Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  Spider-Man 2002

  ★★★★½ Rewatched 17 Apr 2024

  The original Spider-Man is sadly overlooked in part due to the critical acclaim of its sequel, as well as the general explosion of the superhero movie genre in its wake.

  But Spider-Man earns its place in history as a film that still holds up today with a timeless quality. Passion from the filmmakers and an incredible cast bring Lee and Ditko’s comics to life onscreen. Cutting edge visual effects stunned at the time, and while they make look dated in places today, the overall impact is still felt. Finally, Danny Elfman’s score ties it all together in a satisfying package.

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  The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2023

  ★★★ Watched 19 May 2023

  Super Mario Bros. creates a solid basis for adapting a long-running video game series that wasn’t keen on plot. Visuals are also appropriately bright and appealing.

  The problem lies in the voice acting. While general audiences may not know the plots of the classic Mario games, they’re certainly familiar with the voices — and this movie fails to deliver. The main cast is just A-list actors playing… themselves. The lack of imagination cripples an otherwise solid movie. Though I have to give special props to Jack Black for understanding the assignment.

Popular reviews

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  Joker 2019

  ★★★ Watched 15 Oct 2019

  Joker is a skillfully shot and acted drama with only a superficial connection to the Batman mythos.

  It feels like the studio didn’t have enough confidence in this film as a standalone drama that it needed to be branded as a comic book movie for a broader audience. Which is a shame, because it shines as a drama whereas its weakest points are adapting comic book elements.

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  Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith 2005

  ★★★★★ Watched 28 May 2005

  Faced with the daunting task of capping off a six-film cycle, George Lucas manages to stick the landing with a film that seamlessly transitions the prequels into the iconic original Star Wars trilogy.

  Revenge of the Sith is dense with story, but never feels bloated with its brisk pace and engaging performances. Despite ending on the same bleak note that starts off A New Hope, the tone balances humor and lighthearted moments to keep it from being a joyless experience.

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