@iwatchedamovie.bsky.social
Gremlins (1984): Another holiday pick. Doesn't quite hold up. There's some good stuff here, but the pacing is awful. You don't see a gremlin until the movie is half over, and then there's a lot of goofy puppet gags. Plus I can see why it would have been terrifying for young kids. Chainsaw attack!
December 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Gremlins (1984): Another holiday pick. Doesn't quite hold up. There's some good stuff here, but the pacing is awful. You don't see a gremlin until the movie is half over, and then there's a lot of goofy puppet gags. Plus I can see why it would have been terrifying for young kids. Chainsaw attack!
Hogfather (2006): Kid wanted to make it a holiday tradition, but... It's long, confusing, sound quality is terrible, and the acting is of varying quality. It's my second favorite movie about a skull-faced character taking the duties of a Santa analog. Shines where Pratchett's story breaks through.
December 24, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Hogfather (2006): Kid wanted to make it a holiday tradition, but... It's long, confusing, sound quality is terrible, and the acting is of varying quality. It's my second favorite movie about a skull-faced character taking the duties of a Santa analog. Shines where Pratchett's story breaks through.
Wake Up Dead Man (2025): I liked it, but here are my issues with it: it held its cards too close for too long, by the time of the reveal I was totally lost. Also (all Knives Out movies have this) it is filled with awful people, making it tough for me to watch. They usually get theirs, which helps.
December 22, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Wake Up Dead Man (2025): I liked it, but here are my issues with it: it held its cards too close for too long, by the time of the reveal I was totally lost. Also (all Knives Out movies have this) it is filled with awful people, making it tough for me to watch. They usually get theirs, which helps.
Caught Stealing (2025): I like this more grounded Aranofsky. Fairly straight-up story of an ordinary dude caught between two gangs, Lucky Number Slevin style. Entertaining, and a good cast. Implausible in parts, but not in ways that break the story. Lots of recognizable actors playing against type.
December 21, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Caught Stealing (2025): I like this more grounded Aranofsky. Fairly straight-up story of an ordinary dude caught between two gangs, Lucky Number Slevin style. Entertaining, and a good cast. Implausible in parts, but not in ways that break the story. Lots of recognizable actors playing against type.
Frankenstein (2025): Oscar Isaac is great and is worth watching in anything. And I'm usually down for some del Toro. But I was mostly just bored watching this. It seems to really play it safe, it never wows you or does anything unexpected. You see a giant hole in the floor, you know what's coming.
December 20, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Frankenstein (2025): Oscar Isaac is great and is worth watching in anything. And I'm usually down for some del Toro. But I was mostly just bored watching this. It seems to really play it safe, it never wows you or does anything unexpected. You see a giant hole in the floor, you know what's coming.
Assassination (2015): A period melodrama action caper flick, again from the director of Alienoid (and a lot of the same cast as The Thieves). This thing has so many plot twists you could open a bottle of wine with it. A lot of fun, although (again) I had trouble following some of it.
December 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Assassination (2015): A period melodrama action caper flick, again from the director of Alienoid (and a lot of the same cast as The Thieves). This thing has so many plot twists you could open a bottle of wine with it. A lot of fun, although (again) I had trouble following some of it.
The Thieves (2012): Everything a heist movie should be: smart, sleek, sexy, and chock full of double-crosses. At least four different languages are spoken. Some incredible action sequnces. I honestly had a hard time following the plot at times! From the director of the sublime Alienoid.
December 14, 2025 at 10:08 PM
The Thieves (2012): Everything a heist movie should be: smart, sleek, sexy, and chock full of double-crosses. At least four different languages are spoken. Some incredible action sequnces. I honestly had a hard time following the plot at times! From the director of the sublime Alienoid.
Avatar (2009): Kid wanted to watch it. I saw it in the theater. I wasn't that impressed with it then, it's technologically impressive but the story is trite (and problematic as well) a rewatch didn't really change my mind, except time has aged the CGI. Kid liked it.
December 12, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Avatar (2009): Kid wanted to watch it. I saw it in the theater. I wasn't that impressed with it then, it's technologically impressive but the story is trite (and problematic as well) a rewatch didn't really change my mind, except time has aged the CGI. Kid liked it.
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (Pilot) (1993): Does this count? Well, it was like 90 minutes, and I watched it. It's actually pretty good, it holds up, in my opinion. It's goofy, but a fun story, great cast, and some classic western set pieces. Now to watch the other 26 episodes.
