cheesecollector Reviews

Mad God (2021)

Brilliant and deeply unsettling

[10/10 · 24 August 2022]

One shot in Mad God focuses on a commonly-used appliance for a long time - and when I mean focus, I mean it's the only thing on the screen. In another context, it would be excruciatingly boring (though I dislike using that term in reviews). In the context of Mad God, the shot is gripping, anxious, and deeply sad. Much of the film feels that way. Phil Tippett's skin-crawling work comes from familiar pieces, but it stands as a singular and masterful achievement; its brutality is central and necessary.

Mad God clocks in at less than an hour and a half but feels way longer, like sprawling four-hour epics. It wrenches the viewer around from character to character with layered callousness so that most of what's left are its themes. The animation and general visual designs are impeccable, a mix of styles that never supplant the substance. The same can be said of other technical aspects - camera work, music, sound effects, chilling acting, transitions, etc.

Halfway through the film, Tippett's twisted allegorical tour pauses in a colorful, almost-pleasant place. We're then wrenched away again, and violence overtakes all else.

This movie gave me a genuine sense of loss, pain, and fear of humanity's evils. I highly recommend Mad God if you can stand the gore.

Heat Vision and Jack (1999 TV Movie)

Not ordering this series was one of Fox's greatest mistakes.

[10/10 · 11 July 2022]

Heat Vision and Jack is the silly, unpretentious, and consistently funny pilot to an exploitation TV show that sadly was not ordered by Fox. It has an over-the-top and bizarrely-specific premise, and every participant in its making appears to have had endless fun during it. The music, cheesy 1980s-style special effects, voiceover narration, and great use of Ron Silver as a sinister version of himself are the makings of a "trash" TV masterpiece.

After explaining his origin in the intro, Jack Black again regals us with the backstory of... Jack the astronaut, and his trusty, sentient motorcycle, Heat Vision (Owen Wilson). To explain more would spoil the fun of viewing my favorite thing Ben Stiller has ever done for the first time. It's quite tempting to do so... Heat Vision and Jack must be seen to be believed.

Foul Play (1978)

Oddball excitement.

[7/10 · 10 July 2022]

I found Foul Play compelling, coherent, surprising, and almost overstuffed with charm. It's messy in its comedy-thriller endeavors, but it ties itself up in the end (mostly). That's more than I can say for a fair number of comedies. Though it's not nearly as funny as some other Chevy Chase films I've seen recently, this movie is just so action-packed and sweetly humorous that it works for me.

I found Goldie Hawn's Gloria compelling throughout the narrative, but as Chase's Tony got more and more screen time I wasn't sure who the lead was. I guess I should've trusted the poster more; Foul Play is a romcom with Chase front and center, and so attention is shared in the end even if Tony only joins the "main cast" halfway through. Still, I love Chase as an actor, and his performance here goes beyond his usual physical comedy. He delivers deadpan, he drives the plot forward when he starts taking Gloria seriously, and he successfully embodies an Inspector Clouseau-like, bumbling officer of the law without losing that seriousness. It's hard to describe exactly what mix of expected and unexpected Chase variations are present here, but Fletch he is not. That's for sure. Tony is actually one of the nicest Chase protagonists, now that I'm thinking about it...

I was greatly invested in Gloria, and I was sad that some of her power was taken away. Goldie Hawn is an outstanding actress. I would've loved to have seen her in a more intensely slapstick movie opposite Chase; their chemistry is excellent, especially during the quieter, more flirtatious scenes. They do a dance that has strangeness underneath it to match the extremely dangerous feel of the plot. Through this strangeness, the movie avoided alienating me with the energy of romcom clichés. Of course, Hawn nails the scenes without Chase too. Her character exudes fear and foolishness made believable by reasonable preoccupation with danger and frustration when others do not, or cannot, help her. She expects both the best and worst in others. Hawn's got the physical comedy stuff down and, as others have pointed out, she's quite expressive with her eyes. She and Chase are both subtle and attention-stealing in numerous ways as the movie goes on, and somehow their characters embody similar characteristics (like that clumsiness) in totally different ways. I wish I felt Hawn's presence more at the end. I wish they had let Gloria contribute as much to the action as she did in the first half of her story.

Other characters fit in nicely in both comedic and serious roles. Some of the villains are actually menacing, and some blur the lines between comedy and tragedy (like Gloria's fearful friend or the man she meets at the bar). I've seen Burgess Meredith act similarly before, but he was fun here all the same.

