with the human characters and their respective avatars; I really didn't need to add the grandpa and his frenemy to the mix, especially when they also get transported into the game and one of them gets transformed into a horse... Like, on paper it sounds fun, but the reality is that the joke gets old quite quickly.
Additionally, I didn't like the character swaps. I understand why it was necessary to switch things up compared to "Welcome to the Jungle", and I believe some degree of change actually benefited the story here. What didn't work for me, though, is how the avatar swap becomes some sort of character study for Dwayne Johnson and co. It's funny and entertaining at first -- I mean, Johnson playing Danny DeVito and Hart playing Danny Glover is unexpectedly funny -- but after a while of old-man jokes and complaints about back pain, it all becomes stale and quite uninspired.
On top of all of this, I don't think this adventure is as fun as the previous one. Again, too many characters to follow, too many story arcs to complete, and it all becomes messy and convoluted for no reason. I believe if DeVito's and Glover's characters were cut out, the whole story would have benefited from it.
So yeah, I was disappointed by "The Next Level" because, to be honest, there's nothing really next level about it.
Film 784 - Jumanji
Film 1472 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 1785 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 2504 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 2505 - Jumanji: The Next Level
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Danny Glover, Danny DeVito, Rhys Darby, Colin Hanks, Bebe Neuwirth.
Box Office: $801 million
Worth a watch?: If you liked the first one, you may give this one a go. I think it's the weakest one of the whole franchise (yes, I'm including "Zathura: A Space Adventure"), so I would personally advise you to skip it. But considering the third one is coming out in December, you decide if you want to go through with "The Next Level". I mean, it's not the worst thing I've ever seen, but I was quite disappointed.
Awards: /
Key word: Dr. Bravestone.
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Bengi

Film 2504 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Intro: A few weeks ago, during the Summer heatwave, I started watching older movies on the projector by myself in the living room. What a treat!

Film 2504: "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" (2017), directed by Jake Kasdan
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I always loved the original "Jumanji" movie and I've seen it so many times. For a second there I was tempted to watch it again, but seeing as the new "Jumanji: Open World" is coming out on Christmas Day this year, I decided to revisit the two newer movies, especially because I couldn't name one thing that happened in the second one.
I have to admit I quite enjoy "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle". I think it's a smart reboot of this franchise, in a way that pays homage to the original film while including brand new elements that launch the saga in a whole new direction. In this sense, I think moving the game setting to a video game was the correct idea.
Additionally, I like the four main characters. They're easily identifiable as they come with specific, inescapable traits, which makes it easy to identify them and simultaneously sets them apart. Pair that with their human counterparts and how different they are from their game avatars and... you get the perfect mix.
I mean, don't get me wrong, it's all quite simple and on the nose, yet I think the simplicity of these opposite archetypes is key to the success of the story here: no subtlety that needs to be interpreted by the audience, no complex plot points, no overly complicated story arcs. You watch the movie and you get it straight away, and if you happen to know the original one, watching "Welcome to the Jungle" is even more rewarding.
And look, I've never been a big Dwayne Johnson fan, but here he makes fun of himself enough to be passable. Not to mention that, by making fun of his "Smoldering Intensity", the story utilises his acting shortcomings to its advantage.
So all in all, I had a good old time.
Film 784 - Jumanji
Film 1472 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 1785 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 2504 - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Film 2505 - Jumanji: The Next Level
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Bobby Cannavale, Rhys Darby, Alex Wolff, Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, Morgan Turner, Colin Hanks, Marc Evan Jackson, Missi Pyle.
Box Office: $963 million
Worth a watch?: The original "Jumanji" is an undeniable cult classic that holds a special place in my heart. I was a bit scared when they announced the sequel back in the day, especially because Dwayne Johnson isn't necessarily known for being a good actor with extensive range. Here, though, I think he finds a middle ground that works for him: macho action movie star combined with some quirky, funny comedic moments that uplift his performance.
So, if you're in the mood for a little adventure and you like the OG "Jumanji", I'd say you should like this one enough. Of all the reboots and sequels we've seen recently, this is definitely one of the better ones.
Awards: /
Key word: Console.
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Bengi

Film 2503 - Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Intro: I mean, I was quite excited about this one, although I wasn't quite sure what to expect, to be honest. The only way to find out was to go to the movies and check it out for myself.

