Film 2494 - Predator: Badlands

Intro: I didn't get the chance to see this film when it came out later last year and, to be honest, I kinda forgot about it. Then, a couple of months ago, somehow I remembered its existence and decided to give it a go.

Film 2494: "Predator: Badlands" (2025), directed by Dan Trachtenberg
Watched: On the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I've never been a massive "Predator" fan, but I've watched enough entries in the franchise to be able to say that I really like the new direction they're going for. And it's mainly thanks to Dan Trachtenberg, who directed both this film and "Prey", the previous one from 2022.
What I enjoy the most about these movies is that the character of Predator is the main focus of the story in a way that's unconventional for the genre. Other franchises like "Alien", "Halloween" or "A Nightmare on Elm Street" have the bad guy - or alien, in this case - simply being the main antagonist. There's not much character development, and they are usually not what the story focuses on, but rather a mechanism that serves the plot and scares the viewer. But not here.
"Prey" before and "Predator: Badlands" now put the title character at the center of their plot. Here especially, we get to spend time with what traditionally would have been the villain of the story: Predator has to prove to its dad that he can hunt the apex predator and, to do that, it travels to a different planet and sets the story into motion. It's such a refreshing perspective!
Not only this, but the movie is actually good. Considering how few characters the story puts together and the limitations of having your lead not speak any human language, it's quite impressive how the screenplay is able to smoothly move things forward in an engaging and cinematic way. I especially like how many visual cues are used to progress the plot - the spit thing above anything else for me - and how much world-building has gone into creating this film. And it all plays out well in the end, because the film is engaging, visually interesting and never boring. For a standalone product like this, the world and character creation is quite impressive.
If I had to find something negative to say, Elle Fanning's character could be the weak link for me. Not because she's not good in the film, but mainly because her character does most of the talking - sometimes it could be a bit much - and because Fanning plays two roles here and, although it's understandable why, it would have been nice to have seen another human face.
All in all, I really enjoyed "Predator: Badlands" and, together with its predecessor, I think it's an impressive entry in the world of this franchise.
Film 2134 - Prey
Film 2494 - Predator: Badlands
Film 1707 - The Predator
Cast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Reuben de Jong, Mike Homik, Alison Wright.
Box Office: $184.6 million
Worth a watch?: If you liked "Prey", you'll definitely like this one! It's unfortunate this film didn't make enough of a splash at the box office to spawn more movies -- although the animated anthology film "Predator: Killer of Killers" was released on Hulu/Disney+ in June last year, just before "Badlands" hit theaters in November.
It's a good sci-fi film that takes the franchise in a new direction that is both refreshing and entertaining. Watch it and you'll see.
Awards: /
Key word: Spit.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2492 - Meg 2: The Trench

Intro: Once I heard it was bad, I never convinced myself to go and see it at the movies. Then, a few weeks ago, I saw it listed on Netflix and I said to myself: "Why not?"

Film 2492: "Meg 2: The Trench" (2023), directed by Ben Wheatley
Watched: On the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I mean, if you've seen the previous one, you know exactly what to expect from this sequel. And look, I'm not saying it's good by any means, but if you enjoyed "The Meg", you should have a good time this time around as well. And I did.
I think they tried to go even bigger with this one, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the story ends up having way too many plots and subplots, and way too many main and side characters for the audience to be fully invested. To be fair, if you're watching "Meg 2: The Trench", you're doing it for the spectacle it provides and definitely not for the plot, but still, it's worth mentioning the overstuffed script.
And, as is to be expected, Jason Statham goes above and beyond to prove how badass he can be.
Not much else to say, really; either you have a good time or you think this is the stupidest movie in the world.
Film 1700 - The Meg
Film 2492 - Meg 2: The Trench
Cast: Jason Statham, Wu Jing, Sophia Cai, Page Kennedy, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Skyler Samuels, Cliff Curtis.
Box Office: $398.5 million
Worth a watch?: "A research team's journey into the depths of the ocean turns into chaos when a mining operation forces them into a battle for survival, facing off against Megalodons and relentless environmental marauders." (from IMDb). If this sounds like your jam, damn, you're gonna have a good time. Otherwise, venture elsewhere.
Awards: 3 nominations at the Razzie Awards for Worst Picture, Worst Director and Worst Actor (Jason Statham).
Key word: Rare-earth minerals.
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Bengi

Film 2484 - Mortal Kombat II

Intro: When I was in Italy back in May, I rewatched the first film in this series to get ready for the sequel. Then, when I got back, I missed my chance to go to the movies - to watch "The Sheep Detectives", of all movies... - and didn't get to see it. So, as soon as the right moment presented itself, I gave this film a go.