This movie was generally fun to watch even if I didn't laugh that much... It made me smile. The music was well-placed, the action felt well-balanced between goofiness and legitimate suspense, and I thought the ending was well-earned. Foul Play is perhaps too unconventional, forgetful of its loose ends, and underappreciative of Goldie Hawn's talents, but it was still pretty enjoyable for me as a comedy fan. I will definitely seek out more work from both Hawn and Chevy Chase.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Unabashedly Raimi - and more.

[8/10 · 6 July 2022]

Elizabeth Olsen definitely steals the show here - but the show is worthy of her, and all the other actors seem complicit in its emphasis on her performance. My second viewing really made me appreciate Benedict Cumberbatch and his choice to be more subtle as a reflection of Doctor Strange's sadness, but even this makes Olsen feel more formidable. The movie is worth watching for her alone.

Like the new Batman, Multiverse of Madness contains exciting horror elements. Like Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy, his new venture has a touch of whackiness as well that would've been sorely missed had another director managed the project. The action sequences feel dangerous and... well, strange, but there are other fun horror tropes interspersed with the superhero ones. These are necessary anchors as Doctor Strange journeys through impressive alternate realities and meets some other Marvel characters who are given unexpectedly violent treatments.

The Multiverse really is mad, as is the tortured Scarlet Witch. She's scary, her dialogue is scary, and the plot is surprisingly twisted. It still has a lot of heart, and its focus on loneliness certainly has cultural relevance. It's directly emotional but never sappy, and Danny Elfman's great soundtrack never compromises this. I suppose I would've appreciated some more memorable leitmotifs, like the ones he contributed to Tim Burton's Batman duology.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' title still makes sense to me. It still follows the titular character, and it feels comic booky. I could see the title sequence translating to an actual comic book story arc. It's just right for Raimi's style, which I thoght worked extremely well throughout the colorful film, especially given that this has a much faster pace than his Spider-Man films.

I guess that it's tough to market a horror-superhero-action-comedy-drama or whatever you'd call this, and I'm not sure what people were expecting from it. I certainly enjoyed it in all its tragic glory, and I'm grateful that Raimi never compromised his style for the sake of the MCU. I hope he continues to make comic book films - I'm still a fan.

Funny Farm (1988)

Tonal peculiarity

[7/10 · 6 July 2022]

I didn't find Funny Farm that funny - amusing, certainly; well-acted, consistently and empathetically; and coherent despite its unconventional plot, a resounding yes. But it was still a head-scratcher. I still can't pinpoint its tonal intentions. If I could, maybe I could more accurately gauge whether I thought it was successful.

Chevy Chase and Madolyn Smith Osborne have an unusual dynamic that works pretty well, and I wish they'd been in other films together. Both make inconsiderate, authentic decisions with disastrous results that often involve solid physical comedy. I liked the apple thing. The couple alienates themselves from their neighbors and from each other. Said physical comedy isn't bad, but things get a little more serious overall as time goes on. At one point Chase makes a sad, self-loathing remark that could've fit into an intense drama... but it also works in Funny Farm. There's so much nonverbal tension that it ends up anchoring a plot point that's already been developing for some time.

This movie features eccentric characters who I cared for as they navigated difficult situations, and some of the townsfolk served comedic purposes. I found the ending inevitable but unexpected in its execution, and the whole ordeal was kind of sentimental in hindsight.

I guess that I liked Funny Farm as a comedy-drama. So perhaps the worst thing about it is its name, which instills false expectations.

Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003 TV Movie)

Creepy nonsense.

[3/10 · 6 July 2022]

I saw this only so I can say that I've watched all of the Vacation movies. That's really the only reason to see it.

Needless to say, this is one of the weaker comedies I've experienced. There are a few mildly amusing segments, I guess, but it's mostly nonsensical, sexist, and creepy. The actors do their best with what they're given. Randy Quaid actually does pull off Cousin Eddie quite well as usual; I just never had any desire to spend this much time with the character.

I'm glad it's over. The best thing about this movie is that it's decently short.

Don (I) (2006)

Better than Bond?

[10/10 · 6 July 2022]

Don is one of the most fun, well-acted, efficient action thrillers I've seen. Everything about it works - no small feat considering its runtime. It leans into that Bollywood brand of melodrama just enough, and it moves like a freight train through scenes that might not work in lesser films. Even the dance segments fit like gloves. Dance segments! In a crime thriller!

