Film Diary
I love film. I love making films and I love watching films. Unfortunately I don't have much time to make films these days, but below are a few I watched recently.

Watched on Friday February 3, 2023.
Jackass 3D, 2010 - ★★★
Watched on Friday February 3, 2023.
Jackass Number Two, 2006 - ★★★
Watched on Monday January 30, 2023.
Prisoners, 2013 - ★★★★
Watched on Saturday January 28, 2023.
Let Me In, 2010 - ★★★★
Watched on Tuesday January 17, 2023.
Triangle of Sadness, 2022 - ★★★★
I’m conflicted. There was a lot here to like, but not nearly enough to consider this a fully baked idea. Disappointing.
Armageddon Time, 2022 - ★★★
Watched on Monday January 16, 2023.
The Banshees of Inisherin, 2022 - ★★★★★
Watched on Sunday January 15, 2023.
Top Gun: Maverick, 2022 - ★★★★★
Watched on Sunday January 15, 2023.
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari, 2022 - ★★★★
Watched on Sunday January 15, 2023.
The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, 2023 - ★★★
Watched on Saturday January 14, 2023.
Barbarian, 2022 - ★★★★
Watched on Saturday January 14, 2023.
The Menu, 2022 - ★★★★
Watched on Friday January 6, 2023.
Ticket to Paradise, 2022 - ★★★
Watched on Sunday January 1, 2023.
Don't Answer the Phone!, 1980 - ★★★★
Watched on Wednesday December 28, 2022.
The Fabelmans, 2022 - ★★★★
Watched on Wednesday December 28, 2022.
The Menu, 2022 - ★★★★
Watched on Friday December 23, 2022.
Home Alone, 1990 - ★★★★★
Watched on Thursday December 22, 2022.
Gremlins, 1984 - ★★★★
Watched on Friday December 23, 2022.
Jingle All the Way, 1996 - ★★★
Watched on Friday December 23, 2022.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 1966 - ★★★
Watched on Wednesday December 21, 2022.
The Polar Express, 2004 - ★★★
Did Damien just give his two week notice?
Despite the fuss about the ending I think people are missing the point. Some minor spoilers ahead.
Manny and Nelly both desired to be part of film because they wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves. Manny reacts so strongly during the film because he realizes that the foundations they helped lay in Hollywood were echoing into the present day. Some of the scenes in the movie were direct references to films they had a hand in creating. They had been part of something that shaped film as we know it and he's finally able to see that for himself.
Babylon, 2022 - ★★★★
Watched on Wednesday December 21, 2022.
A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965 - ★★★
Watched on Wednesday December 21, 2022.
Four Christmases, 2008 - ★★★
Watched on Wednesday December 21, 2022.
Top Gun: Maverick, 2022 - ★★★★★
Watched on Tuesday December 20, 2022.
Die Hard, 1988 - ★★★½
Watched on Monday December 19, 2022.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, 1964 - ★★★
I didn't get to see it in 3D which no doubt impacted my impressions of Avatar: The Way of Water. The movie was beautiful, I can't imagine what the 3D experience would have been like.
I've read the sentiments of several others about Avatar: The Way of Water, yes this is a very simple, basic human story. Spectacle aside there's nothing new here, in fact I'm not sure there's really much here that wasn't in the first film. But that didn't hurt my enjoyment at all.
Visually the movie was stunning, though there were a few scenes which felt surprisingly "hitchy" almost like dropped frames in a video game. Nothing too bad though. I'm excited to find some behind the scenes videos to see just how Cameron was able to achieve the amazing visuals of this movie (or rather the team at Weta Digital).
In my opinion Avatar: The Way of Water is an emotional, fun ride and ultimately a success. I'm definitely interested to see where the story goes.
Avatar: The Way of Water, 2022 - ★★★★
Watched on Wednesday December 14, 2022.
Room 237, 2012 - ★★★
There are some truly unforgettable moment in The Night House, I truly wanted to love it. However... the expositional dialog really took this one down a few pegs.
The Night House, 2020 - ★★★
Watched on Tuesday December 13, 2022.
The Fly, 1986 - ★★★★
This review may contain spoilers.
This was my second time watching Catfish. I remember bits and pieces from my first viewing but I was struck by the emotions it pulled out of me this time.
What starts as a thrilling hunt for the truth soon turns into something much deeper. When they decide to visit Angela unannounced I expected her to hide and avoid the confrontation. She doesn't. Why? Because more than anything she wants connection. Even if she has to pose as a beautiful woman and create fake connections with strangers to get them to notice her.
She's lonely, seemingly isolated in the mundaneness of her life and the overwhelming responsibility of caring for her family. I felt bad for her.
I don't know if this is a "real" documentary, but it's definitely a great story.
Catfish, 2010 - ★★★★ (contains spoilers)
Watched on Monday December 12, 2022.
The Time Machine, 2002 - ★★
Watched on Saturday December 10, 2022.
Nope, 2022 - ★★★★
Watched on Saturday December 3, 2022.
Sr., 2022 - ★★★★
Watched on Friday December 2, 2022.
Creep 2, 2017 - ★★★
Watched on Sunday November 27, 2022.
Creep, 2014 - ★★★★
Watched on Sunday November 27, 2022.
The Gift, 2015 - ★★★★
Watched on Sunday November 27, 2022.
[REC], 2007 - ★★★★
Watched on Friday November 25, 2022.
Spielberg, 2017 - ★★★★★
Watched on Friday November 25, 2022.
Emily the Criminal, 2022 - ★★★
Watched on Thursday November 24, 2022.
Noah, 2014 - ★★★
Watched on Thursday November 24, 2022.
Jagged, 2021 - ★★★★
Watched on Thursday November 24, 2022.
TÁR, 2022 - ★★★★★
Watched on Saturday November 5, 2022.
Killer Sally, 2022 - ★★★
Watched on Sunday November 13, 2022.
Bling Ring: Hollywood Heist, 2022 - ★★★
Watched on Wednesday November 9, 2022.
Beverly Hills Cop, 1984 - ★★★★
Watched on Tuesday November 8, 2022.
Annihilation, 2018 - ★★★★
In hindsight I was a bit harsh on this movie when it came out in 2001. I think my 21-year-old brain didn't have an appreciation for the sillier elements of the story, especially the use of the "Jeepers Creepers where'd you get those peepers" song. In reality this is quite a suspenseful movie (especially in the first act) that tells a unique story.
Jeepers Creepers, 2001 - ★★★
Watched on Thursday November 3, 2022.
Barbarian, 2022 - ★★★★
Unless otherwise noted these are all Blu-Ray discs.
- 10 Cloverfield Lane
4K Ultra HD
- 13 Going on 30
- 1917
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
4K Ultra HD
- 2012
- 28 Days Later
- 28 Weeks Later
- 3 from Hell
- 30 Days of Night
- The 40 Year Old Virgin
...plus 477 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.