Film 2484: "Mortal Kombat II" (2026), Simon McQuoid
Watched: From the projector
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: To my surprise, I actually quite enjoyed the first "Mortal Kombat" and was extremely curious to see its sequel. I read reasonably good things about it, but nothing too enthusiastic, and the box office performance wasn't stellar, so I didn't know what to expect.
Fact is, I loved this movie! I think, even more so than the first one, it's great at delivering a story that's closer to its source material: we finally see the tournament happen, the players go against each other and die, and all their best moves are performed on the big screen in an environment that makes sense for what this product is: a film based on a fighting video game.
I was particularly impressed by the visual aesthetic of the film. All the settings for the fight scenes are great and feel very unique while, color-wise, I thought "Mortal Kombat II" does a great job of highlighting the different factions, worlds, costumes and elements that uniquely identify each character, in a way that doesn't feel like a simple copy-paste from the game.
Additionally, I think this sequel shows that the producers actually listened to what the audience asked for after the first film came out: the tournament, the fights, and the lore of the source material, rather than just fan service. And I believe the story does a great job of incorporating all these elements together.
That said, "Mortal Kombat II" has its flaws, although I wasn't too bothered by them. I personally struggled with the number of characters the story deals with, to the point that at times I couldn't keep up. Also, some of the characters from the previous film were just there to get slaughtered which, yeah, you could see coming from a mile away, but I thought it was bold in some cases. (spoiler) Particularly, bringing back Cole Young (Lewis Tan), aka the main protagonist of the previous film, only to have him massacred the first time he competes in the tournament was a bold move. It really surprised me and, yeah, I loved it. He was a terrible protagonist, so I think it was a good move to shift the focus to the more charismatic and entertaining Johnny Cage (Karl Urban).
All in all, I really enjoyed "Mortal Kombat II" and I can't wait to watch it again. I only wish this movie had gotten a bit more love at the box office to justify a third outing. At this stage, I'm not sure it's gonna happen, but I have my fingers crossed.
Film 2014 - Mortal Kombat
Film 2469 - Mortal Kombat
Film 2484 - Mortal Kombat II
Cast: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Mehcad Brooks, Tati Gabrielle, Lewis Tan, Damon Herriman, Chin Han, Tadanobu Asano, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada.
Box Office: $129.5 million
Worth a watch?: If you enjoyed the first one, I'm sure you're gonna love this sequel even more. The story is tighter, the action sequences are amazing and, in general, "Mortal Kombat II" is better paced, has found the right protagonist and is a clear improvement over the first film. I found it visually compelling, and the soundtrack is a banger. Currently, I'm obsessed with the end credits song. I highly recommend it if you enjoy club/techno music (Techno Syndrome 2026 (feat. Ed Boon) - Olivier Adams).
Awards: /
Key word: Amulet.
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Bengi

Film 2467 - The Devil Wears Prada 2

Intro: Boy oh boy, was I scared.

Film 2467: "The Devil Wears Prada 2" (2026), David Frankel
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi, Niamh
Thoughts: I've been saying this since before the movie came out and, now that I've watched it, I can confirm it: we did not need this sequel.
The fact is, the first "The Devil Wears Prada" wasn't perfect, but it has become a cult movie in its own right. It's constantly quoted, it has spawned several memes, its cast is iconic and, of course, it gave us Miranda Priestly. Groundbreaking.
So how can a sequel replicate the same success 20 years later while being its own thing at the same time? It can't. And it's not because it didn't try.
For starters, the whole team is back. The four main characters — now all either Oscar winners or nominees, as the trailer eagerly reminds us — have all reprised their roles, together with the same director and screenwriter. Which is clearly a good place to start. The vibe seems to be similar, the themes seem to mirror the previous ones and the overall experience would suggest that, yes, two decades have passed, but if you enjoyed the first outing, this second one will be just as entertaining and iconic. But it's not.

