I’m (re)watching many more older films than in the months before, it seems.

Well, one reason might be that not too much interesting new stuff is currently released. Of course, there is the occasional highlight here and there, but in general I think the mainstream’s level of quality has taken a nosedive over the last years.

Film

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Although I have seen a few Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli films over the years (and mostly liked them, as far as I can recall), I haven’t seen all. I now will try to redeem that, and if possible, in chronological order.

This one was OK, but after the great “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”, this was a bit of a letdown.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Loaded Weapon 1 (1993)

Rewatch – A comedy in the same style as “Naked Gun”, “Airplane” or “Hot Shots” – and mostly as funny as those; and at times, even on the same level. Which surprised me, because I always thought of it as a lame also-ran. So, for an audience that likes that kind of humor: Highly recommended!
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

Jaws (1975)

Rewatch – Still a great film. On the one hand: The tricks and effects do look a bit dated, but Spielberg knew how to make the best of it (simply don’t show too much). And on the other hand: Imagine if this would have been made in the year 2000 with the then current CGI and how such a movie would have looked now, only some decades later, compared with this one, which is much older…
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

Next Goal Wins (2023)

Nice try, Mr. Waititi. But maybe your next goal film wins again.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Once upon a Time in the West (1968)

Rewatch – I’m a sucker for certain old films, and this western masterpiece is one them!
★★★★★ 5/5 stars

The Hunt for Red October (1990)

Rewatch – Also a film from my childhood, that I saw a couple of times on TV back then, but not for decaded since then.
And despite how the world and politics have changed and evolved in the last thirty years (or has it?), it still works as a suspense-thriller.
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Rewatch – Very simple plot (just a hunt, back and forth, through the desert), but with an excellent execution.
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

Leo (2023)

It was not bad, but yet a bit below average for my taste; would have worked as an 20min episode of a TV show, but to bloat it up to a feature file (for a streaming portal, mind you) didn’t help.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Appleseed Alpha (2014)

I’ve seen another “Appleseed” movie (from 2004), which I did’t like very much. This one here was OK-ish, but at the bottom line not that exciting or special.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

While I liked “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” (the inoffical first film of Studio Ghibli) very much, and also kind of liked “Castle in the Sky” (while not as much), this one was totally not made for me:
The film itself is of course very well made, and the story may speak to many people… – but sadly not to me.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Migration (2023)

As usual for these mainstream animation comedies: Very amusing first half, but the rest was pretty mediocre (again).
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

The Interview (2014)

On the one hand: I didn’t want to turn it off, but on the other hand: I don’t think I’ve laughed (or smiled) once during the runtime – which is not a good sign for a comedy.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Rewatch – Technically impressive, but plotwise similarly slow and pretentious as the famous predecessor. The original wins the prize for mood and culturul influence, and “2049” is an updated, modern, and slightly faster-paced take on that world. But both incarnations are definitely more style than substance.
(This is my second viewing; I remember how blown away I was the first time, but now, with a more neutral and analytical view, I sadly also saw a lot of shortcomings…)
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)

Not bad, but very, very bland.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Snatch (2000)

I might have seen it before, not sure. Anyways, it had its moments but also a lot of stylistic choices that haven’t aged that well. Beside that, it was just OK.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Zodiac (2007)

Rewatch – Interesting: I’ve seen it around 2007/2008 for the first time and was really impressed by it. So much, that I put the Blu-ray-Disc on my Amazon Wishlist over ten years ago… and there it sat and waited and waited… And since taste and perception can change over time, I rewatched it on Netflix before buying it – which was a good decision!

My observations:

1. I remembered it slightly different and with much more screentime for Robert Downey Jr. than he really has.
2. It’s a meh crime movie, not terrible for an one-time watch; but also not remarkable enough for needing it in my disc collection for repeated viewings.