December 11, 2025 at 3:17 AM
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (Pilot) (1993): Does this count? Well, it was like 90 minutes, and I watched it. It's actually pretty good, it holds up, in my opinion. It's goofy, but a fun story, great cast, and some classic western set pieces. Now to watch the other 26 episodes.
The Lady Vanishes (1938): a weird combo of mystery, spy thriller, and slapstick comedy. The actual plot is very slight, and the reveal unsatisfying. Still, some great performances make it interesting. Remade with Jodie Foster as Flightplan (kinda?)
December 8, 2025 at 7:26 PM
The Lady Vanishes (1938): a weird combo of mystery, spy thriller, and slapstick comedy. The actual plot is very slight, and the reveal unsatisfying. Still, some great performances make it interesting. Remade with Jodie Foster as Flightplan (kinda?)
The Hobby (2024): It would be hard to make a compelling documentary about boardgaming, as evidenced by this one that didn't. It's some cute stories, but who is it for? People who aren't in the hobby won't watch it, and people who are won't learn anything. It's no King of Kong, that's for sure.
December 8, 2025 at 12:54 AM
The Hobby (2024): It would be hard to make a compelling documentary about boardgaming, as evidenced by this one that didn't. It's some cute stories, but who is it for? People who aren't in the hobby won't watch it, and people who are won't learn anything. It's no King of Kong, that's for sure.
Tenet (2020): First rewatch since release. I dunno, I guess I get it narratively, but the action is too hard to follow and I suspect the whole thing makes no sense. Not my favorite Nolan. At least with the subtitles I can understand the dialog. Yes I watched 3 movies today don't judge me.
December 7, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Tenet (2020): First rewatch since release. I dunno, I guess I get it narratively, but the action is too hard to follow and I suspect the whole thing makes no sense. Not my favorite Nolan. At least with the subtitles I can understand the dialog. Yes I watched 3 movies today don't judge me.
Left Handed Girl (2025): Parenting is hard. Parenting two kids (a teen and a five-year-old) as a single mom in Taipei when you're poor and your family are all jerks is really hard. This is one of those very good movies that just didn't really work for me. Great characters in (to me) dull situations.
December 7, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Left Handed Girl (2025): Parenting is hard. Parenting two kids (a teen and a five-year-old) as a single mom in Taipei when you're poor and your family are all jerks is really hard. This is one of those very good movies that just didn't really work for me. Great characters in (to me) dull situations.
Shin Godzilla (2016): Unexpectedly brilliant. Committee meetings, breakout sessions, political maneuvering. What would a bureaucratic gov't actually do if Godzilla attacked? Use the excuse of an emergency to gather power? Or adhere to the principals of democracy at the risk of delay? Loved it.
December 6, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Shin Godzilla (2016): Unexpectedly brilliant. Committee meetings, breakout sessions, political maneuvering. What would a bureaucratic gov't actually do if Godzilla attacked? Use the excuse of an emergency to gather power? Or adhere to the principals of democracy at the risk of delay? Loved it.
The Witch: Subversion (2018): Ugh. I love me some Korean horror, but this was a slog. An hour in Smallville before anything happens, then eventually we get a few minutes of some admittedly fun fight scenes. The subtitle of the sequel is "The Other One" which is the best sequel title ever.
December 2, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The Witch: Subversion (2018): Ugh. I love me some Korean horror, but this was a slog. An hour in Smallville before anything happens, then eventually we get a few minutes of some admittedly fun fight scenes. The subtitle of the sequel is "The Other One" which is the best sequel title ever.
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972): At first I was put off by the oddly complicated political situation, then I was put off by the weird sex stuff. Also the lead is weirdly not in physically great shape to play a deadly assassin? Still, good fight scenes and the kid is cute.
November 30, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance (1972): At first I was put off by the oddly complicated political situation, then I was put off by the weird sex stuff. Also the lead is weirdly not in physically great shape to play a deadly assassin? Still, good fight scenes and the kid is cute.
Felidae (1994): A decidedly not-for-kids animated talking cats movie (German). Cat investigates cat serial killer. This is dark. Darkest talking animals movie I've seen since Plague Dogs. Maybe stay away if you don't like to see cats experimented on and decapitated. But a wild ride.
November 28, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Felidae (1994): A decidedly not-for-kids animated talking cats movie (German). Cat investigates cat serial killer. This is dark. Darkest talking animals movie I've seen since Plague Dogs. Maybe stay away if you don't like to see cats experimented on and decapitated. But a wild ride.