The thing that annoyed me the most about "The Devil Wears Prada 2" is that everything that was done in the first film has been undone here. Miranda is a softie now, Emily secretly wanted to be Andy's friend all along, Andy leaves the business but then here she is back again, Nigel is still waiting for a promotion and finally gets it. I understand that this screenplay is essentially continuing the previous story in a way that gives closure to most of the arcs previously presented, but it does so in a way that goes against how the first story was told. Everything Miranda stood for is rejected here. She's still mean, don't get me wrong, but her resolution with Nigel was so out of character that it really bothered me. And it's not because the character changed, but because it doesn't feel like real growth. Instead, it feels like a happy ending designed to please the audience. If a person like Miranda wanted to reward one of her collaborators, she would have done it and she would have gotten there herself. She's a smart, intelligent and perceptive woman; she doesn't need Andy, of all people, to point out the obvious to her.
Andy, on the other hand, doesn't have much to do here. She's back to save the sinking ship, she has 20 years of journalistic experience behind her, yet the minute she steps back into Runway, it's like she goes back to her first day of work at the magazine. Why? I understand Miranda is bossy, often intimidating and sometimes scary, but the way the story portrays Andy is so diminishing to her character that she seems to regress instead of grow.
And, to close the circle, Emily. I don't have much to say except: why? Why bring her back only to give her the silliest storyline? She's the surprise villain of the story, yet everything is undone by the screenplay when the ending comes around and suddenly all is forgiven and forgotten. Emily is probably the standout character from the first movie. She's mean and haughty, yet so interesting and funny thanks to Emily Blunt's unforgettable portrayal, but here she's just an empty shell. She wants to steal Runway from Miranda — the same plot point from the previous movie, by the way — thanks to her useless millionaire boyfriend, then her plan doesn't work out and... it's all good and forgotten. Andy and she go out for lunch and are now friends. The end. Once again, I don't understand.
I do get the appeal of bringing such an iconic IP back and repackaging it for a new demographic. I mean, the box-office numbers are through the roof, so it clearly worked. But in terms of the quality of this movie, we're certainly not there. The fashion is there, the soundtrack is there, the cameos are there — actually, some of the characters feel more like cameos themselves, as the story doesn't really utilise them at all — but the magic? Definitely not there for me.

And one last thing that really, really bothered me was the three main couples. At least to me, none of the pairings works here. Miranda has a new, useless husband. Kenneth Branagh's talent is so underutilised here that it's shameful. Emily's millionaire (billionaire?) boyfriend, played by Justin Theroux, is useless and only serves the plot when needed. And don't even get me started on Andy's love interest, the Australian construction worker... why is he in the movie at all? Why does Andy need a new boyfriend at all, especially after the terrible one she already had in the previous movie? That is beyond me. All three couples are so ill-fitted and such a waste of the actors' talent.
All in all, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" is another sequel we didn't ask for and really didn't need. It's a pity that such an iconic piece of pop culture ended up becoming another cash-grab opportunity for Disney. I think this franchise deserved better. I don't know if I'll ever force myself to watch this movie again and maybe my opinion will change or soften with time — it happened with the first "Sex and the City" movie, at least — but for now it was a clear disappointment.
Film 204 - Il diavolo veste Prada
Film 741 - Il diavolo veste Prada
Film 2120 - The Devil Wears Prada
Film 2467 - The Devil Wears Prada 2
Cast: Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, Justin Theroux, Kenneth Branagh, Stanley Tucci, Lucy Liu, B. J. Novak, Simone Ashley, Tracie Thoms, Patrick Brammall, Rachel Bloom.
Box Office: $676.3 million (to this day)
Worth a watch?: I'm not sure being a fan of the original is enough to enjoy this second outing. I had low expectations and still I was disappointed. Maybe you'll find some comfort in seeing these characters on screen once again, I'm not sure. I just didn't vibe with the whole project and the overall movie experience. It felt like a cash-grab to me and I didn't appreciate it.
Awards: /
Key word: Holy Grail.
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Bengi

Film 2463 - Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Intro: I watched the first one because I was so curious to catch the sequel in theaters, so the moment I had an opportunity to go, off I went.

Film 2463: "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" (2026), Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: One of the best cinematic surprises of the year so far. Not in my wildest dreams would I have thought that the sequel to a relatively low-budget movie from 7 years ago—a film that had a good run but didn't necessarily make waves in pop culture—would turn out to be not only better than the original, but also THIS good. The cast is iconic, the story is extremely inventive, and it expands the lore in a way that pays homage to the source material while taking it to a whole new dimension. Overall, "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" is such a wildly chaotic cinematic experience that—if you enjoy this genre—it's impossible not to have a good time. I have to admit that I particularly appreciated watching these two "Ready or Not" movies almost back to back, as I don't think I would have remembered much from the first movie had I not watched it just before catching its sequel at the cinema. Because of this, I was able to enjoy some of the references and callbacks from "Ready or Not" that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. I'm notoriously bad at remembering things. Samara Weaving is once again perfect for the role. She has a sort of fearless-but-pissed-off look that makes her character, Grace, so iconic. This time she's joined in the fight by her estranged sister, played by Kathryn Newton, while on the other side of the story, not one but two iconic actors enjoying a resurgence in popularity join the cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar and Elijah Wood. I think those two alone are reason enough to give this franchise—and this film specifically—a chance. All in all, "Ready or Not 2: Here I Come" is a breath of fresh air in a storytelling landscape that seems to be slowly moving toward more innovative and creative ideas, leaving at least some of the superhero blockbuster franchise fatigue behind. The shift was already in the air, but it's now even more obvious thanks to movies like this one and other recent unexpected hits such as "Obsession", "Backrooms", "The Drama", and "Send Help". It's an exciting moment for cinema, and it feels like we're finally moving beyond existing and established IPs to embrace original ideas and concepts that make the movie landscape feel interesting once again.
Film 2461 - Ready or Not
Film 2463 - Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Cast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Elijah Wood.
Box Office: $42.8 million
Worth a watch?: If you liked the first one, this sequel will blow your mind. I had the best time and was amazed by how much the scope of this franchise has expanded, and by how perfectly all the elements of the story come together. The result is a satisfying and remarkably well-executed film. This franchise really surprised me!
Awards: /
Key word: Rules.
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Bengi

