Thoko Namangale

“Why isn’t anyone driving to Missouri!” 7/10. Midway through the movie, I suddenly remembered Jude Law is British—he’s so convincing in this role. His performance, along with the rest of the cast, was excellent. Nicholas Hoult, in particular, was a standout. I couldn’t have imagined him as a cult leader, having mostly seen him in quirky or sci-fi roles, but this film showcased his range brilliantly. Tye Sheridan was fantastic as always, and it was great to see him in a bigger project again. I really liked when he was upset with the FBI’s incompetence. Jurnee Smollett also delivered a strong performance. One scene that really stuck with me was the discovery of the body. I think it’s my “favorite” one; it felt disturbingly real and visceral, especially with the character using his hands to dig up the grave instead of a shovel. That detail made it feel grounded, almost like you were right there, literally watching dirty work. The pacing is slow, but it builds towards a more gripping third act. The motel shootout was shock, and it’s in the final act where everything comes together. I think you usually have it in the back of your head, absentmindedly even, that the main characters will make it so the theatre gasped. The film touches on themes of hate , and it’s always ironic and unsettling to hear people using the guise of faith to spread such. It was pretty interesting to me that the book referenced in the story is connected to real-world events like January 6 as well. While I wasn’t blown away, the movie met my expectations—which were sorta high. It’s well-made and believable, even if it leans on familiar archetypes and tropes: the hate-filled ideology, the cult dynamics, the people working to dismantle it. So while nothing in the movie really surprises or blows you away, it’s that familiarity makes the story feel real because characters like these do exist. In the end, while it didn’t resonate with me on a deeper level or stick with me after the credits rolled, it’s a solid film with strong performances and a compelling, relevant narrative.

First steps. I went into this movie with no real expectations, thinking it could either be a charming romcom or a disappointing one. I was just excited to catch a romcom in theaters. However, this turned out to be more of a romantic drama than a comedy. The story kicks off with a funeral, not the greatest vibes. The movie, though, was pretty nice. It reminded me of the romances from a while ago. I liked the underlying message, especially the scene where the title is referenced. The film could easily have felt sappy or trite, especially at that moment, but it managed to avoid that. It had many charming moments, particularly in the first half, even as it delved into the characters' traumas. The narrative feels like a journey of breaking family trauma, framed as a romance, particularly for the main character. The other two characters have their own issues to work through, but the focus remains on the protagonist. The movie provides just enough context to understand each character's background without overwhelming the story. Initially, I felt bad seeing two potential love interests, anticipating the usual heartbreak for one. However, the film subverted my expectations and shifted from a romantic comedy to a drama, avoiding typical clichés. The story ended up being more than just a love triangle, which I thought was nice. While the story wasn't groundbreaking and had its surface-level moments, it was emotionally impactful at times. All the characters had unresolved issues from their pasts, and by the end, we see the main character finally starting to heal. It felt like we watched her journey for two hours, and only at the end did she actually begin to take the right steps forward. Overall, it wasn't a must-see romance/drama, but it was still decent and worth watching if you have the time. My reaction at the end was more of a subdued "good for her" rather than being deeply moved. It’s like being a cat person, watching a video of an injured dog taking its first steps; you feel happy for it and then just move on. I also think I was the only guy at that screening, felt like I wasn’t meant to be there lol. Usually, you at least see a few guys who were dragged there by their girlfriends.

Once again, a movie I like that I wouldn’t necessarily recommend.. It's tolerable, not great, but if you have a soft spot for cheesy sci-fi flicks, there's a chance you might enjoy it. One of those movies I started watching and didn’t really care if it was actually gonna be any good. It has some low-budget, B-rated qualities that could have been improved with a larger production scale, especially the voice-over elements. The chemistry between Melanie and Jared sucked to me, the whole movie feeling very much like something out of a YA novel. However, I did like the depiction of the alien parasite and the overall premise. The aliens traveling the universe, conquering civilizations and seeking peace. Additionally, I'm a sucker for movies that blend different genres and incorporate a love story, like this one—a cheesy Disney teen rom-com amidst an alien invasion. Plus, I think Saoirse Ronan's great as well. Also, for some reason, I was so convinced that by the end, they would implant the alien into Ian so they could be together happily ever forever. It seemed like the perfect, logical resolution to the story in my mind lol. I was so blown away.