Film 2503: "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" (2026), directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: So, I'll be honest from the get-go: I didn't love it.
Everyone seems to be pretty excited and content with this movie -- it made two billion dollars, after all -- and sure, it's not bad or anything. On the contrary, it's obviously well made, and it doesn't feel like a cash grab, which is nice especially considering how Sony has been developing its own Spider-Man-related cinematic universe. That said, I didn't love the story too much or, to be more precise, I didn't love the ending.
I think, to justify the existence of this fourth outing, the plot twist at the end is quite weak. I love that they're bringing new characters in, I love that we're finally moving towards a new X-Men era, but (**spoiler**) to introduce the Jean Grey character, the story could have come up with something a bit more meaningful than an air vent label. I was so disappointed when that whole bit was revealed that it really ruined the whole vibe of the movie for me.
I'll say it again, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" is not bad or anything, it's just OK. To be fair, coming up with something as iconic as they did in the previous film would have been impossible, and I appreciate that, in a way, the stakes of this story were scaled down and re-aligned with Peter's life rather than another save-the-world adventure that involves half of the MCU. That said, bringing back the Hulk was a little pointless -- he doesn't do much here and he's soon gone -- and Punisher's character development is a bit odd. MJ's, though, is quite interesting and actually makes sense and feels very mature (she is still the same MJ, but she doesn't remember Peter, so that version of MJ is now gone and can't be brought back just because Peter told her they were in love).
So yeah, a bit of a mixed bag for me: not bad, but I wasn't blown away by this new Spidey adventure.
Film 1394 - Spider-Man: Homecoming
Film 1653 - Spider-Man: Homecoming
Film 1781 - Spider-Man: Far from Home
Film 2077 - Spider-Man: No Way Home
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Film 2503 - Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Film 467 - The Amazing Spider-Man
Film 718 - The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Il potere di Electro
Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Florence Pugh, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando, Marisa Tomei, Mark Ruffalo.
Box Office: $2.506 billion (to this day)
Worth a watch?: I'll be honest, this isn't my favourite of the franchise, which, I think, peaked with "No Way Home". I love Spider-Man and I appreciate Tom Holland playing the character, so if you feel the same, go for it (you probably did already, but in case you missed it at the movies, I'm pretty sure it's still in cinemas).
All of this said, I think the plot twist gets way too hyped by the story, and by the time it gets revealed, it is a little bit of a let-down. The cast is great, I think Sadie Sink is going to be an interesting Jean Grey, and the scenes that include Florence Pugh are frankly the best part of the movie, which is, quite surprisingly, very comedy-heavy.
So my suggestion would be to go ahead and check "Brand New Day" for yourself and see what all the fuss is about (in a nutshell: the highest-grossing Spider-Man film, the highest-grossing film of 2026, the highest-grossing film in the United States and Canada, and the third-highest-grossing film of all time).
Awards: /
Key word: V-Max.
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Bengi

Film 2502 - Scary Movie

Intro: I watched it at the movies a while ago and forgot to add it to my list of movies to review. I'm not sure how or why, but the other day it came back to me that I never posted anything about this film on the blog and realised I had forgotten to do my review. So here we are.