Film 2459 - Zootopia 2

Intro: Last time I watched the original movie it was a while ago, but I still remember it fondly. So when I heard about the sequel coming out, I was excited enough that I wanted to see it. It just never happened in theaters, so when the opportunity presented itself, I watched it at home.

Film 2459: "Zootopia 2" (2025), Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Watched: From the TV
Language: English
Watched with: Luke
Thoughts: I'll be honest, I don't have much to say about it. I liked it—I think it's a cute movie that works perfectly for kids and families, and it manages to capture the same fun and entertaining vibe of the first one. That said, the magic kind of stopped there for me.
Not that I expected much from this sequel. I think nine years between the first film and this one sort of robbed me of the genuine excitement I would have felt if this second installment had come out just a few years after the first one in 2016. So yeah, a fun watch and a cozy feeling of getting back to Zootopia and finding all the characters from the previous story, but that was kinda it for me.
Film 1107 - Zootropolis
Film 1369 - Zootropolis
Film 2459 - Zootopia 2
Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Shakira, Idris Elba, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, Danny Trejo, Alan Tudyk, Nate Torrence, Don Lake, Bonnie Hunt, Jenny Slate, Michelle Gomez, Stephanie Beatriz, Jean Reno, Macaulay Culkin, Brenda Song, John Leguizamo, Josh Dallas, Auli'i Cravalho, Tig Notaro, Ed Sheeran, Yvette Nicole Brown, June Squibb, Rachel House, Mario Lopez, Michael J. Fox, Josh Gad, Anika Noni Rose, Dwayne Johnson.
Box Office: $1.870 billion
Worth a watch?: You liked the first one? You're going to enjoy this one too, I'm sure. It feels familiar, and the story is enjoyable and a fun ride, so go ahead and see it.
Awards: Nominated for Best Animated Feature at this year's Academy Awards. 2 BAFTA nominations for Best Children's & Family Film and Best Animated Film, it won for the latter. Nominated for 2 Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture – Animated and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.
Key word: Patent.
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Bengi

Film 2458 - Scream 7

Intro: I was really excited to see this movie after the big success of the previous new entries. So we got to the cinema as soon as we could because we didn't want to miss it.

Film 2458: "Scream 7" (2026), Kevin Williamson
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I'm a massive fan of this saga, even when it's bad, but this time I wasn't pleased: "Scream 7" is too bad to be enjoyable.
Too many new details in the story come from things we never actually see happen on screen: Sydney has a new life, a new family, and even a teenage daughter who was never mentioned before (or at least I don't think she was? Did I miss something?). I understand that this is fiction and the story doesn't always have to be completely grounded in reality, but your main character can't suddenly become a different person from who they were in the past, and a teenage daughter can't just be added to someone's life whenever it's convenient for the plot. I don't know, it felt sloppy to me, like a choice made only to serve the story now that the characters from the previous two movies have been written out because of the controversies following Melissa Barrera's public statement against the genocide in Palestine (and the subsequent exit of Jenna Ortega from the franchise in support of Barrera being let go).
I understand it must have been complicated to basically reboot the whole story in order to shift the focus back to Sydney, change the location, and introduce new killers, but it all feels barely connected, and Ghostface's motivation here is so stretched that it completely ruins the surprise at the end when you find out who's behind the mask. It all feels really anticlimactic. Not to mention that all the cameos feel more like fan service than actual parts of the plot.
All in all, an extremely weak new outing for this slasher saga, a movie that tries to continue the legacy of the franchise but misses the mark entirely. "Scream 7" feels empty and in desperate need of new ideas that, clearly, haven't been found yet.
Film 1123 - Scream
Film 2057 - Scream
Film 2184 - Scream
Film 2414 - Scream
Film 1249 - Scream 3
Film 326 - Scream 4
Film 2091 - Scream
Film 2178 - Scream
Film 2179 - Scream VI
Film 2458 - Scream 7
Cast: Neve Campbell, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, David Arquette, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, Mark Consuelos, Tim Simons, Ethan Embry, Matthew Lillard, Joel McHale, Courteney Cox.
Box Office: $214 million
Worth a watch?: A horror movie that mimics its predecessors but never quite captures the same highs the series reached in the past. A misstep for the franchise, although I'm sure this isn't the last we see of Ghostface considering this is already the highest-grossing film in the series so far.
Awards: /
Key word: Deepfake.
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Bengi

Film 2451 - Angels & Demons

Intro: Last Fuerteventura movie before we came back to our everyday life in Dublin. Another Netflix pick.