Not what I expected I didn’t like this as much as I thought I would. My expectations were pretty high because aside from the fact it’s highly praised, a friend of mine also went out of their way to recommend it to me. So I was like damn, it must be something. I think I might have enjoyed better without all the recommendations. I didn’t find many of the male characters likable or as laughable as some seemed to be portrayed. This meant that for a large part of the movie, I wasn’t really rooting for any companionship. However, I loved the scene where the mother chases Elizabeth down; I thought it was funny. In general, I wasn’t very invested in any of the characters. They were pretty typical, which made the movie predictable. You could easily tell which characters were going to end up together. Even though I hadn’t read the book, I found it all pretty predictable. Rosamund Pike is usually praised for playing intimidating characters like in “Gone Girl” or “I Care a Lot” or less famously in “Wheel of Time”, and there’s always someone talking about how we just haven’t seen enough of her movies because she also plays really wholesome characters, with Pride & Prejudice often mentioned. So, I was expecting her character to be radiant and scene-stealing, like a beam of sunshine, but that wasn’t the case. I thought all the characters were just alright. The premise is similar to other period pieces of the time: lots of talk about who’s going to marry whom and inherit what, whether to marry for love or out of need, and the limited prospects for women if they remained unmarried. I liked that the title made sense, Pride and Prejudice. The movie explores the themes you’d expect from any movie or series set in that time—society governed by class structures and social laws. Like, I liked the movie, but I thought I was going to see something special and different. I probably would’ve liked it better if I hadn’t watched several period dramas beforehand, especially those made after Pride & Prejudice. Maybe it’s similar to watching a really old sci-fi movie or drug lord movie from the 80s and not seeing what’s so special about it because I’ve watched more modern movies that took inspiration from them, so the originals don’t feel as special/unique. I’m guessing this is going to be a really unpopular opinion. I really thought I’d like it better and that it would feel special. It was alright, but it didn’t live up to the praise I’d heard. It just felt like another period romance drama.

“I think I like tv shows” 3/10. I wasn’t really hyped about this but saw people talking about it and getting excited. I liked that the kid from ‘let the right one in’ series is in here. The movie’s visually striking, with vibrant neon colors, a hallmark of A24 I think. However, I didn't find it particularly captivating; it seems like something you need a prior interest in to engage with early on. The plot revolves around two outcast kids with an unusual interest, and while the visuals were compelling, the story itself didn’t hold my attention. It has a creepy ambience to it. I liked when they met up later, things get more interesting from there. But ultimately though, it felt like an artsy project without enough substance. The movie dragged, and the characters didn’t have much to them and lacked a compelling storyline. Although it became more interesting in the final third and is undeniably unique, it just wasn't memorable for me. The movie felt like it had more to offer visually than anything else. I’m sure some will like it but to me Justice Smith’s taken two L’s this year; it was better than “The American Society of Magical Negroes” though.

“Let’s go ruin a towel” The first few jokes were predictable, like the wet seat gag, which was sooo obvious. It felt like it dragged on too long. However, after that the humor was better, great even. It’s a movie that rewards you the longer you watch. Despite the rough start, the funny scenes made the movie for me. I especially liked the twins, the omen bedroom scene, and the big needle scene—my favorite part. There’s some profanity and raunchy comedy, which might bother some, but I actually enjoyed it. I say that ‘cause the movie deals with themes of pregnancy, sisterhood, and family—the beautiful and difficult aspects, and their impact on mental health. I think some people might watch it for those themes and not like the humor, but I felt the two elements worked well together, making it appealing to different audiences. It reminded me of "Scrambled" from earlier this year, which more people should have seen. The movie is quite messy and chaotic, which led to some unexpected good scenes like the random plumbing issues. So I liked that chaos. It was strange there wasn’t a nurse to help her to the 4th floor, though. I liked seeing Stephan James from "Beacon 23" and the doctor provided great comedic relief. The chemistry didn’t pull you in like the greatest girl-mance or romance ever, but the conversations felt real. The characters felt like actual friends. It didn’t have the strongest start, but the movie gets better as it goes, and I’d recommend it. If you like this, you should check out "Scrambled" too.

