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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Lou (2022)

September 24, 2022 josechurape Leave a comment

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As far as cheap and generic action movies go, Lou fairs a little better, but I still can’t recommend it. I am sure there is an audience for these types of movies, but they haven’t found any in my home.

Lou is about a recluse who lives in the woods and hunts for her food. The movie starts as she is about to commit suicide, but her attempt is interrupted by her one and only neighbor. Her neighbor’s daughter has been kidnapped, and Lou takes it upon herself to track down the kidnappers and save the little girl. The problem is, there is a storm shaking the island, and her arthritis is flaring up. Will she be able to save the little girl before the arteritis takes her hands?

This movie was average at best but never worth your time. The acting is average, with Lou being the best actor. The other characters try their hardest, but the writing doesn’t do much to help them. The plot is simple and linear, and the action isn’t fun or exciting.

I am not sure how I feel about this trend of older action heroes. I am glad that actors are no longer type-casted into the grandparent role, but I don’t think they’ve figured out the formula to make them work. Granted, these movies aren’t made for me, but it is still a valid opinion. At least this one was more realistic. It makes me nervous for the final Halloween movie seeing how the last movie was over-the-top ridiculous. I have nothing against Jamie Lee Curtis, but she had Micheal Meyers level of resilience to knife wounds; that is a hard truth to accept.

It is hard to say anything more about this movie because it just exists without leaving much of an impression. When there isn’t any action, I was trapped watching two women hiking through the woods, bonding due to circumstances. It may not be the worst action movie, but it is forgettable. You can stream it on Netflix.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Don’t Worry Darling (2022)

September 23, 2022 josechurape 10 Comments

Don’t Worry Darling is a huge waste of time, don’t watch it in theaters. This film’s abysmal failure was rightfully predicted when the only news coming out nearing its release was about the drama that surrounded the filming. If this amateur attempt at horror doesn’t ruin Olivia Wild’s directing career, nothing will.

Don’t Worry Darling is about a dystopian desert community that is themed after the 1950’s American nuclear family fantasy. The men all work at a factory where what they do is a secret. The women are homemakers who look after the house and their husband’s every need. Everything seems perfect at the Valor project. Food is plentiful, there is a lot to do, and everything is perfect. But there is something sinister happening in the desert, and Alice is the only one who suspects such. Alice seeks answers, but the answers she seeks begin to unravel her world. It seems like her life at the Valor project isn’t as perfect as it seems.

Don’t Worry Darling is two hours where nothing happens. The first half hour is dedicated to Harry Styles making out with Alice, while the rest of the run time is padded with more fan service and fake deep sequences. If this movie dedicated as much time to developing its plot as it did with Mr. Styles, this could have been an actual movie. Instead, Don’t Worry Darling is a superficial attempt at replicating a better horror film.

The biggest problem with this movie is that there isn’t enough tension. The editing, the bizarre directing choices, and the acting

aren’t able to make this work. The acting is very inconsistent. In some scenes, the writing and the acting come together nicely and give the audience the false hope that the movie might get better. Most scenes, however, feel as if the actors are struggling to remember the lines they were given minutes before filming. It doesn’t help that most characters are poorly written cardboard cutouts of people. The cast does its best, but nothing can save this atrocity to film.

This is the part of the review where I will spoil the movie. If you are planning to watch it, don’t, but this is a good place to stop. You’ve been warned.

The movie is all set up, full of scenes that take way too long and symbols that overstay their welcome. With all this setup, the big defining twist still manages to come as a surprise. This whole movie exists as a simulation, and only the men know the truth. The women on the other hand have been reprogrammed to believe in the simulation and be perfect housewives. The idea is cool. In the hands of a competent director, this could have been a good movie, but it’s not.

Don’t Worry Darling’s follies make this movie anti-climactic. The villain is poorly written and without any presence. I forgot Chris Pine was even in this movie until he would show up for some poorly written moments. The only reason I knew he was the villain was that he was nearly always accompanied by ominous music. Alice on the other hand suffers from magical competence. She knows something is wrong and knows what to do because the script and director say so. Most events in this movie happen for the same reason. You can argue that it was all programmed to happen, but this movie isn’t good enough for that explanation. As a result, I never cared when Alice was in danger because I knew ex-Machina would save the day.

Instead of wasting so much time on symbolism and fan service, it should have spent time developing its mystery and gas-lighting Alice. There should have been more clues to suggest that this was a simulation. There should have been more meaningful interactions between Alice in the world; maybe it wouldn’t feel so frustratingly magical. There should have been a better director. Olivia Wild tried and failed, and this was the result. Don’t watch this movie.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Father Stu

September 22, 2022 josechurape 2 Comments

I didn’t like Father Stu because it is a boring movie. While it may find its audience within the Catholic community, it won’t find it in most audiences.