Film 2451: "Angels & Demons" (2009), Ron Howard
Watched: From the laptop
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: This was always my favourite of the three movies inspired by Dan Brown's book, but now that I've seen it again... I don't know anymore. I mean, I still find it entertaining and I LOVE Hans Zimmer's soundtrack, but overall, "Angels & Demons" isn't as great as I remember it to be. To be honest, after rewatching the first one right before watching this one, I have to admit some details of the two plots kinda merged together, and I couldn't tell the two movies apart anymore. The Church is still involved, Silas (Paul Bettany) and the Camerlengo (Ewan McGregor) almost feel like the same character, and because of the nature of the two stories (a race against time, the amount of plot twists and clues), there really are similarities between "The Da Vinci Code" and this film. Plus, the plot involving the Camerlengo is so absurd that it's hard to keep a straight face.
Anyway, for what it is, "Angels & Demons" is still an enjoyable, crazy (helicopter) ride.
Film 2448 - The Da Vinci Code
Film 81 - Angeli e demoni
Film 1287 - Angeli e demoni
Film 2451 - Angels & Demons
Film 1237 - Inferno
Cast: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Armin Mueller-Stahl.
Box Office: $485.9 million
Worth a watch?: If you like Dan Brown's books and/or enjoyed the previous film, this one is still a decent enough watch—something that cannot be said about the third, awful movie of this trilogy.
Awards: /
Key word: Tongue.
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Bengi

Film 2439 - Now You See Me: Now You Don't

Intro: I always liked this franchise, especially the first movie, which I think I rewatched quite a lot back in the day. The second one wasn't as good, to be fair, but hey, I was still willing to give this third outing a go. It's just that I forgot to go to the movies before it was removed from the cinema's schedule...

Film 2439: "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" (2025), Ruben Fleischer
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: People are sh*tting on this movie a lot, but I found it to be exactly what I needed in that moment: good, lighthearted fun.
Yeah, it's not a masterpiece, but was it ever meant to be one? Not really. So I don't understand why "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" was somehow expected to be better or something that it isn’t, especially considering how the second one compared to the original. Let fun entertainment be just fun entertainment.
It's nice to see all the actors from the two previous films (but Mark Ruffalo, Michael Caine, and Daniel Radcliffe) coming back for this one, especially considering they came out in 2013 and 2016. A new addition to the big group of A-listers is Rosamund Pike playing the bad guy this time around. She's amazing in everything she does, so I'm super happy to see her joining a successful franchise. All in all, a great ensemble cast. At times, the dynamics between the different characters and the overall vibe of the movie(s) reminded me of the "Ocean's" trilogy.
Film 584 - Now You See Me - I maghi del crimine
Film 1120 - Now You See Me - I maghi del crimine
Film 1178 - Now You See Me 2
Film 2439 - Now You See Me: Now You Don't
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Justice Smith, Dominic Sessa, Ariana Greenblatt, Lizzy Caplan, Rosamund Pike, Morgan Freeman.
Box Office: $243.7 million
Worth a watch?: Same formula, same cast (with some returning to the franchise), and a lot of new magic. It's easy to watch and a good ride for what it is. Uncomplicated and enjoyable—if you liked the previous ones, you should enjoy this one too.
Awards: /
Key word: Diamond.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2437 - 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Intro: We watched the previous one that only came out last year, and of course we couldn't miss this one..