I've seen 3-4 Bollywood movies so far, and this is by far my favorite. It has a great twist preserved from the original movie, and here it acts as a showcase for Shah Rukh Khan's fierce acting talent. The dialogue is funny, it takes itself exactly as seriously as it needs to, the soundtrack is used to great tonal effect, and it manages a decent number of characters very well... Everything about Don is just so much fun, and by the end it had even duped me several times. Just like a real spy.

I look forward to seeing the sequel.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

"I could never get past the title."

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

So states Batman, who ironically embodies one of the central themes of this holiday classic: living in the service of others. Semi-esoteric way to start a review, but what can I say? "Christmas with the Joker" is the first time I ever heard of this film...

Like Citizen Kane, It's a Wonderful Life ambitiously seeks to summarize the life of a man - or at the very least, a good portion of it - this time utilizing alternate realities. It's surprisingly dark, and it's also very organized. The acting is stellar, and characters are well-defined. I could see this film's message being interpreted in multiple ways; however you spin it, it's certainly philosophical without a shred of pretension. I think its messages have stood the test of time, and as long as there are local banks the plot will make sense as well.

Norm Macdonald: Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery (2017 TV Special)

I didn't get it the first time

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Norm Macdonald may not always be laugh out loud funny, but he always feels like a close friend. In that, he accomplishes something truly special in the realm of stand-up comedy, and I think it's exactly what he wants. He would sacrifice the laugh-after-laugh thing for the sake of "camraderie."

Norm's set here is conversational; though he's always subtly setting up a variety of jokes (he's extremely clever), he also has interesting things to say about death, socializing, and ethics. He's a Swiss Army Knife of a comedian and feels like the nicest, smartest guy in the room who talks "stupidly" for his own amusement. He's a huge prankster - you should see him on Conan. Or on his own Netflix show, Norm Macdonald Has a Show. That might be a good place to start; see how he interacts with another celebrity that you already like.

I really didn't understand this guy at first. He's a bit like Mitch Hedberg; grounded in normalcy, tweaking things just enough to throw me off.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

Balancing act

[8/10 · 5 July 2022]

Killer Klowns from Outer Space has a bit of a tough job. As a campy horror film it has to be scary and exaggerated about that, but it also has to be a little funny within its own continuity because clowns (I mean, Klowns,) are supposed to be funny.

It works! They do a great job. The practical effects and sets are great. The plot is ridiculous and understandable, though sometimes characters make foolish decisions that seem a bit unrealistic. The acting isn't great, but they know what they're doing: over-the-top is the way to go. The Klowns are funny in a morbid way since they're also pretty creepy. The tone fits together the whole time.

I'd been meaning to see this movie for a long time, and it didn't disappoint. Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a lot of fun. It's also way more clever than it ever needed to be.

Dirty Work (1998)

Bizarre irony is the Norm

[7/10 · 5 July 2022]

As Norm Macdonald narrated this movie to me, I felt like he was on the verge of giggling. Norm has contagious laughter, and he feels like a friend who doesn't even take something like making a movie seriously - and there's nothing wrong with that in this case. It's a layered comedy.

I've only recently begun to understand this man's layered sense of humor, and Dirty Work is his brand through and through. He has great timing, and he's so likeable that he was able to guide me through a story that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. You can't make a business out of vandalizing stuff and destroying property. You just... can't do that. You'd get arrested. But Dirty Work doesn't care about that. It's more focused on trying not to giggle as it makes fun of its own strangely conventional plot structure.

There were some pretty offensive jokes in here that I guess you'd say "haven't aged well;" this is why rating the movie is hard for me. Those jokes make me less inclined to rewatch (they're not funny either), yet the rest of them - and Norm's charisma - make me want to see Dirty Work again and again. Three moments in particular make me smile to think about even now. One involves fish, one involves car trunks, and one involves Chevy Chase's delivery of bad news making me laugh so hard that I immediately pressed rewind and watched it again.

This movie is a lot of fun for the most part, and I'm surprised that it isn't held in higher esteem.

