Hello, everyone.

I know it's been a while since you seen one of my reviews. Thing was I was getting over COVID Omicron, followed up with a serious case of bronchitis and a slipped ribbed. Yeah, things haven't been going well for me health wise for the past month. But I'm fully recovered and got a new review for you all. Plus, I'll be taking some vacation time later this week so I can work on more writing.

Barbarian is a new horror thriller directed by Zach Cregger. It stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgaard, Justin Long, and Richard Blake. The film centers around a young woman (played by Georgina Campbell) drives to Detroit for an interview. She rents a house in a remote neighborhood only to find that it is already taken by a young man (played by Bill Skarsgaard). With little options she stays the night only to learn of the house's dark secrets.

I had no clue what I was getting into before watching this movie. I mainly went to see it because a friend of my couldn't stop talking about it. He really like this movie. And I have to admit, I really like it too.

All the actors do a stellar job in this. Georgina Campbell was great. Bill Skarsgaard is just fantastic. Justin Long - god, I haven't seen that guy in so long - was outstanding. Just fantastic job from the whole cast.

I think what I like most about Barbarian is that it isn't like traditional horror. It doesn't rely on cheap jumpscares or fake outs to scare its audience, or any of that other bullshit that modern horror tries to throw at audiences. It relies more on building suspense and tension. As soon as the characters explore the basement inside the house there is a wave of suspense that thrashes out at you, and you're on the edge of your seat the entire time. The horror comes from when you understand what's really going on in this house and it just makes you completely uncomfortable.

The music is also great. It really helps build up the suspension throughout.

The only issue I might have against the movie is its story structure. It starts off with Georgina's and Bill's characters meeting for the first time and talking in this rental house, and then later on it cuts to Justin Long's character doing something else, somewhere else. It's oddly bizarre.

This is one of the most bizarre horror film I've seen since Hereditary. I hate to keep this review brief but honestly I can't talk too much about the movie. I feel like if I get into any details I'd be spoiling the whole movie. This is one of those movies you have to see to understand. Overall, Barbarian gets my highest recommendation.

Positives:

-Great performances

-Great suspense & atmosphere

-Terrifying revelations

-Creepy music

-Not traditional horror

Negatives:

-Story structure

Final Grade: A

So those are my thoughts on Barbarian. Have you seen it? What are your thoughts on it? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, and check out more reviews here on Prose!

Best Quote:

Tess: "Nope."

#harrysituationreviews #film #opinion #horror #thriller #suspense #house #AGrade

Thor: Love and Thunder is the newest MCU film featuring the Norse God of Thunder himself, Thor (reprised by Chris Hemsworth). It also features the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Tesse Thompson as Valkyrie, Chris Pratt as Star Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, Taika Waititi (who again serves as writer/director) as Korg, and introduces Russell Crowe as Zeus, the king of the Greek Pantheon, and Christian Bale as the deadly Gorr the God Butcher.

Thor is back. He's back in shape and in action. But he also discovers that his hammer Mjolnir has been re-forged and moved on to another worthy wielder, his old girlfriend Jane Foster, who has become the Mighty Thor. But their touching and awkward reunion is cut short when a new enemy, Gorr the God Butcher, seeks the death of all gods of the Marvel Universe.

I was definitely excited for this next installment of Phase 4. I like the character, I like the cast, and I like Taika Waititi. So why didn't I like this movie? Well, it's not that I didn't like it, but it wasn't as good as I was hoping for.

First, let's talk about some of the positives, however I should point out that some of the positives follow with some negatives. First positive is Thor and Jane Foster. I like seeing these two characters (and their actors) reunite after all these years. Hemsworth and Portman have great chemistry together, and their characters just make a great couple.

And if anyone is wondering how Jane Foster is able to become the Mighty Thor, just know that it is exactly like the comics.

Christian Bale was great in this movie as the main villain. I know there's probably a ton of memes out there right now quoting "you either die a hero, or you live long enough to become the villain" since he originally portrayed Batman for DC in the Dark Knight Trilogy. Regardless, he's still pretty damn awesome in this movie... when he's on screen. Sadly, his character only has limited screen time. Gorr from the comics is a recent and very compelling villain from Marvel. He's actually been able to do some significant damage against the titular God of Thunder in many encounters. What we do get is good. You understand his plight and why the character is such a misotheist. I just wish we could have seen more of him.

