Haven't seen the full movie in at least 15 years. It's a stupid but still fun action movie. I think the CGI was pretty good for the time, not overly used but the climax seemed more underwhelming than I remember.

I remember first seeing it sometime in 1999 when I was 12 at a friends house and loved it, but would have gotten in so much trouble if my mum saw me watching it at home lol.

I don't think I'll go out of my way to watch #2 & 3 because I remember them being pretty average by comparison.

Anyway it's still a solid 7/10 in my books

Hello, I just finished watching Like Minds and am absolutely blown away by the concept and theme of the movie. It's not that popular, but I really need recommendations for more movies like it. Thank you.

Source: https://www.reeladvice.net/2025/09/strange-frequencies-taiwan-killer.html

What struck us most about Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital was its technical polish. The film looks slick, atmospheric, and clean enough to stand alongside international found-footage titles in out opinion. On a visual level, it’s impressive but unfortunately, the experience heavily degrades when it comes to its story and actual world-building, leaving an otherwise promising horror entry feeling a whole lot incomplete.

The film follows a team of Filipino celebrities who livestream their newly launched paranormal channel Strange Frequencies inside Taiwan’s infamous Xinglin Hospital. What starts as a stunt for millions of views quickly spirals into chaos as escalating supernatural encounters put them face-to-face with something far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.

Performance-wise, the cast brings surprising terrifying authenticity into the film. Jane de Leon’s raw, terrified screams ground the horror and was the biggest surprise for us. We have never seen her this good and she could be the next local scream queen with this performance. Enrique Gil and Alexa Miro also provided committed performances that stand out from the rest of the cast. The film's in-your-face camera setup was a fun aspect and is well-executed which amplifies the immersion and tension.

Where the film falters is its narrative. While it sets up an intriguing premise, it never fully develops its lore or pays off the mysteries it introduces throughout the film. Without deeper context, the scares lose a lot of impact and what could have been a layered exploration of the infamous hospital becomes instead a series of surface-level and generic frights. Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital is a decent watch bolstered by strong performances and great visuals, but it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity.

Rating: 3 out of 5

So the 2021 animated movie the Mitchells versus the machines has been on my watchlist for over a year and I finally got around to seeing it. I think this is a great movie.

While it took a little bit to get going, eventually, I really enjoyed it. I thought the story was very well done and it had some good action and animation. There’s also some good comedy thrown in there.

Rating-4/5

I just finished watching Requiem for a Dream, and honestly, I wasn’t prepared for that kind of ending. It left me feeling hollow in a way I can’t shake off. Being a lonely person myself, the movie hit me even harder, it was disturbing, powerful, and devastatingly real.

I used to have fleeting thoughts about trying drugs out of curiosity, but after this, I’m not going anywhere near that path. The movie painted every possible ending in the darkest and rawest way imaginable. It’s haunting, yet it feels like a masterpiece in showing the brutal truth.

Do you guys have more recommendations for movies like these, films that leave you shaken, disturbed, and thinking about them for days?

So I went into the Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L Jackson movie the hitman‘s bodyguard from 2017 really knowing nothing. I knew there was gonna be some action and some comedy given who was in the movie, but I didn’t know what the story really was because I don’t remember seeing the trailer for it

For the most part, I thought it was a great movie. Let’s start with the positives. I liked the chemistry between Reynolds and Jackson. I also liked the action.

As far as the negatives go, I wasn’t a huge fan of the secondary storyline with Gary Oldman and I think was a little too long

Rating-4/5

Source: https://www.reeladvice.net/2025/09/love-untangled-2025-movie-review.html

Netflix has been on a nostalgic streak lately, releasing films like The Last Goodbye and One Hit Wonder that harken back to the childhoods of Millennials and even Gen Z. Love Untangled falls right into that trend, this time offering a romance-comedy set in 1998 Busan.Ironically, at least for us as non-Koreans, Love Untangled was the most relatable of this recent releases. The film works best in our opinion when it leans heavily into the innocence, naivety, and silliness of high school life.

The story follows Se-ri (Shin Eun-soo), a high schooler struggling with curly hair and the insecurities that come with it. Too shy to confess her feeling to her long-time crush Kim Hyun (Cha Woo-min), who is also the most popular boy in school, she finds unexpected support in Yun-seok (Gong Myung) who is a transfer student from Seoul. Their friendship blossoms as he helps her pursue Kim Hyun only for feelings to slowly grow between them instead.