Batman: The Animated Series: Heart of Ice (1992) Season 1, Episode 3

One of the greats

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

"Heart of Ice" is a landmark episode of Batman: TAS, a significant moment in Batman history. It redefined the origins of Mr. Freeze, transforming him into one of the most compelling members of Batman's rogues gallery, and I've been waiting for years for it to be adapted into a live-action film. They could copy the dialogue and plot exactly as it is - it's just astounding, efficient storytelling. They could stretch out the fight scenes and add some padding - I'm sure it would work.

In 20 minutes, Paul Dini and Bruce Timm use theatrical dialogue to tell a tragic tale that never fails to move me. It's carefully crafted, well-acted, and worthy of great admiration. It's also very quotable, but you ought to hear the lines in their original context first, I think.

Uncut Gems (2019)

Stressful! Never seen anything like it.

[8/10 · 5 July 2022]

The pacing here is impressive. I felt like I was running through this entire movie and felt similarly about Good Time, another effort by the Safdie brothers. I still followed the story, though, and I think making a story more or less easy to follow is a hard line for writers to walk. Uncut Gems is frantic but coherent, and it walks this line perfectly.

It follows a really sleazy jeweler, masterfully played by Adam Sandler, as he upsets other people. I was shocked that Sandler was capable of this. I really couldn't take my eyes off of him.

The camera work, lighting, music, and other elements all work in service of the frantic plot. This is the most anxious thriller I've ever seen; in one word, it is FAST.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000 Video)

Contender for scariest Batman film (Remember to see the uncensored version!)

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

I'm sure Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker works as a standalone piece, but I don't know if that would make it more or less frightening. I saw it right after finishing the Batman Beyond TV series, and I legitimately worried for the titular character's safety. No one has plot armor in this futuristic world.

The setting, New Gotham, looks great. It made me love cyberpunk as a kid, and it's great fun to watch (and hear - great soundtrack). The new Batman fits right in, and his first appearance here is light, comic book fun. Then he goes down, down deep into the twisted world of the Joker (Mark Hamill).

The Joker is genuinely menacing, and he's clearly got a plan. All of the voice actors are at the top of their game to match Hamill's performance. Laughter is actually a key emotional element, not just a character quirk. It guided me as I followed the carefully-crafted story to its inevitable conclusion.

There's one laugh, one anguished laugh, that may stay with me forever. It's in a crucial scene in both the censored and uncensored versions. I don't know what they were thinking, making a censored version of this. I wouldn't show this to any young kid. It's scary stuff... but Return of the Joker is a 10/10 from me. It has so much depth, and it's a masterful exploration of these characters.

On the Waterfront (1954)

I didn't appreciate the acting...

[9/10 · 5 July 2022]

And then I realized that I wasn't there in the taxi or on the roof with Brando. I was watching him embody my feelings on a screen. He was truly amazing...

The plot and dialogue of On the Waterfront are great, worthy of its masterful acting. It's optimistic, and everyone is so gritty and real that it earns that hopeful stretch ending. I wish Lee J. Cobb was in more good stuff... At least there's 12 Angry Men and, well, this.

As with some of the other films I love, my only gripe here would be with the music. I connect to music deeply, and when it intruded upon the taxi or other scenes I felt like Bernstein was trying to tell me what to feel. When it worked, though, it was beautiful.

On the Waterfront is worth watching for Brando alone, but everyone else is at the top of their game too. Great stuff.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

"Say the line, Bart!"

[8/10 · 5 July 2022]

No Way Home is easily the best of the three Jon Watts Spider-Man films. It doesn't reach the emotional depths of the Sam Raimi movies - few superhero movies do - but it tries at the very least, and that's the greatest thing about it.

This film is not a lazy, nostalgic cash grab. Anyway, Marvel knew they couldn't recast Willem Dafoe; his Green Goblin is one of the iconic movie supervillains, and that character is still associated with him in the public consciousness. (Sorry, Dane Dehaan.) I wish people would think of MCU movies more like comic books. There are crossovers, alternate realities, retcons, and lore that can be hard to follow. There are also moments of beautiful humanity expressed with drama worthy of life-or-death situations, and No Way Home hinges upon one in particular. Also, if you're lost within the MCU (or outside of it, which is where this film ventures), just Google it. You don't have to watch 20 movies. That's a ridiculous criticism; it's amazing that they're able to make these movies connect as they do. Maybe a few feel too transitional or lacking in independence; so are many comic books.