And there were some pretty good jokes. Waititi can write some pretty witty dialogue that has me rolling. Check out Jojo Rabbit and What We Do in the Shadows sometime. And while having funny dialogue is a common factor in these MCU movies the problem here is that it completely offsets the kind of tone this movie is trying to be. Is it trying to be a comedy? Is it trying to be a romance? Is it trying to be dark because there's a bad guy that can summon shadow creatures with his god-slaying sword? I'm not entirely sure, and I don't believe the movie knows either.

Finally, I hate to admit it, but the film starts to get boring in the second half. I cannot pick a point in the movie where I started getting bored but I certainly felt it. I wasn't even entertained during the final act, the epic hero vs villain fight. It was like all the fun I was having in the first half suddenly got drained out of me in the second.

The sad truth is that the Thor movies haven't been the best that the MCU can offer. Don't get me wrong I like the character Thor. I love how he is and how he fits in the overall MCU. Too bad his movies don't really do the character any justice. The first one was okay. The second one I can't for the life of me remember. And lastly the third one was a fun watch. Sad to say, none these films have reached the top tier when it comes to be Marvel's best. My guess is how do you make a character, who is essentially a god, a likeable and relatable character?

I finally understand why this film is considered divisive among the MCU fans. There things I liked and things I didn't like. Whether you like or hate it is your call. Let's just hope that if a fifth Thor does get made it at least can be called worthy.

Positives:

-Thor & Jane

-Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher

-Some good jokes

Negatives:

-Unbalanced tone

-Underutilized villain

-Boring second half

Final Grade: C

So those are my thoughts on Thor: Love and Thunder. Have you seen it? What were your thoughts on it? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, and check out more reviews here on Prose!

Best Quote:

Jane Foster: "Not bad for a human?"

Thor: "Not bad for a god."

#harrysituationreviews #film #opinion #Marvel #superhero #action #fantasy #scifi #comedy

Prey is a new science fiction action thriller prequel released on Hulu featuring the feared intergalactic hunter, the Predator. The film is directed by Dan Trachtenburg, who is known for his critically acclaimed directorial debut 10 Cloverfield Lane, and stars Amber Midthunder, actress known for her roles in Legion and Roswell. It is also the first film in the Predator franchise to have been distributed by 20th Century Studios (I still refer them as 20th Century Fox) after their merge with Disney.

The film takes place during the 18th Century on the Great American Plains. A young Comanche warrior named Naru (played by Amber Midthunder) and her tribe suddenly find themselves as hunted for sport by the dreadlocked extraterrestrial hunter (played by Dane DiLiegro). Determined to protect her tribe against this highly evolved killer, she sets out to confront it, leading into the ultimate challenge of survival to determine who is the predator and who is the prey.

I'll be honest after the shit pile that was Shane Black's The Predator I had little hope for this franchise. Also, changing the title from Predator to Prey didn't help things either. It was like they were trying to be cute or something. But I still kept an open mind, hoping that this film was at least better than The Predator. And it certainly was. Like leagues better than that shitty movie. In fact, I dare say I really liked this new Predator movie.

First positive goes to Amber Midthunder's performance. She was outstanding throughout. She doesn't have a ton of dialogue but she expresses her thoughts through her eyes. And her character Naru is great. She's a problem solver and a skilled tracker, making her a worthy opponent against the Predator. You also understand why she's trying to prove herself, to her tribe, and to her brother she is a capable hunter.

BTW: if you're bitching about the idea of a person fighting the Predator with only a bow and arrow, keep in mind that's exactly what Arnold used to fight the Predator in the first film.

Speaking of the Predator I like how this Predator is portrayed. This big guy is named the Feral Predator and watching the movie I see why. This Predator tends to fight more hand to hand rather than rely on his technology, and his tactics tend to be more brutal and savage. I also get the feeling that this is a young Predator based on how unrefined the way he hunts and kills his prey. He also seems to progress from prey to prey at the start of the film, having killed a wolf then a bear and then finally killing a bunch of French fur trappers.

The kills in the movie are great too. These kills look like they do some serious damage. It's brutal. It's bloody. There's some great sound design that make them feel juicy. It's all you can ask for in a Predator movie. Although I did find it weird at times that when it comes to violence the film seems to cut from it, almost like the editors are trying to hide the violence and give it a PG-13 rating. Luckily the stuck to their guns and kept it R-rated (as it should be) and showed off some great, nasty kills.