Love Untangled keeps things simple in terms of its narrative. The film relying heavily on the charm and chemistry of its cast. This approach largely pays off, as the film captures the universal nostalgia of high school life - first crushes, self-doubt, and the looming pressure of college entrance exams. The performances are a highlight and Shin Eun-soo and Gong Myung take the lead bringing warmth and authenticity to their roles. The supporting cast adds flavor with distinct and memorable takes on their characters.

Eventually that same simplicity becomes the film’s biggest weakness. The last act rushes to resolve conflicts in a neat and simple sweep. This heavily sacrifices emotional depth in favor of keeping things light. It avoids tackling harder-hitting themes from its various side plots that, in our opinion, could have elevated the story and added more nuance to its characters. Still, Love Untangled succeeds in being an easy, feel-good watch that will charm its way into audiences’ hearts. For those craving a nostalgic trip back to youthful innocence, it’s one of the best options on Netflix right now.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Source: https://www.reeladvice.net/2025/09/the-conjuring-last-rites-2025-movie.html

Out of all the films in The Conjuring Universe, what sets The Conjuring: Last Rites apart is that it has heart. Some may find its character-driven focus a step back from the franchise’s supernatural horror roots, but for longtime fans who have followed and invested on the Warrens through three main films, this more intimate approach feels like a fitting tribute to the couple who helped define modern blockbuster horror.

After their last investigation, Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) is forced into retirement due to his heart condition and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) chooses to step back with him. But when their daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson) begins to experience heightened visions of the paranormal and finds a connection to a haunting in Pennsylvania , the Warrens are drawn into one final terrifying case that has a deeper connection to them than they could have imagined.

After experimenting with a different formula in The Devil Made Me Do It, The Conjuring: Last Rites returns to the claustrophobic haunted-house setup that made the first two films so effective. Luckily, the scares are crafted with precision and at its best moments, the atmosphere is tense and unsettling as fans have come to expect. Yet, familiarity in this case is both its strength and weakness. The film follows this formula to closely that you can often anticipate when the jump scares will land, and the central case itself feels too reminiscent of The Conjuring 2. As a result, while effective, it rarely surprises and terrifies to the level we expected it to be.

Where The Conjuring: Last Rites succeeds is in its emotional core. Half of the runtime invests in closing the chapter of Ed and Lorraine’s journey, and for us it pays off. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga once again give heartfelt performances that ground the film with a lot of heart. By the time the credits roll, the sense of closure feels earned, even if some horror fans might leave wishing for more scares. Overall, The Conjuring: Last Rites isn’t the scariest or most original film in the franchise. But as a culmination of a decade-spanning series that reshaped modern horror, it delivers a satisfying and emotional farewell to its main characters.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

So happy Gilmore two was in my top 10 most anticipated movies of 2025. The first movie is in my top 20 movies of all time. I was worried though going into it because long weighted comedy sequels tend to not be good. Look at dumb and dumber two and Coming 2 America.

I really liked this movie. I thought it had a lot of the elements correct. It had the humor and it had a great story. I liked all of the flashbacks because they relate to the current story but also you get characters in here that also relate back to the first movie.

To me the stand out was Bad Bunny as Oscar. I felt like he had some of the best comedic moments and he was just such a good character.

Rating-4.5/5

Just watched The Master and I'm confused

Ok so a bit of a context I'm a 18yr old guy not from US. I knew this movie is considered a masterpiece but it polarizes people. Having watched PTA's There will be blood and Boogie Nights, I thought of this also as something which will mesmerize me but it fails to do so. I just couldn't understand the main plot of the movie and how it ended. It just felt too superficial to me. If someone can help me by sharing info about the movie, it'd be much appreciated.

Full thoughts @ https://www.horrormovielists.com/2025/09/dieced-reloaded-2025-review.html

Die’ced: Reloaded, the feature-length follow-up to the 2023 short Die'ced, and it’s exactly what you’d expect from a blood-soaked VHS-era slasher. Jeremy Rudd isn’t going for prestige or deep themes, he just wants kills, gore, and nostalgia.

The story splits between Benny, a serial killer who escapes and dons a scarecrow costume, and Cassandra, a teenager trying to navigate a messy home life. Eden Campbell has the presence to carry more weight than the film gives her, but that’s the nature of a slasher I suppose.

