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Reviews
Midsommar (2019)
Great ending
I'm well aware that this movie is not for everyone. It is quite slow and not your standard horror movie. But, while it was both that and a bit predictive at points, it was a great watch.
The movie was suggestive at times and graphic at other moments. After the movie ended, we realized how much we missed. The ending was great and really tied the movie together and the filming was beautiful.
Beyond the Lights (2014)
Great acting
The story isn't too surprising, but the two leads have so much chemistry that it didn't feel cheesy at all. The characters show growth, but in a way that makes it feel real and natural.
13 Reasons Why (2017)
Season one was great, the rest is garbage.
I'm writing this after watching the final season of this show. When season one came out, I had read the book and really liked the way it was adapted. From a teacher's point of view, I appreciate the fact that this show gives schools and/or parents an opportunity to talk about mental health issues, since this is not talked about enough. I know it's been said that it glorifies suicide, but I don't see it like that. I thought the suicide scene - which they have now removed - was very strong and showed the fear and struggle I imagine many people feel when they commit suicide.
When season 2 came out, I was a bit reluctant. I can't really tell if I liked it. I wasn't feeling the whole 'I see dead people' road they took, but what I did like was Tyler's story. You could see he came closer to doing a school shooting every episode, which is also something that's swept under the rug and never talked about. The fact that Tyler didn't go through with it felt like the writers were too scared to show the alternative.
I'm not even going to talk about seasons 3 and 4, because they were just awful and a disgrace to the original story. From this point on, it's become the 'we're going to address as many social problems as we can' and half of them make no sense. Season 1 deserves more than 4 stars, but the other seasons sure as hell don't.
Outer Banks (2020)
Not bad
Being in quarantine, I have to admit that my standards are quite low. The first few episodes were a bit too much Riversale for me, theu were over the top and you jump right into some weird gang rivalry without any context whatsoever. However, I kept watching and around halfway through the show it becomes better and better. The last two episodes were really enjoyable and a good setup for a potential season 2.
I've also learned a valuable life lesson watching this show, I hate the name John B. Understand when I say this that I have watched all episodes in one day and I'm ready to quarantine myself for the rest of 2020 if that means they'll just call him John from now on.
Joker (2019)
There are no words.
I just saw this movie in a sold out theatre, and there wasn't a single sound the entire time. When the credits started rolling and the lights went on, most people were still glued to their seats, still processing all the emotions this movie evokes. I understand and agree with the fact the movie could inspire people to do bad things. I think everyone who has ever suffered from any mental illness, myself included, can relate to Joker in one way or another. But even though some parts were relatable, you also feel repulsion and confusion that grow as Arthur slowly loses his mind. I watch a lot of movies and it has been a long time since I've felt so many things at the same time while looking at a screen. This is a masterpiece, and Joaquin deserves an oscar for his incredible performance.
Unbelievable (2019)
We need more of this
All the praise I read in the reviews so far is more than deserved. Knowing this happened to real women in the real world made me feel so sad and uncomfortable. Getting confronted with the fact that this is a very real problem and is happening everywhere is almost too painful to watch. I love how all victims portrayed differently, showing that pain doesn't always present itself in the same way. Netflix doesn't always make great movies or shows, but they once again showed that this is what they do best - tell stories that need to be heard. The acting is so incredibly good that you get sucked into this show from the first moment. If you still have to watch the show, do so on a day off. You won't be able to stop.
Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)
Loved it
Spoiler alert! Don't read if you haven't seen the movie.
Once I heard Jake Gyllenhaal would play Mysterio, I was ecstatic. I obviously love the MCU and I also love Jake. However, the first half hour if this movie I just wasn't feeling his acting. It got better and better, reaching a high point when he outs himself as the villain and lasting until the very last scene. Even though I knew Mysterio would be the villain, the beginning of the movie made me confused if I had read that villain part correctly, because how could he be?? Tom and Jake have such great chemistry off the screen aswell, if you look at the interviews of the two of them. It shows on the screen.
Not only is the acting in this movie great, Mysterio is a great follow up to Thanos. We're done with bad guys wanting to end the world, with Thanos we reached the ceiling with those kind of villains. Mysterio targets your feelings, your mind. We feel the grief of losing our beloved avengers, and what is worse than someone using that grief to trick us? I can't believe he only got one movie. This character deserved so much more than one movie. I'd have loved more depth to his character like we saw with other Marvel villains.
All in all, in my opinion, this movie was an amazing follow-up to Endgame, breaking and mending the hearts of the MCU fans the best way they possibly could. The after-credit scenes did what they had to do: make us anxious and excited for the next Spiderman.
Venom (2018)
Tom Hardy is a hero
Venom starts out with more than a few clichés. There's thousands of movies that start out with 'successful guy loses everything and is sad about it and then something life-changing happens.' It's not a bad start of the movie, it's just not special. However, about half an hour into the movie, the true magic begins.
The main reason for this is Tom Hardy. I know he's is not going to receive an oscar for his performance in this movie - it's just not that kind of movie and we all know it, but boy, does he deserve one. The acting in this movie is one of the best I have seen in any Marvel movie, especially because this is one of the most complex characters to portray. I'm glad the writers of this movie started out slow and took their time to guide us through the struggle and the confusion Eddie feels at first. Yes, it starts slow, but it's not boring for a second.
The only thing I wish was different about the movie is that the creators decided to make it PG-13 and not R-rated. A little more blood and swearing never hurt anyone, especially not in a setting like this. The after credit scene was on point, though. I'm already craving a sequel as much as Venom craves to eat people's faces off.
The Open House (2018)
Will keep me up at night
This movie will keep me up at night, but not for the right reasons. I guess it succeeded in being a horror movie for achieving insomnia, since I will stay awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering what's up with the crazy neighbor and her possibly dead husband, why the dad got murdered, who the killer was... I could go on like this forever.
I couldn't bring myself to give it just one star, because of the acting that was pretty good if you can see through the terrible writing and because of the potential, but the end of this movie makes me want to stick my hand in a deepfryer just to see what will happen if I do.