But the biggest praise I can give is how it recaptures the intensity and the spirit of the original Predator film while maintaining its own identity. I think the problem with the sequels is that they try too hard to be like the original, in the case of Predator 2 and Predators, or they just went completely off the rails with the idea of Predators inject autism into themselves or whatever the fuck bullshit Shane Black came up with in The Predator. This film is its own thing while still harboring the same suspense and thrills the original had. It doesn't copy the formula, it makes something of its own property. It's a perfect blend of originality and paying tribute.

Now one criticism I do have against the film is that there are times where it does feel slow, mainly in the first act. We slowly follow the life of Naru and the Comanche in their day to day life while the Predator arrives and does his own thing. That's not to say that watching how Naru and the other Comanche do isn't important. In fact, it's actually pretty cool seeing life of the Comanche on the Great Plains and done so with great respect and representation. It's just that I'm on my couch wanting to see the Comanche fight the Predator and I don't feel I should wait half an hour for that to happen in what feels like a slow burn.

And going back to the Feral Predator I gotta admit I don't like the design. The face of the Feral Predator is way too rounded and somehow they made it uglier than the original. However, I can accept the fact that this is another subspecies of Predator different from the Jungle Hunter of the original movie, much like the Super Predators from Predators. I also don't like the biomask design either. The bone structure is cool, but it exposes too much of the mouth and mandibles. But that's just my personal gripe from as a longtime fan of this franchise.

Overall this is honestly the best Predator film we got since the original film, although that's pretty low bar if you compare it to the other contenders. However it is a solid entry to the franchise and the first film in a while that actually felt like a Predator movie (at least in my opinion). Honestly, I can definitely see this having a potential for more entries like this in the future. Like an series of anthologies where the Predators are hunting humans in different periods, like Feudal Japan or World War II. There's a ton of potential in something like this, as like as Fox/Disney finds the write people who are passionate about this franchise as the fans. The movie claims that this is the first time the Predators have been on Earth but that's technically not true. The Predators have been hunting humans for over a millennium. Humans are the ultimate prey. So there is plenty of room to show how far back the Predators have been hunting humans.

This prequel is a step in the right direction for good Predator movies. Let's hope they don't turn out to be ugly motherfuckers like The Predator.

Positives:

-Naru/Amber Midthunder

-The Feral Predator

-Has the feel of the original

-Spectacular kills

Negatives:

-Slow burn at times

-Feral Predator's design

Final Grade: B

So those are my thoughts on Prey. Have you seen it? What were your thoughts on it? What is your idea for a Predator sequel/prequel/story? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, and check out more reviews here on Prose!

Best Quote:

Naru: "You think that I am not a hunter like you that I am not a threat. That is what makes me dangerous."

#harrysituationreviews #film #opinion #scifi #action #horror #thriller #Predator #prequel #Hulu

Nope is the newest science fiction thriller written and directed by Jordan Peele. It stars Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yeun, Brandon Perea, Michael Wincott, and Keith David.

The story is set around two siblings (played by Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer) who are both the owners of their father's struggling business and horse ranch. While trying to resolve their financial issue they start to notice strange things happening around the ranch. Power outages, the horses are acting up, and sightings of a mysterious object in the sky. All this phenomena leads the pair to acknowledge that there appears to be a UFO circulating the ranch, and they seek to capture evidence of this.

I've stated this before but it is worth repeating: Jordan Peele has easily become one of my favorite directors in recent memory, especially in the horror/thriller genre. Get Out is clearly his best, and Us is just amazing. Is Nope another win for Mr. Peele. I'm gonna say... yup!

First positive goes to Peele's direction. The man really knows how to build tension.

He does so with his use of tracking shots and camera pans. There were a few scenes that just had me at the edge of my seat because I was so tensed up.

The performances are outstanding. The two stand outs are obviously Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. Daniel Kaluuya is great portraying this brother who has a very serious and stoic nature. But Keke Palmer is a the real show stealer here. She just has this very confident attitude. Her character has a ton of charm and charisma. You can't help but like her a lot.