The gore is over-the-top at times, sometimes gross, sometimes funny, but occasionally repetitive. Cinematography is inconsistent, as you’ll have to squint in some scenes. but the low-budget charm has its own appeal.

Jason Brooks nails Benny, and Campbell sells her fear well, though some of the supporting cast is stiff. Despite its flaws, the film has heart and delivers some slasher fun. If you’re into gory, nostalgic horror, it’s worth a cheap watch.

The last movie I watched was The Pianist.

It’s one of those rare movies that doesn’t just tell a story but actually changes the way you look at life. After finishing it, I found myself sitting in silence for a while, just thinking. It’s a very heavy film, but at the same time, it reminds you of the incredible value of simple things that we usually take for granted.

For me, what stood out most wasn’t only the tragedy and suffering, but also the moments of human resilience and dignity. When you watch Władysław Szpilman struggle to survive in such horrific circumstances, you start to realize how lucky most of us are today. The things we often complain about—slow Wi-Fi, traffic, a bad day at work—suddenly seem so small in comparison.

This film made me reflect on family, warmth, and food in particular. Not in some abstract way, but very literally. Just having a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, and people who care about you is already an incredible gift. Watching Szpilman go days without food, hiding in cold and dangerous conditions, puts all of that into perspective.

I also really appreciated how the movie didn’t rely on excessive drama or Hollywood-style action. It felt raw and honest, which makes it hit even harder. Adrien Brody’s performance was outstanding—he didn’t just act the role, he became the role. You could feel his pain, his fear, but also his determination to survive.

Since watching The Pianist, I’ve found myself paying more attention to the small details of daily life. The smell of coffee in the morning, hearing laughter in the house, or even just walking freely outside. These things might seem ordinary, but after a film like that, they feel extraordinary.

So that’s the last movie I saw. What about you?

So I’m a fan of weird Al so I was interested in seeing the 2022 Biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story starring Daniel Radcliffe. This just did not do it for me.

Maybe I had different expectations because I thought it was going to be mostly a real biopic that was a little over-the-top because of the person. I didn’t know that they were gonna go full parody. I think Daniel Radcliffe gives a good effort and there’s some good cameos in there, but I didn’t think it was funny and I just could never get into the movie. It never grabbed me.

Rating-1.5/5

So I just re-watched the TV to movie adaptation of the Dukes of Hazzard with Johnny Knoxville and Sean William Scott from 2005. I had seen it a couple times before and I enjoyed it but it had been a while. I wanted to see if I still enjoyed it.

Overall, it’s just an OK movie. It’s not as good as the last couple times I’ve watched it. On the positive side, I liked the chemistry between Knoxville and Scott and I liked the adventure. My biggest negative is that it wasn’t as fun as I remember being or as funny. There were some chuckles, but not many. Also Burt Reynolds as the villain seemed like he did not want to be a part of this movie

Rating-2/5

Source: https://www.reeladvice.net/2025/08/the-thursday-murder-club-2025-movie.html

With an all-star veteran cast at its helm, The Thursday Murder Club had the potential to deliver an outstanding take on the whodunit experience. And while the film shines through the undeniable chemistry of its ensemble cast, its extremely safe and pedestrian narrative holds it back from becoming something truly memorable and remarkable.

Set in a quiet retirement community, a group of seniors with a shared passion for investigating cold cases suddenly find themselves tackling a real-life murder after one of the home’s owners is found dead.

The strongest element of the film lies with its lead cast, Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie, who share a delightful chemistry between each other that injects the promised humor and charm into the story. Their performances bring laughs and wit which actually saves the film in our opinion.

Unfortunately, the mysteries at the heart of The Thursday Murder Club never rises to the same level and very far from it. The narrative juggles too many twists and mysteries, all of which are hurriedly tied together in the half hour or so. As a result, character and plot development are pretty much glossed over and rushed, robbing the story of the tension and payoff expected from a whodunit. Instead of unfolding in a clever or surprising way, the film plays it safe and simply falls flat. Ultimately, The Thursday Murder Club ends up as a charming but forgettable entry in the genre and it feeling like yet another “Netflix film” is just disappointing.

Rating: 2 out of 5

So I finally got to the Pierce Brosnan era of my James Bond watch and it starts with goldeneye from 1995. Going into it, I thought I would like this era more because it was more modern and off-the-wall and that’s kind of what I got.