★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Poor Things (2023)

I’ve seen a few films by this director, but except for The Favourite, I couldn’t really connect with any of them; the same here: It is a bit more mainstream and has a few good scenes, but as a whole it’s not a movie that I enjoyed very much.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Shot Caller (2017)

Hm, below average gangster drama.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Underworld: Blood Wars (2016)

The fifth entry in this franchise. I saw many of them over the years, but not this one – and now I wish I would have continued to ignore this one: A terrible joke, not a movie!
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

Capricorn One (1977)

Read often about it, but never saw it. And now after watching it, I wonder what all the hype was about. I guess the premise of faking an important event was new and fascinating back then, but the film itself is crap: Such a badly written plot!
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Blazing Saddles (1974)

I knew about this film, but I think I’ve never seen it before. And since it’s a matter of hit and miss for me(!) whether Mel Brooks’ humor works, I wasn’t so sure on what to expect… But luckily this one was actually a very funny endeavor.
★★★★★ 5/5 stars

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)

Again, a wonderful wholesome film from Studio Ghibli – but besides that, not that much interesting as a movie for me: There simply doesn’t happen a lot of interesting stuff. I understand this is a coming-of-age story, but those have generally also have a hard time with me; so…
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

Interesting and at times quite funny (considering the humor is many decades old); but way too long (had to split it into three viewing sessions).
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Road House (2024)

I’ve never seen the original from 1989, so I can’t compare it. Taken as it’s own: It has it’s moments, but overall too long and not entertaining enough to be considered as a good movie; just average at best.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

12 Angry Men (1957)

Rewatch – A masterpiece. Great writing, acting and even outstanding camera work (in such a limited setting).
★★★★★ 5/5 stars

American Fiction (2023)

It had an interesting premise, but it also felt as if the handbrake was pulled to high throughout its runtime for its ideas. And the whole family drama felt like something that should have be handled in a completely separate film.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Rewatch – First half hour or so was very boring; then it picked up and evolved to an interesting little film. On the other hand: The motivations of the main actors seemed a bit non-sensical.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

TV

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds — Season 2

Wow, that was a quick decline. While the first season wasn’t perfect, it still showed potential. And also, in the “Star Trek” franchise, one is used to getting a slow start and that things then improve from there on in future seasons. Well, the opposite happened here.

There are again good scenes and moments sprinkled around most episodes, but these are all just small elements that can’t carry or save a whole episode; and so the whole season suffered in the end.

Also, when compared with the seasons of 20+ episodes of past Trek shows, you shouldn’t waste precious time in the only 10 episodes you have here now by including a fucking musical; better spend it in the characters, world building or generally better story-writing!

Mind you, I’m not against such deviations and the like in general, but maybe do it later, don’t waste the little runtime you have with such nonsense this early on; there are more “important” things to do and tell, before leisure time…
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Masters of the Universe: Revolution — Season 1

Since the first half of Revelation was so terrible, I skipped the second half (episodes 6-10), or just brushed over it, before starting with Revolution, which supposedly should be sooo much better. Well, it’s not as terrible as the stuff that came before, but I think I’ve just grown out of this franchise/universe
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 1

Rewatch – And so it finally begins, the rewatch of one of the TV shows that influenced and formed me the most in my childhood!
And while I’m aware that it will take a few seasons until we reach “Peak Trek”, and that the times (and the arts of storytelling) have changed over the years, I’m already very impressed and entertained by these initial 25 episodes (26, if one counts the pilot as two).
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Andor — Season 1

I’m not the greatest “Star Wars” fan in the galaxy, but I have seen the movies and a few of the TV shows. But especially many of the TV shows get a bad reputation and reviews, so I skip most of the recent ones.

Except for “Andor”, which gets praise from everyone, it seems. And while the themes and topics of the plot itself are not really new, the show implements them wonderfully. Plus the look and feel: As if it were a continuation of the original trilogy from the 1970s/1980s. Plus the view into the inner workings of the empire, the founding of the rebellion, and characters who are more gray instead of just black/white (good/evil).

So, I’m surprised and astonished how much I liked this first season.
★★★★★ 5/5 stars