I also enjoyed this new and original perspective of the UFO that seems to visiting and terrorizing the characters. This movie has a big twist on the UFO that I won't spoil, but I thought it was pretty brilliant. And that's what makes Peele's writing so amazing. He makes you believe it's one thing but then reveals something else entirely.

I will say that one major issue I did have against the movie was there was a flashback scene involving one of the characters (particularly Steven Yeun's character) where he was the witness to a chimpanzee attack. I just feel that this really had no real bearing on the overall plot. Honestly I'm not sure how this flashback relates to the UFO, if there is a connection. If they'd cut that part out of the movie you wouldn't even notice anything different. That's just how I personally feel at least.

Overall Nope is another hit from director Jordan Peele. I should address that you probably shouldn't be going into this movie expecting a scary movie. The movie doesn't have any legit scares. This is definitely a thriller cut from the same cloth as, say, The Sixth Sense or Signs.

Oh shit, I hope I haven't jinxed Jordan Peele's directing career by mentioning two M. Night Shyamalan films.

But definitely check out this movie!

Positives:

-Peele's directing and writing

-Tension

-Performances

-Original twist

Negatives:

-An unnecessary flashback

Final Grade: B+

So those are my thoughts on Nope. Have you seen it? What were your thoughts on it? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, and check out more reviews here on Prose!

Best Quote:

Antlers Holst: "This dream you're chasing... where you end up at the top of the mountain... it's the one you never wake up from."

#harrysituationreviews #film #opinion #scifi #thriller #suspense #aliens #UFO

Music and glitter, what more could you want?

Velvet Goldmine is a fictional account based loosely on the alleged relationship between glam rock mega star David Bowie and garage rock bad boy Iggy Pop.

The film is set mostly in 1970's England when glam rock was taking the nation and turning them into glitter raving loonies.

The costumes are amazing, the soundtrack is epic, featuring songs by Roxy Music and Slade (yes, 'Merry Christmas Everyone Slade') and there is a stellar cast including Ewan McGregor, Christian Bale and Eddie Izzard.

The film deals unashamedly, yet at the same time sympathetically with themes of drugs (mis)use, alcoholism, bisexuality, adultery and fame.

Another point I would have to make is that one of the producers of the film is REM legend Michael Stipe.

90's rock band Placebo even show their pretty little faces faces (and their musical talent) during the movie.

In the whole of my life, I have only ever come across two other people who have seen the movie which is a sad fact, but does also make me feel special, like I'm in on a little glam rock secret that no one else knows about.

Velvet Goldmine was released in 1998 when the media didn't really know what to do with a film about men loving men and women and women loving women and men. Today, I can't help but feel, it would be a cult legend before it was even released.

it's interesting because this movie did get a lot of press attention, but I still feel as though it is underrated in ways.

La la land nowadays is seen as a Golden Globe, faux-Oscar-winner of the 2018 days.

People can hardly remember its plot, and will pick many of the other hot-off-the-shelf big-name shows of today.

However, la la land changed something in me. I was always a huge fan of broadway shows, and movies alike, yet never seemed to like it when the two combined.

Yet I always remember, watching the movie for the first time, hearing the music, seeing the camera action brought me back to when I was a child.

It brought me back to watching music videos, singing in the choir, and telling everyone I was going to be Britney Spears when I grew up.

Although life has not gone the way my 10-year-old self expected, and I had to find another career besides the arts - I always find some things that remind me of my love for music as a child.

And in that theatre, watching La La Land, I somehow felt the music, the hope and joyfulness of my childhood that I hadn't felt in a while.

So yes, I will never stop talking about the movie because it truly made my soul feel magical.

Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is an autistic math savant. He is a small-town CPA with a side-gig as a freelance accountant for criminal organizations. Wolff is a shadowy figure who eludes the Feds until, with the law closing in, he chooses a new legit client, a robotics firm. At this company the accounting clerk Dana Cummings (Anna Kendrick) has discovered a discrepancy. Nobody expected him to find the truth, especially company CEO (John Lithgow) and (spoiler alert) everything goes dramatically sideways as a result.

The compelling thing about this film is the performance of Ben Affleck. His life has been a tortured trial, an abusive father bent on 'fixing' his neuro-divergent son has created an action hero: a Jason Bourne who suffers in loneliness as he excels at his job.

The story line isn't perfect by any means, however it's a satisfying action film with a plethora of great plot twists and excitement. Definitely worth a look.