Father Stu is the story of how a failed amateur boxer finds his way to the catholic faith. Stu is an alcoholic without any direction. He has big dreams and even bigger ambitions but has an attitude that constantly gets him into trouble. He moves to California to become a movie star, but instead, he finds his way to the Catholic Church. God has different plans for Stu, and after a terrible accident, Stu becomes determined to become a priest. Fate is cruel and his body begins to succumb to a debilitating illness that will one day leave him completely disabled. Will he be able to find strength in his newfound faith, or will the trials prove too difficult?

The only reason I am not madder at this movie is that the cast is fantastic. Mark Wahlberg carries this movie as Stu, but unfortunately, this movie isn’t good enough for him. The plot is rather generic, and the pacing is terrible. It seems like the movie races from trial to trial and rushes to close up all the plot points at the end. Nothing interesting happens despite it having so many subplots. Sure the movie might be mechanically inspiring, but its execution is anything but. This is just another faith movie, but this one has a decent budget and actors.

Father Stu is pro-Catholic propaganda. Stu has to sacrifice so much in his journey in order for him to be rewarded. His journey is used as a way of proving that God will test you constantly, but will reward you if you have faith. There is also enough preaching in between to make this message redundantly clear. The movie also goes out of its way to show its audience how accepting, caring, and helpful the Catholic church is. I was raised Catholic and understand that the church does good for its community, but this was over the top. The movie constantly shoves its righteousness in the audience’s face to the point where I have to question its legitimacy. There is enough controversy surrounding the Catholic church to suggest that it is not as virtuous as this movie so desperately says it to be. I want to be clear, I have nothing against the Catholic faith; this just wasn’t a good movie.

If you are Catholic, Father Stu is an inspiring story about a fallen man finding God. You should watch it. For everyone else, I would probably hold off. But if you are still curious, you can stream it on Netflix.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Drifting Home (2022)

September 20, 2022 josechurape 6 Comments

Drifting Home is a cute coming-of-age story that deals with grief and loss. I wasn’t ready for the emotional journey this movie was about to take me on, but I am glad I was there for it. Even if you aren’t a fan of Anime, you should check out this film.

Kosuke and Natsume are two kids who lived together due to their circumstances. They were best friends and did everything together. This all changes when Kosuke’s grandfather dies, breaking up the long-existing friendship. Now they only speak to each other when necessary. Unknown forces whisk the pair and a group of friends away and drop them on top of an endless ocean, floating on top of the decrepit apartment they grew up in. The building floats aimlessly, and the kids must band together to survive till rescue comes. If it ever comes that is. Will the kids survive the journey and find a way back home?

I will be rewatching this film regularly. It has become one of my favorite animated films in recent memory. The art is beautiful, the dubbing is fantastic, and the story is cute and compelling. The endless drifting at sea is a perfect metaphor for the kid’s feelings, as they struggle to cope with complex emotions such as grief and loss. The journey acts as the catalyst that will help the kids work through their troubles. It is a well-written journey that will have you sobbing at points but ultimately leave you smiling. Drifting Home is a unique take on a human experience we are all familiar with, making it relatable to all audiences.

Above all, Floating Home is fantasy done right. This is a fun and fantastical world that is well-built and developed. It makes for a fantastic adventure that will have you at the edge of your seat. This isn’t going to be a movie you can only watch once. If you haven’t seen it, I ask you to add it to your watch list and thank me later. You can stream it on Netflix.

Now as a shameless plug, if this movie isn’t available for streaming where you live, I suggest using Atlas VPN. As a note, I am affiliated with them and will get a small commission if you choose to use it. I’ve been using it for a bit now, and it does what it sets to do.

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video game reviews

Video Game Review: Destroy All Humans 2: Reprobed

September 20, 2022 josechurape 1 Comment

I want to start by saying that I received this game as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let that sway my opinion. This will be an honest review of the game.

Destroy all Humans 2: Reprobed is an updated version with new art and updated graphics. This Reprobed edition includes new locations, new missions, and new weapons to make the game feel fresh and modern for veterans. You play as Crypto as he wages war against the KGB for blowing up his mothership. This crude chaotic third-person shooter is perfect for a gamer looking for a chill and relaxing game to add to their library. It’s even better for those wanting to relive some nostalgia.

I had so much fun with this game; I have never laughed so hard gaming before. I haven’t played any other games in the series, but I have always heard good things about it. I thought this was a great introduction to the series. I never felt alienated by the lack of knowledge bout the lore as the events were kept rather neatly within this story. I am sure those who have played since the beginning will have a deeper appreciation for the game, but do not be intimidated by starting at number 2.