I like the casting of Pierce Brosnan because he has that suaveness and sophistication. I also enjoyed the action and I was invested in the story. I also thought it had a very good villain.

Rating-4.5/5

So I re-watched the Adam Sandler movie pixels from 2015 and upon rewatch, it’s still a fun movie. It’s not a great movie because some of the acting isn’t there and it takes a little bit to get going, I still think that it is an entertaining and creative movie in the way that they incorporate video games into the movie.

I also think Peter Dinklage is the stand out with his personality and overall demeanor. I do doing the rewatch that it wasn’t going to be an award-winning masterpiece, but I just wanted to be entertained again and have some fun and that’s what I got.

Rating-3.5/5

So I finally got around to seeing the 1992 Kurt Russell movie Captain Ron and it was OK.

On the positive side, the main stand out was Kurt Russell. It just looks like he was having fun the entire time. I also liked the adventure.

On the negative side, the rest of the acting including Martin short was decent. Also never really got invested in the story.

Rating-2/5

I finally watched The Texas Chainsaw Massacre today and was surprised at how little blood there is. Same with Halloween—both kicked off the slasher craze without tons of gore. Granted I grew up in the slasher film error, but I definitely appreciate how atmosphere and suspense can be way scarier than all the blood in the world.

I just finished watching Joyland(2022) and I’m honestly blown away. Funny thing is, I didn’t even come across it through friends or film circles. I first saw a reel on Instagram a sad edit of two contrasting scenes between Haider and Mumtaz and the comments were so full of love for the movie that I had to check it out. I went in knowing almost nothing about it, not even the controversies it faced in Pakistan, and I think that made the experience even more powerful.

What struck me most was how subtle yet devastatingly effective it is in handling complex themes repression, gender roles, sexuality, and the suffocating expectations of family. For me, it’s as much Mumtaz’s story as it is Haider’s. The film gives trans representation such dignity through Biba’s character, not as a token but as a real, layered human being. It’s rare to see that in South Asian cinema, and it hit me hard.

The title Joyland itself felt tragically ironic Mumtaz’s one moment of pure joy is on the Ferris wheel, and after that, her world closes in on her until she sees no escape. It’s like the film is saying joy is fleeting in these households where tradition crushes individuality. The baby subplot also captures this so well: Haider’s brother and his wife trying over and over for a son after three daughters a painfully real symbol of how desi culture pressures women’s bodies and lives for the sake of a male heir.

I really felt for both Mumtaz and Haider, her being trapped in a family and a marriage where her spirit withers, him being this soft, sensitive man crushed under the weight of cultural expectations and unable to defend himself or the people he cares about. That ending, with Haider finally making it to Karachi and walking into the sea, gutted me. It felt like he was begging God to wash away his sins and give him forgiveness for all the things he couldn’t do, couldn’t say.

This was actually my first experience with Pakistani cinema, and honestly, what an introduction. Joyland is beautiful, painful, and most of all human.

Curious if anyone else here has seen it what did you think? And if you haven’t, I can’t recommend it enough.

There’s a lot to love about Darren Aronofsky movies, whether it’s the dark psychology stuff (see Black Swan and Requiem for a Dream) or deep character dramas (see The Wrestler and The Whale). They’re also not what you would call easy viewings. If you’re able to rewatch Requiem, then you’re made of sterner stuff than me because my hand is always going to inch towards the Pixars or the Wes Andersons than an Aronofsky movie.

But Caught Stealing though? Aronofsky has slid into a zone where I didn’t think he ever would: conventional.

This is a slick crime caper that could’ve easily been lifted from the 90s (fitting given its 1998 setting) and is a classic tale of “wrong place, wrong time” involving violent criminals. Given how polarising Aronofsky’s previous two films were (the Jennifer Lawrence-led Mother! and the melodramatic Brendan Fraser drama The Whale), it’s almost like he made Caught Stealing as a way to reassure himself and us that he’s still good at what he does.

Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) was a star baseball prospect in high school, only for a car crash to end his promising career. These days he tends bar on the Lower East Side, drinks way too much, has hot sex with his much-too-understanding and caring girlfriend Yvonne (Zoë Kravitz, who deserves way better because Yvonne exists only to serve the plot and Hank’s arc), and has recurring nightmares of his career-ending car crash. This is basic ‘traumatised main character’ stuff combined with a large dash of ‘pathetic’, but Butler sells because he’s so damn charismatic and makes Hank much more capable than he reads on the page. Plus he can play drunk as well as the best of them.