I digress. Through foolish optimism, Tom Holland's Spider-Man almost allows bad guys to destroy the world. There are real consequences to the actions of this young college student and, in the end, he makes a decision similar to that of Tobey Maguire at the end of one of his films. It will not last. Spider-Man was not meant to live in misery. He was meant to live with persistence, with the superheroic ability to learn from his mistakes. In No Way Home Jon Watts finally stops trying so hard to be "cool" and lets Tom make those mistakes, and he learns that "With great power, there must also come - great responsibility!" courtesy of Aunt May this time.

I cried like a baby when I saw Tobey. I never thought I'd see Bully Maguire on the big screen again, but there he was - older, wiser, and still "trying to do better." It's not Iron Man (thank goodness) or even Aunt May who acts as Spider-Man's mentor here - Tom's Spidey is becoming a man, and he must learn certain things for himself. ...He cheats by learning from other versions of himself. Andrew Garfield warns him of the risks of blind anger. Tobey reminds him of a great many things, but he has a hopefulness that Andrew cannot have. Both are like older brothers; they believe in Tom, they care for him, and their performances are so great that it feels wrong to continue the whole "Who's the best Spider-Man" debate. All of them are great reflections of the same character who is meant to act as a reflection of all of us - our struggles, our failures, our fears, and our potential. Watts gets a little afraid of Andrew's darkness and opts to start making fun of him, but hey - it's great that Andrew's there at all in his depressed glory. The angry, isolated Spidey is back, and I didn't realize how much I missed that side of the character.

Beyond its emotional intensity, this movie is slick like other MCU entries. It's also funny - these Spider-Men have great banter that's true to character. The character was always funny. This time, the humor means more; Tom needs it to get through the chaos that surrounds him, and the jokes are, for the most part, cleverer. They're less mean, too... most of them.

No Way Home is also worth watching for the most brutal and well-choreographed superhero fight scene this side of Sam Raimi.

The Amazing Bulk (2012 Video)

Excruciating

[1/10 · 5 July 2022]

I'm a fan of so-bad-it's-good movies; this is not one of them. The Amazing Bulk is like a playthrough of an early 2000s video game interspersed with badly-green-screened talking heads. For this and many other reasons, it is horrible.

The movie isn't funny. The villain is meant to have comic moments, but they fall flat and inspired only annoyance in me. The plot is simplistic, and it didn't hold my attention. The acting is as abysmal as the dialogue.

There are thousands of wonderful films that I'm sure you haven't seen. This is not one of them.

A Night with Lou Reed (1983)

Peerless

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

I spotted Andy Warhol in the audience... I hope he enjoyed this concert half as much as I did. For this review, I'll go over each member of Lou's band individually first:

Fred Maher is a minimalist drummer, but his style is less compelling to me than Moe Tucker's (the icon who worked with Lou in the Velvet Underground). Still, Maher plays his parts well, and his subdued approach gives the other musicians room to shine.

Fernando Saunders made me love the fretless bass. He plays effortlessly, elegantly - and he's a joy to watch. He clearly adores his job.

Robert Quinn plays guitar like no other; Lou calls him "ineffable." I'm never quite sure what's on his mind. Sometimes he almost looks happy, but behind those sunglasses he is a mystery. And a very cool one at that, who balances Lou well. Somehow, Quine is able to modify his frantic style to fit slower, more emotional songs without betraying himself.

And now... how to discuss this Lou Reed and his raw, earnest, ugly, gorgeous performance? Here we have a man sticking a pen in his heart, as the Stones would say. He projects confidence - but from all I know about him, he's embodying a nervous struggle with personal identity. He runs through shockingly brave songs that express strange parts of the human experience, songs that might appear cruel or sexist if they didn't have such undercurrents of self-doubt and sexual confusion ("Women," "Martial Law"). He surprised me with a tender rendition of "New Age," a number from his later Velvet Underground days. And he dueled Quine, of course, with that weaponized guitar.

At one point, Lou rushes through a recitation of the "Feelin' Lucky" monologue from Dirty Harry. It's a great, awkward reminder of his humanity. At another point, during a solo, he walks over and begins adjusting the settings on his amp. What comes through is some of the fiercest, nastiest, noisiest guitar work in all of classic rock. At that point he becomes otherworldly, as if releasing a primal scream for all the world to hear.

All the world should hear Lou Reed.