Apollo 10 1/2 (2022): A cute (if very talky) slice of life as a teenager in late 1960s Houston and retrospective on the moon landing, inexplicably melded with a story about how a teenager landed on the moon 4 days before Apollo 11. Just why? Ghibli's Only Yesterday is similar, but for Tokyo.
November 26, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Apollo 10 1/2 (2022): A cute (if very talky) slice of life as a teenager in late 1960s Houston and retrospective on the moon landing, inexplicably melded with a story about how a teenager landed on the moon 4 days before Apollo 11. Just why? Ghibli's Only Yesterday is similar, but for Tokyo.
Lady Snowblood (1973): Inspiration for Kill Bill. Bloody vengeance in Meiji Japan. It's iconic. The story is powerful, but I think the storytelling doesn't translate across decades and cultures. I enjoyed it, but the swordfighting in particular is lackluster.
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Lady Snowblood (1973): Inspiration for Kill Bill. Bloody vengeance in Meiji Japan. It's iconic. The story is powerful, but I think the storytelling doesn't translate across decades and cultures. I enjoyed it, but the swordfighting in particular is lackluster.
John Dies at the End (2012): Rewatch. Why do I love this movie so much? It is delightfully weird and self-aware. I'd say the plot is weak, but it almost doesn't have one, more a series of crazy episodes. I read the book, the movie is better. Does John die at the end? I'll never tell.
November 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
John Dies at the End (2012): Rewatch. Why do I love this movie so much? It is delightfully weird and self-aware. I'd say the plot is weak, but it almost doesn't have one, more a series of crazy episodes. I read the book, the movie is better. Does John die at the end? I'll never tell.
Don't Breathe (2016): Look, I don't always make good choices. I like something mindless once in a while, or, you know, more often than that. Home invasion movie from the perspective of the invaders. It's fine. Gets a bit squicky, and then turns into Cujo for some reason. Barbarian or Hush instead.
November 21, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Don't Breathe (2016): Look, I don't always make good choices. I like something mindless once in a while, or, you know, more often than that. Home invasion movie from the perspective of the invaders. It's fine. Gets a bit squicky, and then turns into Cujo for some reason. Barbarian or Hush instead.
A Samurai in Time (2023): Samurai transported to modern day becomes a stuntman in Samurai shows. Very silly, but I laughed a lot. Maybe a bit of a downturn in the 2nd hour when it gets too serious, but a good ending makes it worthwhile. Samurai and time travel, what's not to like?
November 19, 2025 at 10:14 PM
A Samurai in Time (2023): Samurai transported to modern day becomes a stuntman in Samurai shows. Very silly, but I laughed a lot. Maybe a bit of a downturn in the 2nd hour when it gets too serious, but a good ending makes it worthwhile. Samurai and time travel, what's not to like?
Kwaidan (1964): Anthology of 4 Twilight Zone-like Japanese ghost stories. A masterclass in set design on a soundstage (an entire naval battle!). Also very effective sound design (sparingly used). Some of the stories do drag on a bit, 3 hours is a bit much. Treat it as 4 episodes!
November 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Kwaidan (1964): Anthology of 4 Twilight Zone-like Japanese ghost stories. A masterclass in set design on a soundstage (an entire naval battle!). Also very effective sound design (sparingly used). Some of the stories do drag on a bit, 3 hours is a bit much. Treat it as 4 episodes!
Spiderman 3 (2007): I'd actually never seen this one. It is not so good. Despite having too many villains, it still spends way too much time on Peter moping over MJ. Topher Grace, trying to convert his That '70s Show stardom to movies is just out of his league. Franco is not much better.
November 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Spiderman 3 (2007): I'd actually never seen this one. It is not so good. Despite having too many villains, it still spends way too much time on Peter moping over MJ. Topher Grace, trying to convert his That '70s Show stardom to movies is just out of his league. Franco is not much better.
Spiderman 2 (2004): Rewatched. My kid saw the first one in class. Molina is so good. The octo arms are puppets (sometimes), and really cool. A lot of Raimi-isms in this one. The CGI is a bit dated, obvs. I'd forgotten how it ends! Gotta rewatch No Way Home to see if it takes it into account.
November 17, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Spiderman 2 (2004): Rewatched. My kid saw the first one in class. Molina is so good. The octo arms are puppets (sometimes), and really cool. A lot of Raimi-isms in this one. The CGI is a bit dated, obvs. I'd forgotten how it ends! Gotta rewatch No Way Home to see if it takes it into account.