Let's Catch Up Shall We?

So...it's been a while hasn't it? Over a month of movies I've seen and yet, crickets here.

I can tell you I've seen a few movies, but also, been hard at work on my third book, Time After Time: A Winters Tale. Between finishing, editing, and going back to make corrections on the the first two I've not had a lot of time to write my thoughts on the one's I've seen.

These are the last ones I've seen and my quick thoughts on them since it's been a while since I've seen them.

Synopsis: An American couple and their daughter, living in Brittain, love traveling. While visiting the Italian countryside, they befriend a couple that lives a few hours away. They're invited to their lovely villa for the weekend and they agree. Things take a turn when the family holds a dark secret.

The first half of this movie, it felt a little slow, pacing wise. You absolutely know going in something is wrong with these people. Something is just off. You get tiny little hints of the mental stability of McAvoy's character Paddy. The wife is beyond suspect and their son? He's mute and trying to warn the kids to leave this place.

The father tries to deny that things are a bit weird, but the wife keeps pushing after one particular nasty event. They try to leave in the middle of the night, but their daughter, who suffers from anxiety attacks, forgot her stuffed animal. So, against better judgement, they go back.

This is where the movie really gets uncomfortable and tense. The slow reveals of what was really going on (not giving spoilers) was shocking. You're on the edge of your seat, wondering how it will all end.

I was a bit annoyed by most of the characters. Ben Dalton, the American dad, was completely dumb. I saw what was going on with Paddy and his family and I would have left as quickly as possible the second my wife said we need to leave. You have one job man, keep your family safe. You see how McAvoy's acting...just go.

But then you wouldn't have an intense thrill of a movie, but the weak first half didn't even out the good of the second. It's one you can watch a couple times, but you don't have to go out of your way to see it as soon as possible.

3/5

Bagman

The first of spooky season! And it was...eh.

A father faces a sinister threat from his past and must protect his family from it.

The creature, The Bagman, takes its victims and shoves it in a small bag. It lives in a small town's now defunct mines and takes the children in town.

It's a very forgettable movie. It brings nothing new to the genre and the scares are minimal. You get the classic jumpscares, but that's more from quiet-quiet-LOUDNOISES!!!-quiet.

It didn't end how I hoped that it would, but I wasn't expecting much from a movie that was barely marketed in theaters or online.

If you love horror movies, I'd give it a watch. If you don't, you're not missing anything. Like I said, forgettable.

2/5

Joker 2

Critics and fans alike are absolutely skewring this movie...and its fair. This was not a great movie.

The Joker, Arthur Fleck, is on trial for the murders he committed in the first one. He resides in Arkham Asylum, as he's been since being arrested. There, he meets Lee Quinnzel. She had herself committed so that she could meet Joker.

I don't hate that it was a 'musical'. I'm good with those, a lot of my favorite shows had amazing musical episodes. Singing in the Rain, great movie. This, it didn't really need the musical aspect of it. Though, you have Gaga, you're gonna have to bring the singing. The problem though? They had her intentionally sing off key in reality.

You have Lady Gaga...use her accordingly. She's a powerhouse of a performer, and she was amazing in her role. Joaquin once again did great as Arthur Fleck, but I think the movie itself was a bit directionless.

The first movie was about a man's descent into madness. He was a little off before, but given the secrets his mother was keeping, the polical and financial climate of the city, he was sinking to the darkside and it came out as Joker.

This one just went from Arkham to the trial with Harley mixed in with music numbers, most of which could have been removed for the sake of time and story.

Joker well as a stand-alone. It didn't need a sequel, not really. The movie did great and of course the studio wanted and begged for a sequel. This is what you get when studios want stuff.

Trust the people who work on the ground. The writers, the producers and directors (for the most part). If its intended as something, trust the process. Otherwise you get movies you don't need that underperform.

The cinematography was great. Acting was decent. Everything else was a bit weak.

3/5

I've also seen a number of other movies that I haven't posted this year:

• Maxxine - Not a worthy cap on this trilogy. Good mystery, but as talanted as the actress is, Maxxine is insufferable at times. 2/5

• Alien: Romulous - The kind of sequel to Alien. The good parts were rehashed from the first two. The bad parts could have been worked a little better. 3/5

Think that's all for now. Review for Smile 2 coming soon.