First Blood (1982)

A pleasant surprise

[9/10 · 5 July 2022]

As Rocky surprised me by being an anti-sports film (in my eyes), so did First Blood by being an anti-action film (sort of). Both affected me deeply.

First Blood is less subtle than Rocky, because it has to be - it IS still an action movie, and a very compelling one at that. John Rambo is a confused and scared force to be reckoned with. He's a victim of PTSD who is built up, stripped down, and made into a symbol that he ultimately embodies without losing any dimensionality.

The intensely personal, quiet finale of First Blood features a truly great acting performance, but it was almost ruined for me by a hokey song that begins the credits. A lot of audience members seem to like it, but to me it felt like it was bludgeoning me with a message that the film had previously given with far more tact.

That's just about my only criticism for this classic film.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

I'd watch this every Thanksgiving...

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

I really would. I wasn't expecting the sheer amount of heart in Planes, Trains & Automobiles. I wasn't expecting an emotional core or character development as everything went wrong for Steve Martin's Neal Page, but I cared for him more and more as the movie went on.

The issues that move the plot along all make sense, but they're still funny as they get increasingly ridiculous. John Candy's Del Griffith surprised me with his likeability, and Candy's performance here leads me to believe that he would've pursued more dramatic roles had he stuck around. Martin has great chemistry with him.

The main theme song is annoying, but that's about the only thing I can remember disliking from this film. Highly recommended.

Vegas Vacation (1997)

What happens in Vegas...

[8/10 · 5 July 2022]

Chevy Chase is a king of visual comedy, and Beverly D'Angelo is his perfect companion through their ludicrous Vacation adventures.

Since comedy is subjective, I'll try not to do much of that "I don't understand why this got such a low rating" stuff. Vegas Vacation felt pretty similar to the first Vacation to me, though - and I certainly enjoyed it just as much. The gags are great (and destructive!), and I was always excited to see how the Griswold Family would get out of their various predicaments. I knew things would work out in the end, of course, because they always do, but Clark is a... wild card. (That's a reference to card games, since he gambles a lot in this movie).

The kids, Audrey and Rusty, are given more to do in this installment, and I think everyone gets a fair amount of screentime. Vegas Vacation also felt more physically dangerous than the first movie, and it was exciting.

Christmas Vacation is still my favorite in the series, but I think this one might even be tied with the first one for me. I had a really good time in Vegas.

The Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots (1895)

Pretty straightforward...

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

This special effect still holds up! It looks like a lady getting her head chopped off. Impressive.

I wish more modern directors would utilize practical effects. The gesture with the guillotine feels so real. Plus - as I wrote in my review of Nosferatu - the high-contrast, black-and-white film makes this look like a newspaper reporting the execution.

John Wick (2014)

What more could you ask for?

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

Except maybe a more creative title. Keanu Reeves really embodies this stoic character and takes him on an exciting journey through some really, really impressive fight choreography. John Wick is a great action thriller that thrilled me the whole way through.

A clever world of assassins is developed here, but the main things driving this movie are honor, respect, sadness, and anger. A lot of this is about sadness and anger; there are a lot of revenge flicks out there, but this one did a good job of making me feel for John and why he's doing what he's doing.

Deadpool (2016)

One of the funniest superhero movies

[9/10 · 5 July 2022]

In addition to being genuinely funny, Deadpool isn't afraid to embrace the irritating charm of its titular character. It's also surprisingly romantic! The soundtrack is great, the acting is great, the pacing is fast and consistent, the action is fun, the visual gags are fun (that Zamboni!)... It's got so much going for it. These aren't light quips like many MCU movies have, either; Deadpool's got substance and pain underneath a lot of his humor, and he even undertakes an emotional journey.

Here's a Deadpool fun fact: in a comic book from the early 2000s, Wade Wilson describes himself as looking like "Ryan Reynolds crossed with a shar-pei."

Stay Away, Joe (1968)

Creepy nonsense

[3/10 · 5 July 2022]

Stay Away, Joe is incoherent. A bunch of guys who appear to be close friends (or family) beat each other up. A lot. Sometimes it's for fun; sometimes I wasn't too sure. The titular Joe is a sleazy creep who pursues a young, frankly childish woman for much of the movie - at least, when he's not sleeping with every other character's girlfriend.

I give the movie two points for the acting (everyone plays it straight, I guess) and a ridiculous, fun song about a bull. But overall, the movie is bull.