“Psst… I see dead people” - Kendrick Lamar

The ending is its saving grace. I was watching a horror movie before walking into this and I found it funny that the same kind of scene, where a character or a shadow runs in the background stealthily is scary in a horror movie, while here it’s like a fun little cute thing. Also, here’s a random horror fact the movie reminded me of: 12% of children report actually hearing voices, adults just tell them nah it’s their imaginary friends lol. Anyway my favorite moments were the ones with the father but there weren’t too many of those though. I thought most of the movie was lackluster and I was almost disappointed, but the ending was great and heart felt. It made me like it a little. There were some funny scenes but not funny or often enough to get me invested into the movie. I think the ending of the story is what made the movie feel special, otherwise it’s forgettable. I expected more.

What a lovely day! The opening is wild, kicking off with a captivating start. I think everything about this movie is perfect: the visuals, the action, the dialogue, the costumes, the acting... it was both beautiful and apocalyptic. I loved how everything felt like a rock 'n' roll fest. I love dystopian movies, but you don’t have to be a fan to recognize how amazing this was. It's a story of survival in a savage wasteland, every scene felt epic. I liked the cult-like nature and how they glorified their deaths like they were Vikings. Everything was eccentric and crazy, with non-stop action for nearly the whole movie. It's really dystopian and wild, so it's surprising that this was actually a mainstream hit. "Do not become addicted to water" was such a wild statement, lol. The premise is very simple; I don’t think I can think of a more simplistic movie that worked so well. They drive out into the desert, then make a U-turn back to where they came from. That’s it. And it’s a blast. This is my favorite action movie, jam-packed with crazy sequences. The movie is really just one huge dystopian action sequence, so I guess the drawback could be that it’s all action. If you’re looking for something more, you won’t find much. Apparently, Mad Max lore has some complex and darker elements, and maybe the upcoming Furiosa will delve deeper into that. Furiosa was probably the main character; it felt like Mad Max himself was just tagging along. The villain, Immortan Joe, was great. All the characters are memorable. And because the premise is so simple and the movie is so action-packed, it feels shorter than it actually is. It’s just great fun and keeps me glued to the screen. Looking forward to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Sequel is probably gonna be titled “empire of the planet of the apes” I really liked how the franchise once again showcases the humanity of the apes, like the touching funeral scene. It had breathtaking scenery throughout, especially the transformation of metropolitan cities into forests. I found it interesting how they introduced pets, a bird is an ape’s best friend, essentially. I liked that we exploring their customs in the first act of the movie. While the film's length and the extensive world-building sometimes made it feel slow, every scene served a purpose in the end, especially considering this’s setting the stage for a new era in the Planet of the Apes movies. We get to see how the environment, the apes and the humans have evolved. I liked how the movie paid homage to Caesar without directly continuing his story; his legacy felt respectfully acknowledged. The premise of the movie, particularly the portrayal of the antagonists, reminded me of religious wars, where the apes resemble Christian crusaders using a historic figure's image to justify war and violence, a theme with deep implications. The movie addresses that but not in a way that will make you leave the theatre pondering. How teachings can be misconstrued. Good time is spent with the characters, so when moments of sadness or goodbyes arise, we feel it too. The scene where she calls out to Noah was amazing. Hearing an ‘echo’ speaking, reminds me when Caesar screamed “go!” for the first time. Also was she essentially looking for an English textbook? lol. While Noah is the lead character, there were instances where Mae took the forefront, causing some confusion about the movie's primary focus. She didn’t feel explored or interesting enough but I loved Freya Allan’s performance. It’s a drama. It’s not what I was expecting, I thought it’d me more action packed, but it’s still good. It was different to my expectations the way “War for the Planet of the apes” also wasn’t a full blown war as well. I also think this is the first movie since the trilogy started where earth was now actually a planet of apes. Following up on Caesar was always gonna be hard. The new lead character Noah is alright, but I didn’t find myself super captivated by him. We got to see Caesar’s full character arc, birth to death; while Noah is already a little older, coming-of-age age. His story is still interesting though. The conflict of ideas between Noah and Mae could have been more intense. There were times when I thought “ouu this is about to be a big fight/argument” and it’s just meh. It wasn’t as thought provoking as I would’ve liked. I liked Proximus Caesar though, I thought he made quite the enticing antagonist. Second most interesting character after Raka*. The ending hints at the possibility of another trilogy, laying a solid foundation. I liked it more than "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" but not as much as the sequels. It’s not as epic as I thought it’d be; I think it’s more enjoyable if you’re already into the franchise. It doesn’t do anything terribly, I just didn’t walk out of the theatre thinking “wow!” People were applauding a lot throughout the movie actually.