I loved the freedom this game gives you to explore the major cities while you prepare for the next story mission. The game does a fantastic job at encouraging exploration by hiding trophies, Easter eggs, and materials to help you level your weapons around each city. This game has enough going on to keep the completionists out there happy. Each city has a series of side quests that also help you level your character as you prepare. The main story was hilarious, full of crude jokes and innuendos that have you crying from laughter. The voice acting in this game is fantastic. I recommend this game just for the voice acting.

The upgrades in graphics were very much appreciated; this game is beautiful. It was very satisfying to rain down chaos on the streets of San Francisco. The gameplay was good for the most part. As Crypto, you had a choice of various weapons and alien powers that always kept the mayhem refreshing and new. Crypto also has access to a jet pack and skateboard that made movement around the city incredibly fun. The only complaint I have with this game is with the saucer levels. You unlock a saucer early on, and the levels that force you to use it are frustrating. The movement was sluggish and inconstant. The saucer never moved where I wanted it to, and aiming with its weapons was an equally terrible experience.

I played this game on normal difficulty, but I recommend playing on anything harder. I found that the AI on normal was very dumb. You can breeze through the Crypto levels easily if you can figure out a way to trap the NPCs. I assume the saucer levels suck at any difficulty.

I had a lot of fun with this game regardless of the saucer levels. If you prep enough beforehand with the exploration, side missions, and leveling, the story should be manageable at any difficulty. If you are a fan of the originals, there are probably a lot of jokes in this that you will appreciate a lot more than I did. I recommend you get this game if you are on the fence.

I played this game on Steam, but it is also available for the Xbox, Playstation, and through the Epic Games Store.

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Series Reviews

Series Review: The Imperfects (2022)

September 19, 2022 josechurape 3 Comments

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

The Imperfects is Netflix’s new show about superhumans, and it is not half bad. It does take an episode or two for it to get interesting, but it ends up being a solid story. If you like X-men, it touches on many of its central themes. It is a solid attempt at the metahuman narrative, and a much better adaptation than any of the modern live-action X-men movies.

The show is about a geneticist whose obsession to cure mankind’s diseases unleashes a series of unforeseen mutations into the world. The show focuses on three youths whose mutations have manifested in unique and unwanted abilities. Frightened by their new development and desperate to be normal, they seek a cure. The problem is that the only scientist capable of making a cure has gone missing. Will they ever be able to find a cure, or will they live the rest of their lives as monsters?

I was surprised by this series because I have been disappointed by this concept many times before. The Imperfects may not be the perfect metahuman show, but it does show promise. While it may be limited by its budget, I can’t fault it for its creativity. If anything, this series proves you don’t need Sony’s budget to make a good series about metahumans. At its core, it has a strong enough narrative played by a good cast. Some of the writing isn’t great, and the show carries a general cheesiness, but it has an unmistakable charm that kept me interested till its season finale.

I loved the characters. Each lead has his or her own back story and goes on an important journey where they experience some kind of growth. It is refreshing to see a show like this have characters who aren’t the same at the end as where they started. The Imperfects is a unique take on the superhero narrative in which the characters don’t want to be burdened by their powers, or be heroes. Instead, they pursue a selfish goal but are constantly being tested into acting selflessly. It makes for an interesting dynamic in which the characters constantly face difficult decisions. It has its flaws. Some of the powers are imbalanced and they don’t know what to do with all their characters, but it remains a solid attempt.

I can only hope that this series takes off and we get a second season. You should watch this if you like the superhero genre and are waiting for something to watch. Even if you aren’t interested, it is worth a gander if you have nothing else to watch. You can stream it now on Netflix.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: The Woman King (2022)

September 17, 2022 josechurape 12 Comments

I am blown away by the high level of production that went into the making of The Woman King. I am elated that we are finally moving away from the problematic representation of the noble savage toward a more true and respectful one. The costumes, traditions, combat, and acting all come together to make this movie a beautifully epic experience. If you are considering watching this movie, buy the tickets and enjoy its glory. This is a movie you need to watch in theaters.

The Woman King is a historical representation of the Agojie, an all-female warrior unit tasked with protecting the African nation of Dahomey. While the movie does focus on the geopolitical conflicts between warring tribes and slavers, the movie is also an important narrative about womanhood. The movie focuses on Nawi as she trains to become an Agojie during her nation’s wartime. The film focuses on training while also highlighting some of the nation’s traditions. As Nawi learns to become a warrior, war is brewing in the backdrop until it boils over into some of the most epic battles in modern cinema. This is truly a fascinating itnroduction into one of the many cultures that are often misrepresented in the media.