Film 2437: "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" (2026), Nia DaCosta
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi, Niamh
Thoughts: "The Bone Temple" is a good follow-up to the previous "28 Years Later", and the quality of these two movies together is surprisingly high. I'm saying surprisingly just because it's not often that a relatively small franchise like this one gets a trilogy sequel more than 20 years after the original movie came out and still maintains such consistency in quality. Even more so considering this one and the previous outing hit theaters only 6 months apart.
Timelines aside, "The Bone Temple" focuses heavily on Ralph Fiennes' and Jack O'Connell's characters from the previous movie. The two give stellar performances, and their character journeys are both extreme and satisfying. After his Oscar nomination last year (he should have won), it looks like we're witnessing a Ralph Fiennes renaissance, and I'm all here for it.
My only criticism of this film is the level of violence displayed. I'm not a prude, and I understand this is a work of fiction, but it was tough to witness all the torture sequences, and after a while I honestly couldn't take it anymore.
The storyline between Dr. Ian Kelson (Fiennes) and Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) is predictable at times, but it's probably the most interesting part of the story. It will be interesting to see how the zombie monster evolves after what happens to him in this second chapter.
Overall, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" is a good movie and an excellent sequel, well directed by Nia DaCosta ("Candyman", "The Marvels", "Hedda"). It's a pity that it didn't make enough money at the box office (the production budget was $63 million). Maybe the January release was too soon and hurt its performance, or possibly this franchise isn't strong enough to justify a trilogy so long after the original movie came out. Either way, the shooting of the third movie depended on the performance of this film, so it's unclear if this story will see its end at all. I have my fingers crossed!
P.S. As rumored before the movie came out, Cillian Murphy makes a cameo appearance at the end of the film, reprising his original role from the first "28 Days Later".
Film 2391 - 28 Years Later
Film 2437 - 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry, Emma Laird, Sam Locke, Cillian Murphy.
Box Office: $58.4 million
Worth a watch?: If you like this franchise and/or the previous movie, this is definitely worth the watch! As a standalone film, though, I'm not sure this works, as there would be a lot to unpack and catch up with if you don't know what happened before in the story.
Awards: /
Key word: Old Nick.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2425 - Wicked: For Good

Intro: I mean, I watched the first one so it made sense to go and watch the second one I guess. I wasn't thrilled though.

Film 2425: "Wicked: For Good" (2025), Jon M. Chu
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Debbi
Thoughts: I was never a massive fan of the first one, but at least "Wicked" had a bunch of good songs, two of which I actually knew. This second one cannot say the same.
I understand it was a huge disappointment for fans to see both Cynthia + Ariana and the movie itself get snubbed at the Oscars this year, but honestly, I can see why. This "Wicked: For Good" isn't as good as the previous film. The ending is a bit anticlimactic and misses the spark and grandeur of the "Defying Gravity" closing song, none of the new songs created for this film are memorable, and since both movies were shot back-to-back, I can see why not a lot of Academy members felt the need to reward last year's winners with a new shiny Oscar for the same work they already got recognized for (specifically, last year "Wicked" won Best Costume Design and Best Production Design out of its 10 nominations).
I'll be honest, I didn't particularly enjoy "Wicked: For Good". I thought it was too long and boring at times. It's not the movie's fault—I think the second half of the original musical this is taken from is weaker than the first act anyway. I think they did the best they could here. Not my cup of tea.
Film 2332 - Wicked
Film 2425 - Wicked: For Good
Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Colman Domingo, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum.
Box Office: $533.7 million
Worth a watch?: Just for fans of the previous movie, Cynthia/Ariana, or "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" lore.
Awards: 2 BAFTA nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Make Up & Hair. 5 Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Supporting Actress, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and Best Original Song (for both "No Place Like Home" and "The Girl in the Bubble").
Key word: Lies.
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Bengi

Film 2417 - Black Phone 2

Intro: Once I refreshed my memory on the first film, it was time to go and catch the second one at the movies.

Film 2417: "Black Phone 2" (2025), Scott Derrickson
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor, Niamh
Thoughts: “The Black Phone” — or how to ruin a franchise. I think this is one of the biggest disappointments of 2025, definitely one of the worst films I've watched this year. I was so excited that a sequel to the original "The Black Phone" was coming out, as I loved the first movie. But after seeing what they did with the story and how they decided to continue it, the only question I had in my mind was: “Why?” It's not because this film is so different from the first one — that wouldn't have bothered me too much, although it did because of how bad it was. It's mainly because this is such a departure from the original that it doesn’t even feel like they belong to the same franchise. The cinematography is bad, the whole look is glossy (which doesn't really make sense for a horror movie?), and most of it seems to have been filmed in front of a green screen, whereas The Black Phone felt grounded in reality, even though it belonged to the supernatural horror genre. This one… feels like a fever dream of its own. I know "Black Phone 2" got decent reviews, but it really didn't work for me. Bad.
Film 2117 - The Black Phone
Film 2416 - The Black Phone
Film 2417 - Black Phone 2
Cast: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies, James Ransone, Demián Bichir, Ethan Hawke.
Box Office: $132 million
Worth a watch?: If you liked the first one… you won’t like this one. At least I didn’t. I wish I hadn’t seen it — it really ruined this franchise for me.
Awards: /
Key word: Bad dreams.
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Bengi

Film 2413 - Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

Intro: After Corfu, I spent 2 weeks between Barcelona and Bologna. Before leaving again, though, I went to the movies to watch the end of this saga.