Hank’s neighbour and a very unsubtle caricature of a British Punk, Russ (Matt Smith, just chewing scenery every second he’s onscreen), needs to hot foot it back to London (his dad had a stroke, aight?), and leaves his cat in the hands of Hank. As one might expect, Russ is caught up in some deep shit with some bad people, such as a bunch of Russian gangsters led by Colorado (Bad Bunny) and a pair of violent Hasidic brothers Lipa and Shmully Drucker (Liev Schreiber and Vincent D’Onofrio respectively, both just having a blast). Despite getting the cops and Detective Roman (Regina King) involved, they’re no help and Hank is basically forced to get himself out of this clusterfuck of a mess.

Read the rest of my review here as copying all the text here is unwieldy: https://panoramafilmthoughts.substack.com/p/caught-stealing

Thanks!

So the alien movie Paul from 2011 I really enjoyed the first time. It had been a while since I’ve seen it so I decided to rewatch it since it was leaving Netflix. It’s not as good the second time.

I thought Simon Pegg and Nick Frost were good in their roles, but they didn’t really do anything to stand out and I didn’t laugh as much as I did the first time. It’s not a bad movie but now it’s just more average than good.

Rating-2.5/5

So I watched the final Roger Moore James Bond film, which is a view to a kill from 1985. Honestly, I thought it was bad.

There was one positive that I had with this movie and that was the thrilling ending. Other than that, there was a lot that I did not like this movie.One that I had with this movie is the acting. Roger Moore looks checked out. Christopher Walken and Grace Jones do what they can with their roles but it’s not enough.

Along with that, it had a story that I really did not care about and decent action. It’s not the worst James Bond movie I’ve seen so far but it’s second worst.

Rating-1/5

I don't know how to feel about it. I enjoyed the movie a lot and I understand the need for the climax to be what it was, but I can't shake this feeling of dread or shame? from seeing that ending, like if I was complicit. I'm assuming this is the feeling Frank Perry wanted to evoke out of his viewer, but I just feel awful. I guess what I'm trying to ask is how do you all deal with the emotions in the aftermath of watching a movie like this, the contrast between having enjoyed the movie but ashamed of having witnessed such a disturbing ending that quite frankly you guessed was gonna come all along?

Source: https://www.reeladvice.net/2025/08/the-life-of-chuck-2024-movie-review.html

The Life of Chuck is the rare kind of experience that lingers with you long after the credits roll. Adapted from Stephen King’s novella, Director Mike Flanagan crafts a meditation on life, mortality, and the small details that often carry the deepest meaning for a person. It’s a story that feels both simple and complex, reminding us how each ordinary life has its own meaning and purpose how fleeting and short it may be.

The film begins with middle school teacher Marty Anderson noticing strange phenomena particularly advertisements that appear across town, each celebrating an unfamiliar accountant named Charles “Chuck” Krantz with the message, “Charles Krantz: 39 Great Years! Thanks, Chuck!” As the townsfolk speculate that the end of the universe may be at hand, the mystery reveals itself with the portrait of Chuck’s life unfolding.

What elevates The Life of Chuck for us is its range of emotional complexity. One moment it’s whimsical - and yes, Tom Hiddleston can dance far better than we thought - and the next it’s somber, reflective, terrifying and even quietly devastating. The casting choice that portrayed Chuck (with Tom Hiddleston, Jacob Tremblay, Benjamin Pajak, and Cody Flanagan) was perfect as it actor brings nuance to the respective stage of Chuck’s life. For us though, Benjamin Pajak delivers a surprisingly deep and complex performance that anchors the film’s strongest arc.

Still, The Life of Chuck is not without flaws. Its first two acts feel fleeting, as if rushing through ideas without fully exploring them, especially when compared to the more substantial final act. The narration by Nick Offerman was done well by the actor but it occasionally veers into heavy-handedness. Despite these shortcomings, Mike Flanagan succeeds in delivering a film that’s both thought-provoking and emotionally affecting. The Life of Chuck may not provide easy answers but it invites reflection on how we value our time, our choices, and the quiet details of our existence. It’s a flawed yet deeply worthwhile experience.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5