The Woman King is an important film that needs to be supported. The film is an inspiring narrative of womanhood that challenges the traditional values that have been dominant in media for so long. I can’t forget to mention the important representation and commentary about slavery that can’t be overlooked. Unfortunately, it is becoming a modern trend in America to forget and overlook these kinds of stories. While they may be able to whitewash the curriculum, they cannot censor the cinema. I can only hope that this is the start of a growing trend to represent cultures that have often been vilified or forgotten due to racism.

Aside from its cultural commentary, this film has a fantastic narrative. Watching Nawi raise up through her training and building lasting bonds with her sisters was both inspiring and heartwarming. These actresses gave it their all to such an epic story to life. There was a lot of love and dedication put into this movie, and it clearly paid off. It is truly refreshing to see women, especially women of color take on such active and heroic roles in cinema.

The Woman King is an action movie done correctly. The narrative, the action, and the characters all kept me at the edge of my seat. The only complaint I have about this movie is that the theater was so empty. I don’t think the movie has caught on to the public yet, but it should. This is one of the best movies I have seen this year, and I will die on this hill. If you are considering watching this movie, or haven’t heard of it, buy the tickets and thank me later. You can watch it in theaters as of the writing of this review.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Do Revenge (2022)

September 16, 2022 josechurape Leave a comment

I just watched Do Revenge and it was a lot better than I expected. It may not be winning any awards or breaking any leaderboards, but it is a fun and entertaining movie to throw on when you don’t want to think.

Drea attends a prestigious high school and has managed to work her way to the top of the social ladder. She runs the school and dreams of going to Yale. This all changes when her boyfriend leaks her nudes to the entire class. Drea’s reputation is ruined overnight, and she is made an outcast by the people she believed to be her friend. Her boyfriend survives unscathed, leaving Drea to deal with the anger of this betrayal alone.

While her boyfriend gets to live his normal life, Drea must play by the rules and deal with the repercussions. But Drea’s fall from grace lands her an unlikely ally, Elenore. Elenore has also had her reputation destroyed, and shares in Drea’s anger. Together, they plot to exact revenge on those who wronged them. Common goals create unlikely friendships, but will the revenge they seek quell the anger they hold within?

Do Revenge doesn’t have the greatest story. It doesn’t even have enough story for a full movie and must resort to romantic subplot plot filler and some light fan service. That said, this isn’t a bad movie. What makes this movie work so well is its leads. These two have the chemistry and charisma to carry this movie. I had so much fun watching them scheme and slowly become friends, even though what they do is immoral.

What I liked about this movie was the leads had a conscience. In movies like this, the leads don’t realize what they are doing is wrong until it’s too late. You get a sappy apology, and everything is restored in the end. This movie has some of that, but the characters show remorse as they plot and scheme. There is a very cool scene where Drea confesses that she still feels angry, and nothing seems to quell that anger. This was a very surprising moment because I didn’t expect this movie to have any depth or character growth.

Do Revenge is a simple movie that does what it sets out to do, it entertains. Aside from the leads, the acting is average at best. There are some bad line reads that I am willing to forgive. This movie is a tad generic as it hits a lot of the mandatory teen movie tropes. The story also loses a bit of traction towards the end as it tries to tie everything up. But if you just are looking for something to watch, this movie is a solid choice. You can stream it on Netflix.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: The Bubble (2022)

September 14, 2022 josechurape 2 Comments

The Bubble proves that you can have a movie full of funny and talented people and still be painfully unfunny. If you haven’t heard of this movie, consider yourself lucky because this movie is a huge waste of time.

The Bubble is a meta-comedy about the making of a bad movie. The movie pokes fun at how the pandemic affected filmmaking. The film spends too much time making pandemic-era jokes that you have seen done better on TikTok. This movie actually becomes a Tiktok commercial halfway through. In the movie, the actors find themselves imprisoned by the production company and are forced to finish filming. I don’t know if this movie is a documentary or a comedy because I felt the same desperation the characters did to leave this film. This is a discount Tropic Thunder you shouldn’t bother watching.

What a shame that so much talent was wasted on a skit that never ends. I hope the paychecks were nice because this movie was torture. The jokes rarely landed, the meta nature of it doesn’t work, and there is no structure to this comedy. I couldn’t tell if the jokes were meta or if they were critiquing the movie in real-time. I can’t tell you how many scenes start with them talking about how badly this movie is. There are parts of this movie that feel like it was all improvised, and none of it was good. This is a movie that gets worse the longer it runs because the jokes get more and more desperate. The only good thing about this movie is the CGI. It is really good, but I don’t understand why they even bothered to make it so.

I understand that movie was supposed to be satire and poke fun at the film industry, but it doesn’t do it properly. There is nothing more I can say about this movie because it is so bland. Nothing happens. You can watch this on Netflix, but you should skip it.

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