Film 2413: "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" (2025), Simon Curtis
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I was a bit scared, I'll be honest. I liked the first movie, but the second one, although well made and not bad, wasn't as good as I had hoped. So I was a bit nervous about this one, considering the original TV show ended 10 years ago (and I'm not sure how many people were actually waiting for a third "Downton Abbey" movie).
Contrary to my expectations, "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" is actually much better than I anticipated. You definitely feel the absence of Maggie Smith, but the movie does a great job of honoring her and her character. And for the rest, it's exactly how it should be: a longer episode of "Downton Abbey," but make it a movie and, on top of that, make it the last installment of the whole franchise.
It's sad to think that it's really time to say goodbye, but "Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale" is an endearing final chapter and a great way to say farewell.
Film 1829 - Downton Abbey
Film 2106 - Downton Abbey: A New Era
Film 2413 - Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth McGovern, Penelope Wilton, Laura Carmichael, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Allen Leech, Michael Fox, Robert James-Collier, Phyllis Logan, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Dominic West, Kevin Doyle, Raquel Cassidy, Harry Hadden-Paton, Joely Richardson, Alessandro Nivola.
Box Office: $103.1 million
Worth a watch?: If you're not a fan, there's no real point in watching it, to be honest. But for those who love the Crawleys and appreciate the work of Julian Fellowes, this is definitely a movie to watch.
Awards: /
Key word: Divorce.
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Bengi

Film 2412 - The Conjuring: Last Rites

Intro: Not your classic Valentine's Day movie, yet a perfect depiction of my current love life.

Film 2412: "The Conjuring: Last Rites" (2025), Michael Chaves
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: Honestly? Not the best outing of the franchise.
I'm a huge fan of the "The Conjuring" saga and all its spin-offs, but it’s been a while since they released a truly good film. This isn’t terrible by any means, but like its predecessor, it isn’t great either. I’ll still go see any new installments they decide to produce — which seems likely, considering this was supposed to be the final chapter of the saga and yet became the highest-grossing at the box office — but I do think the series could use a breather.
That said, Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are, as always, perfect as Lorraine and Ed Warren, and they carry the entire movie. I was hoping the story would be a bit scarier or more unsettling. By now, the Conjuring films seem to lean more into conventional horror tropes and jump scares rather than creating their own distinct world or continuing to build upon it. While watching it, at times "The Conjuring: Last Rites" reminded me of "The Exorcist" at times.
Film 578 - L'evocazione - The Conjuring
Film 1179 - L'evocazione - The Conjuring
Film 1190 - The Conjuring - Il caso Enfield
Film 1450 - The Conjuring 2
Film 2029 - The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
Film 2412 - The Conjuring: Last Rites
Film 804 - Annabelle
Film 1157 - Annabelle
Film 1405 - Annabelle: Creation
Film 1657 - Annabelle: Creation
Film 1782 - Annabelle Comes Home
Film 1673 - The Nun
Film 2216 - The Nun II
Film 1774 - The Curse of La Llorona
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mia Tomlinson, Ben Hardy.
Box Office: $499.2 million
Worth a watch?: Not the strongest of the four films available, yet there’s something comforting about seeing Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson step back into the roles of the Warrens once again. If you’re a fan of this saga or the horror genre in general, "The Conjuring: Last Rites" is still a solid option for an evening of chills.
Awards: /
Key word: Mirror.
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Bengi

Film 2430 - Wake Up Dead Man

Intro: I had to start watching this movie three times before I could finish it — not because of a lack of intention, clearly, but because we chose to start watching it while in Dingle, Co. Kerry, during the New Year’s celebrations. And I don’t think it was a smart idea to give it a go after a long day of travelling, a long day of drinking, or in the company of friends (Niamh, Rachel, and Eimear) you’d just gone partying with.
So, when I got back home in the new year, I finally gave it a proper go (while on the new treadmill I bought so I don’t have to go for my weekly run in the rain).

Film 2430: "Wake Up Dead Man" (2025), Rian Johnson
Watched: From my computer
Language: English
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: I'm still a big fan of the first "Knives Out" and, as fun as it is to have more than one movie in this series, neither of the sequels has lived up to the initial hype — this one especially. Or, to put it differently, after the second movie came out and revealed itself to be a bit of a 'meh', I think people weren’t too curious about the third outing of the franchise.
To be fair, "Wake Up Dead Man" is better than "Glass Onion", in my opinion. The killer is still quite obvious, but at least it isn’t revealed as blatantly by the plot as it is in the second film. I hoped the big reveal of who committed the murder would at least be the kind of plot twist these types of movies should deliver and, in the end, it was — so kudos for that.
Still, I have to admit that a) stories revolving around religion, cults, and/or faith don’t necessarily appeal to me, and b) I wish Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) had been more at the centre of the story, rather than feeling like a supporting character simply linking the Knives Out series together.
Overall, although quite intricate, the story is entertaining, the mystery is an actual mystery, and the cast is full of A-listers delivering solid performances. Josh O’Connor proves once again that he’s a great lead, although it feels strange seeing him play a priest opposite the original hot priest from "Fleabag" (Andrew Scott).
Film 1844 - Knives Out
Film 2010 - Knives Out
Film 2152 - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Film 2429 - Wake Up Dead Man
Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church.
Box Office: $2.5 million
Worth a watch?: If you enjoyed the previous two movies in this franchise, this will be a nice addition and definitely one to watch. Overall, it’s better than the previous one, but not as surprising or entertaining as the original "Knives Out". Still, good fun.
Awards: /
Key word: Damascus.
Trailer
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Bengi

