Movies

In light of recently rewatching the South Korean action thriller Ballerina (2023) after viewing the 2025 Ballerina film from the John Wick universe, it becomes evident that these two works, despite sharing a common title, diverge sharply in tone, thematic ambition, and stylistic execution.

"May the Force be with you." - Star Wars, 1977

The Amateur arrives as a well-intentioned but ultimately uneven addition to the espionage-thriller canon. Its intellectual pursuits and grounded character depiction provide a fresh perspective but are occasionally compromised by underutilized cast members, restrained action sequences, and narrative density that detract from expected pulse-pounding excitement. While Malek’s portrayal offers a uniquely introspective spy, The Amateur’s slow-burning approach may not satisfy those seeking outright thrills or gripping emotional stakes.

Ultimately, this film pirouettes elegantly on the surface but stumbles where the narrative heart should beat strongest. It’s a cinematic recital that, while skillfully orchestrated, fails to hit the truly resonant notes expected from a story of vengeance and identity.

It was on my watchlist for a bit and I finally got to it today. The themes were heavier, especially with Simon's (Jack Quaid) mental health. I couldn't say how accurate his portrayal of paranoid schizophrenia is, but it was more than enough for me to really feel for him.

It's one of the first times I've watched Jeffrey Dean Morgan in something since I stopped watching The Walking Dead (because of his character, actually). In this movie, Deerman is quite a mess of a human, but he makes up for it.

Overall, I enjoyed the film. I really appreciate how they ended it. I wish there was an epilogue so I could know what happens to Simon.

What did you all think?

Just finished watching Severance 2, the Apple TV series about severance protocols. Although I liked the ending being left vague, the other parts felt rather lacking.

I can't give a specific examples, but it was like they were overly complicating the dialogue, which was presumably to appear meaningful and in depth. This also falls flat because it is so hard to follow, and whenever you follow, you realize it is shallower than expected. I could not find true deep meanings other than ice cold corporates stuff. Also, parts like switching to sudden outdoor scenes was so sudden and it seemed to rather harm the narrative.

Did I miss important details and symbolism to understand the show?

A fascinatingly uneasy debut from Ryan J Sloan has hints of Lynch and Cronenberg with star and co-writer Ariella Mastroianni radiating suppressed anguish and rage

IMHO, Salò is one of the best movies ever made, but not exactly something you can invite your friends over for a movie night. It’s not just going for shock value, there’s something more about the way that fascism and power are tied to the exploitation of children.

Cannibal Holocaust is similar in that its reputation is overshadowed by the gore. The tribe isn’t as evil as the people making the “documentary.” It’s a critique of colonialism, underneath the blood and guts. (Wish they didn’t kill real animals for it though.) It’s not nearly as good as Salò, at the end of the day it’s an exploitation film with a bit of thought in it, but it’s more than just a torture fest.

I won’t extend any of the same praise to A Serbian Film - it’s like if a bunch of internet edgemasters stitched together a bunch of random scenes designed to be as offensive as possible.

Funny Games made me deeply uncomfortable. I can’t really say that I “liked” it, it’s probably the most upsetting movie I’ve seen.

What do you think about this type of movie? I haven’t watched any of the more famous Japanese ones - a lot of them seem to be “what if we shot an hour or so of dissecting a woman” which strikes me as boring and pointless. Are there any that are worth watching?

I may switch to doing movies on Monday.

We just need to do a quick vote. Fast Times is currently leading my general poll. I also got a last minute suggestion from Woody to do OC and Stiggs.

So let's do a quick vote and we'll meet here at 8pm Eastern.

Vote: https://goatmatrix.net/c/MatrixEvents/58VhJkRwfo