Film 2502: "Scary Movie" (2026), directed by Michael Tiddes
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh, Debbi
Thoughts: Did we need a new "Scary Movie"? Probably not. Was I excited for the sixth installment of the franchise? Absolutely! Was it as good as I hoped? Not really...
Reality is, "Scary Movie" (or "Scary Movie 6") is a middle-of-the-road sequel that is a welcome departure from the fifth horrendous outing of the franchise, but it also doesn't fully deliver. There is some good in there, yet I'm not sure it was enough. If a seventh film were to come out, tho, I'd say this is the right direction for the franchise to go in.
As usual, the plot is just an excuse to make fun of other movies. Sometimes the comedy works, sometimes it doesn't. I particularly enjoyed the references to "The Substance", "Weapons", "Sinners", "M3GAN" and "White Chicks" -- with honourable mentions to the dildo fight à la "John Wick" and the cartoon "dream" sequence inspired by "KPop Demon Hunters" -- whereas I found the constant references to "Scream" and especially its recent sequels to be a bit tiring after a while. I do understand what the plot was trying to do, in a sort of meta-commentary on the meta-commentary that the "Scream" saga tends to position itself as, but here it only works to a certain point. After that, it's almost a copy-and-paste situation that doesn't add much to the end result.
To be fair, I was unsure of what to expect with this new chapter of this parody horror saga. On one hand, I was happy to see the original team return: the Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall. On the other hand, the "Scary Movie" franchise has been very inconsistent in terms of quality. Here there's some sort of balance between these two elements: the return of the original cast brings back a certain freshness that was missing for a while, while the movie isn't as hilarious as one would have hoped.
So, all in all, I enjoyed "Scary Movie" enough to be happy this franchise is back, but the end result didn't match my favourites "Scary Movie 3", "Scary Movie" (the OG from 2000) and "Scary Movie 4".
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
Film 2502 - Scary Movie
Cast: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kenan Thompson, Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Munro, Kim Wayans, Cheri Oteri, Chris Elliott, Damon Wayans Jr., Joe Jackson, Carmen Electra, Teyana Taylor, Anthony Anderson, Shaquille O'Neal, Anna Faris, Regina Hall.
Box Office: $278 million
Worth a watch?: If you're like me and you've watched all the previous movies, then it only makes sense to give this one a go. If you've never watched the other five films or you've never been fond of this kind of comedy, then I'd skip this one and check out something else. Like the original "Scream", for example.
Awards: /
Key word: Rebootquel.
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Bengi

Film 2501 - Exit 8

Intro: The horror saga continues, and Niamh and I watched a second movie on the couch after "Leviticus" didn't leave us fully satisfied.

Film 2501: "Exit 8" (2025), directed by Genki Kawamura
Watched: From the projector
Language: Japanese
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: If I hadn't read the synopsis on Wikipedia, I'm not sure how much of this movie I'd have remembered. This isn't to say that I didn't enjoy "Exit 8", but its repetitive nature and lack of major plot points until the end of the story kind of erased the plot bits that aren't repeated over and over.
That said, I think "Exit 8" is a perfectly fine film, visually interesting and simple enough to follow, although personally I wouldn't call this a horror movie, but rather a psychological mystery film with some thriller elements and a scare or two along the way.
I didn't know anything about the game this is based on -- "The Exit 8", a 2023 indie adventure game developed and published by Kotake Create -- and I went in without knowing what to expect. The only reference I had that I could compare this movie to was "Iron Lung", as these two films share a similar starting point: they're based on video games I've never heard of, they're not major studio productions, they have confined settings and claustrophobic elements, and there's a repetitiveness to the plot.
Based on what I saw and my experience of both films, I have to admit "Exit 8" is more my vibe. I'm not saying it's a movie I would watch again, but at least it feels like a fully fleshed-out and realised film, competently made and with an obviously higher budget (I couldn't find a source for how much this film cost to produce, tho). And I know the comparison isn't necessarily fair, but my brain inevitably went there.
All in all, "Exit 8" was an interesting watch: I liked the visuals, the segment that focused solely on the kid was my favourite -- the child actor is really good -- and the idea behind the story is fascinating enough to carry the whole movie through. But after the first few times you witness the same elements happening, you start to lose focus a bit and, especially towards the middle section of the story, the lack of progression makes the story feel heavier and slower. When it eventually catches up, things get interesting again.
So, yeah, I don't regret watching it, but considering I was looking forward to watching a horror movie, this was definitely not it.
Cast: Kazunari Ninomiya, Yamato Kochi, Naru Asanuma, Kotone Hanase, Nana Komatsu.
Box Office: $44 million
Worth a watch?: I remember watching the trailer for the first time and being quite intrigued. The story of a man who is caught in a looping subway corridor definitely tickles my curiosity + the reviews were really good.
Now, I'm not saying "Exit 8" is bad, but it's definitely not a mind-blowing experience as they try to sell it to you. It's a perfectly fine psychological film with mystery and horror elements that also happens to be based on a popular video game. I never played the game, so I'm of no use there, but as a movie watcher, I can say I enjoyed this film enough, but I wouldn't say it's a must-watch.
Awards: It won Best Poster Design at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
Key word: Anomaly.
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Bengi