Film 2428 - Avatar: Fire and Ash

Intro: It's always hard to shop for my dad, so for Christmas I got it a series of different presents that included an afternoon to the movies with me. For old time sake. Also, unexpectetly, we watched it in 3D: I didn't know that was still a thing, to be honest.

Film 2428: "Avatar: Fire and Ash" (2025), James Cameron
Watched: At the movies
Language: Italian
Watched with: Dad
Thoughts: I don't consider myself a massive fan of this franchise, but I was definitely obsessed with the first movie when it came out. The novelty of that first adventure — the colours, the visuals, the music — everything was so magically entertaining and, in a way, I was mesmerised by it. Now, with this third film, the magic has definitely worn off a bit.
Don't get me wrong, I absolutely enjoyed "Avatar: Fire and Ash", and I'm glad that I went to see it with my dad — with whom I watched "Avatar" the very first time I saw it at the movies. I also have to admit that I found it to be better than I expected. Still, I can't shake the feeling that there's way, way less interest around this new outing than around the two previous ones. I mean, the box-office performance is still brilliant (will it get to two billion dollars, though? I don't think so), and people are clearly going to the theatre to watch it, but the excitement that was once there seems noticeably less intense. Although this is understandable — it's been 14 years since the first "Avatar" came out — it's also impossible not to notice.
I agree with the critics: the "Avatar" saga seems to be recycling the same story over and over again, while mainly relying on spectacle and visually striking elements. Nonetheless, "Avatar 3" is a fun ride for what it is — never boring — and this time it also introduces a great new villain in Varang (Oona Chaplin). I found her to be the standout of the whole experience.
So, while "Avatar: Fire and Ash" probably won’t be redefining the rules of cinema and storytelling any time soon, I still think it’s a respectable third entry in one of the last remaining successful movie franchises we have today.
Film 62 - Avatar
Film 68 - Avatar (3D)
Film 312 - Avatar
Film 604 - Avatar
Film 1291 - Avatar
Film 2155 - Avatar: The Way of Water
Film 2427 - Avatar: Fire and Ash
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Oona Chaplin, Edie Falco, Giovanni Ribisi, Jack Champion, Jemaine Clement, David Thewlis, CCH Pounder, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, Kate Winslet.
Box Office: $1.231 billion (so far)
Worth a watch?: I really enjoyed it for what it is. It's definitely not for everyone - especially if you din't like the first two films - and it runs for 3 hours and 17 minutes so, if you think you're up for that, go ahead and have fun!
Awards: Nominated to 2 Golden Globes for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement and Best Original Song ("Dream as One" by Miley Cyrus).
Key word: Oxygen mask.
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Bengi

Film 2405 - Freakier Friday

Intro: When in Enniscorthy (County Wexford) for a week break, Yegor joined me for a few days and we decided to go to the nearest town, Wexford, to go for a little strall and watch a movie.

Film 2405: "Freakier Friday" (2025), Nisha Ganatra
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Yegor
Thoughts: I have a fond memory of this movie more because of the circumstances (see intro) than the actual movie itself. I think we were the only two adults without children in the whole theater.
I didn't think a sequel of the original "Freaky Friday" was necessary to be honest and yet the nostalgia effect caught me off guard. I don't remember the first movie at all, but I like Lindsay Lohan enough and I'm happy for her current career resurgence and I think this "Freakier Friday" is a good blend of easy and fun entertainment similar to the previous movies Lohan used to be associated with.
This second outing is fine, it doesn't reinvent the wheel by any means, and yet it's a comfy watch, perfect for all audiences and good for the Summer season. Jamie Lee Curtis does Jamie Lee Curtis and she does it well. Probably she's the one who had more fun coming back to this franchise.
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Manny Jacinto, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Chad Michael Murray, Vanessa Bayer, June Diane Raphael, Mark Harmon.
Box Office: $153.2 million
Worth a watch?: Not necessarily a must watch, but definitely a good fit for easy and innocent entertainment that can either be passively watched or used as background noise.
Awards: /
Key word: London.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Film 2391 - 28 Years Later
Film 2437 - 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
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.
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Bengi