This is my second catch-up post for weeks 13-18 (March 24 – May 4th). This one is all about the four movies I watched!
Movie: Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) Directed by Adam Wingard; Screenplay by Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, and Jeremy Slater
Summary:
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a 2024 American monster film directed by Adam Wingard. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is the sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) and the fifth film in the MonsterVerse franchise, also serving as the 38th film of the Godzilla franchise and 13th in the King Kong franchise. The film stars Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, and Fala Chen. Hall, Henry, and Hottle reprise their roles from the previous film. In the film, Kong encounters more of his species in the Hollow Earth and must unite again with Godzilla to stop their tyrannical leader and his powerful, frost-breathing Titan from destroying the surface (“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” 2024).
My Thoughts:
I went to see this movie in theaters with my boyfriend. I don’t really know why. We knew we wouldn’t like it, so I guess we just went for something to do and because we haven’t had the time or energy to watch Dune: Part Two. I loved Godzilla Minus One, but this Godzilla x Kong movie is nothing new. It’s just another monster movie. This movie is actually more about King Kong finding his place in the Hollow Earth than anything else. Godzilla is just kind of there, ready to throw hands at the drop of a hat.
I guess there’s also a secondary plot about the scientist mom and her adoptive daughter from the Hollow Earth who is still adjusting to life on the surface, but I didn’t watch the movie before this one where we learn about how they became a family, and so I don’t really care too much about them or about any of the other human characters. Actually, I find the way the way the fictional Iwi tribe is depicted to be a bit…concerning. They don’t speak and they communicate telepathically with one another. I know they’re a made-up indigenous tribe, but it just feels a bit icky and outdated to have this trope of “magical” non-white people. I guess it would feel different if they were aliens, but from what I gather, they’re just an ancient human tribe. Maybe it’s just me and I’m thinking about it too much, but let me know if you also watched this movie and felt uncomfortable about this.
My Rating:
Where to Watch: As of 5/13/2024, you can watch in theaters or rent on Amazon Prime Video/Apple TV/YouTube.
Movie: Glass (2019) Written and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Summary:
Glass is a 2019 psychological thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It serves as the third installment in the “Eastrail 177” trilogy, following “Unbreakable” (2000) and “Split” (2016). The film brings together characters from both previous movies.
The story revolves around David Dunn (played by Bruce Willis), a security guard with superhuman abilities, including super strength and extrasensory perception. He operates as a vigilante hero known as “The Overseer.” David pursues Kevin Wendell Crumb (played by James McAvoy), a man with multiple personalities, one of which is a terrifying entity known as “The Beast.”
Their conflict comes to a head when both David and Kevin are captured and placed in a psychiatric facility under the care of Dr. Ellie Staple (played by Sarah Paulson). Dr. Staple specializes in treating individuals who believe they possess superhuman abilities and seeks to convince them that they are merely suffering from delusions of grandeur.
In the facility, David reunites with Elijah Price (played by Samuel L. Jackson), also known as “Mr. Glass,” a mastermind with brittle bone disease who orchestrated numerous disasters to prove the existence of superhumans.
Overall, Glass explores themes of identity, belief, and the nature of heroism within a gritty, grounded superhero universe.
Summary written with the help of ChatGPT when prompted “Summary of the 2019 film ‘Glass.’”
My Thoughts:
I decided to watch this movie with my roommate on a whim. I didn’t realize at first that it was the third part of the “Unbreakable” trilogy and that maybe I should have seen the first two instalments first. In the end, it wasn’t entirely necessary to have seen the other two films in the trilogy. If anything, it was kind of cool to be dropped in the middle of this story and into this unfamiliar world of strange superheroes and villains. The only times that I felt a bit lost were when it came to understanding who the secondary characters were and their purpose in the story.
I know this movie didn’t do as well commercially or critically as the first two movies in the series. I also know that some critics take offense with the way that dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality disorder) is portrayed. Regardless, I thought this movie was pretty entertaining, but I don’t have much to say aside from that. I should probably watch the other two films before I share my final verdict on the trilogy as a whole, so for now, maybe you should take my review with a grain of salt.
My Rating:
Where to Watch: As of 5/13/2024, you can stream on Netflix.
Movie: Late Night With the Devil (2023) Written and Directed by Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes
Summary:
Late Night With the Devil is a 2023 supernatural thriller written and directed by Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes. The film includes elements of documentary filmmaking and found footage. In the film, a struggling late-night talk show host named Max finds his career and personal life in shambles. Desperate to make a comeback and boost ratings, Max plans a special Halloween episode where he invites a possessed girl onto the show.
Late Night With the Devil explores themes of ambition, morality, and the consequences of selling one’s soul for success. It combines elements of horror, suspense, and psychological drama to create a gripping tale of Faustian temptation and redemption.
Summary written with the help of ChatGPT when prompted “Summary of the 2023 film ‘Late Night With the Devil.’”
My Thoughts:
I’m a scaredy cat, and I’m not very good at watching spooky movies. I tend to spoil them for myself by watching YouTube videos summarizing and analyzing horror films. Sometimes if I feel like I can handle a movie, or if someone else volunteers to watch it with me, I’ll go ahead and watch it after having already spoiled it for myself. I’ll still cover my face during the gory parts or whenever I feel a jump scare coming.
My sister is a lot braver and more experienced with horror movies, and so when I visited her recently we decided to watch Late Night With the Devil. I think the late night TV show setting is pretty unique, and I liked that the film has a sort of “found footage” and documentary framing. My only qualm is that the film doesn’t stick to this framing. The ending gets pretty supernatural/psychedelic, and it can feel messy, like they were just trying to wrap up the story and give us the big reveal. Even with these issues, this movie is still one that I would recommend. It’s a great example of the way hubris can bring about a person’s downfall.
My Rating:
Where to Watch: As of 5/13/2024, you can steam on Shudder or rent on Amazon Prime Video/Apple TV/YouTube.
Movie: Nimona (2023) Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane; Screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor
Summary:
Nimona is a 2023 animated fantasy film based on the graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson. The story is set in a medieval fantasy world where science and magic coexist.
The film follows the adventures of Nimona, a shapeshifting girl with a mischievous personality, who becomes the sidekick of Lord Ballister Blackheart. Blackheart, a former knight, seeks to clear his name and expose the corrupt Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics.
Nimona is a tale of friendship, redemption, and the power of self-discovery. With its blend of humor, action, and heartfelt moments, the film offers a fresh take on the traditional hero’s journey narrative.
Summary written with the help of ChatGPT when prompted “Summary of the 2023 film ‘Nimona.’”
My Thoughts:
Nimona’s animation style might take some getting used to for some viewers, but I found it pretty unique and refreshing. I guess I enjoy any style that deviates from the usual Disney/Pixar/generic 3D animation style. The story is also very endearing. I love me a story about two outcasts who find solace in each other’s friendship. I also love that it celebrates embracing oneself and self expression.
It’s fun for the whole family! Give this one a watch!
My Rating:
Where to Watch: As of 5/13/2024, you can stream on Netflix.
References:
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (May 12 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. (2024, May 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 05:24, May 9, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Godzilla_x_Kong:_The_New_Empire&oldid=1222962369
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