I’ve seen those items here mostly in September/October, but it took me so long to write some words about them (life, *sigh*).
Anyways, here it is, finally, just before New Year’s Day of 2023 (UTC+1).

Film

Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

Rewatch – Hmm, less funny than I remembered it from my childhood. On the other hand: I’ve not seen this movie that often, despite its many re-runs on TV back in the day. So I guess I didn’t like (or laugh at) it much even then.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

Had definitely its moments and was much better than I feared it to be when I read the synopsis.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

1917 (2019)

Interesting workmanship and a gripping story, buuut: I think this “One Shot” gimmick for the whole runtime of the movie gets in the way after a while (I liked the first half more than the second).
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Hellraiser (2022)

First off: I need to re-watch the original Hellraiser (1987) again; it’s been quite a while and I wonder if it still holds up to the image that I have of it in my memory.
But even without comparing this new one with the original movie: This one was just a very weak horror film, in all matters that count (cast, plot, effects, …).
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

Dumb and Dumber (1994)

Rewatch – Rewatched it because I saw it on Netflix – big error: What a mess; even Jim Carrey in its heyday couldn’t save this dud for me.
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

Bullet Train (2022)

Although this might (rather: it most certainly will) lose some of its appeal for me on repeated viewings, at least on this initial watch, it was a really fun action flick.
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

Stone Cold (1991)

I think I’ve heard or read the name in the past, but never paid any attention to it: Just a generic and dumb action B-movie, right? But after seeing this wonderful dissection of it by RedLetterMedia, and then finding it even on YouTube for watching, I must say: Indeed, not bad, not bad at all – for what it is, mind you!
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

American Movie (1999)

A documention (available for free on archive.org) about a guy (with a severe case of delusion-of-grandeur), who wants to make films in the late 1990s.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Luck (2022)

Well, the first act is cute (and has one killer scene, in the apartment), but the rest is pretty average; not bad, just pretty mediocre.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

OSS 117: Alerte rouge en Afrique noire (2021)

Like its disappointing predecessor, I didn’t like this one very much (but it’s slightly better than part two).
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Appleseed (2004)

Rewatch – The one from 2004. While watching it, I think I recalled a few scenes: I might have seen it in the past. If so, then it didn’t leave too much in my memory. Same after seeing it now. It’s OK, if one likes japanese sci-fi animes.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Pearl (2022)

So, a prequel to “X”, to give the elderly woman from that film a backstory. Worked partially for me, because it’s still just a snapshot and doesn’t really explain how/why she became such a character; or at least not fully. The horror/suspense/gore is approximately on the same level as “X”, a bit less maybe.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Elmer Gantry (1960)

I can’t recall anymore, where I got tipped off for this film from 1960; but it was several months ago, and finally, I had the chance to watch it. My verdict: Great. Of course, one has to take into consideration the age of the movie and the time when it was made, but since this more about the characters, it’s still great.
★★★★★ 5/5 stars

Saw (2004)

Rewatch – I haven’t seen this movie too often, as a whole, maybe once or twice. As with many of such similar films, that end with a big “twist/surprise”, it will lose it’s appeal on repeated viewings. So, since I knew before what happened (at the end, not the film in its entirety), this current rating is a bit skewed; you may add a star for a first time viewing.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

In Search of the Last Action Heroes (2019)

I found this documentation about the beginning of the action film genre in the 1980s by happenstance and was pleasently surprised. Although no really high-profile actors or directors are in it, it still has some candid statements by those who are interviewed. So, if you like this genre, it is an interesting piece.
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

Barbarian (2022)

It had a lot of hype going for it, but as it is often the case: It couldn’t really fullfil it. The first half was, while not perfect, at least interesting; but after the very distinct break around the middle, it can’t recover and devolves into something terrible.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

See How They Run (2022)

A generic whodunit plot, but that alone would be OK, if the cast and rest of the film would be any good. But alas, even though some pretty good actors are in it, this movie is the very definition unsubstantial and lame (it also didn’t help that their attempts of humor didn’t work for me at all).
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

The Card Counter (2021)

On the one hand, it’s an interesting character study, but on the other hand, it left me somehow unfulfilled in the end, but I can’t really explain why. Not bad, but be advised that one has to be in the right mood for it.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Midsommar (2019)

And yet another horror/drama/mystery movie, whose positive reputation precedes it – and which I (again) can’t agree with. Also (again), as so often: Interesting premise, but poor execution. And despite (or because) of its undeservedly long runtime, there are missing pieces in the plot and character arcs (and many dull moments).
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)

A weird, but entertaining little comedy “biopic”. I guess Weird Al (portrayed here by an excellent Daniel Radcliffe) is more of an culturual phenomenon in the USA than Europe, but the little I knew about him until now, I liked; and this film adds to my positive impression of him. Recommended, but requires maybe a tiny bit of background info (at least read the intro of his Wikipedia page) and an affection for his style of humor.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Amsterdam (2022)

The cast is great, but also reeks a bit of showing off: “Look, who we can get, even for a minor role!”
The plot is also interesting, at least fundamentally – but in total, the film sadly tends to meander a bit too much and loses focus and pace from time to time.
As far as I know, it flopped both at the box-office as well as with critics, but I found it decent enough for a four-star-rating, at least for a singular watching event – mainly because of the cast (especially Christian Bale).
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

Bright: Samurai Soul (2021)

WTF was that?! And this is supposed to be connected with this Bright movie (which I haven’t seen, and don’t plan to do), a spin-off even (according to Wikipedia)… how? And why?! Regardless; taken on it’s own, it’s just dull and boring.
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

The Fighter (2010)

It was OK and was what I expected it to be: A run-of-the-mill underdog/comeback story (with a good Christian Bale in it; and even ‘Marky Mark’ is not too bad in it).
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

TV

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — Season 1

Woohoo, what a mess. I’m neither a die-hard LotR/Toliken fan, nor is Fantasy my number one genre, but even for a reluctant viewer like me, this was very excruciating and barely tolerable.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Dark — Season 2 & 3

I lost pretty fast any interest in it; the last season was even running mostly on a second screen or in the background. I know, I know, but I just wanted to know how it ends…
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities — Season 1

A rather disappointing collection of “scary” stories; except for one or two exceptions (by the way, my favorite is episode 7: The Viewing).
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Zootopia+ — Season 1

Another short anthology that didn’t work for me: The last episode (No. 6: Dinner Rush), was cute (five stars for that one alone), but for the rest, I didn’t care.
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars