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Reviews
Tuhan, Izinkan Aku Berdosa (2023)
Aghniny Haque 🙌🏼
Have yet to read the novel, but I'm sure some changes are necessary if it's about to be brought over to the big screen. That said, I don't know whether or not the tonal shift in the latter act really happened in the novel. Overall the movie was still kinda believable up until that point where afterwards I no longer feel the movie was still realistic. I don't mind it at all though, cause a good story is a good story.
The non linear plot also served a nice contrast to Kiran before and after her transformation. I'm quite confident some accolades are in order for this movie, especially some acting nods for Aghniny Haque. Kinda surprising to have her reunite with Djenar Maesa Ayu so soon after Pemandi Jenazah though.
Do You See What I See (2024)
Still really worth a watch
Adapting a short 30 minute-ish audio only podcast into an over 90 minute full feature film is not an easy feat for sure. However I was pleasantly surprised by how good this movie really was initially. It started out strong and I really like how they were able to still make the movie so creepy & tense despite we who have already listened to the podcast kinda got the gist of what will happen next already. Unfortunately the way they dragged the movie in the latter act kinda bogged down the whole movie altogether. But this was in no way a deal breaker as overall the movie was still really worth a watch, even just to witness Diandra Agatha's shift from the innocent naive Mawar to a much more sinister version of herself.
Monster (2023)
It's a felony for a thriller to be a snooze fest
It's a felony for a thriller to be a snooze fest and make the audience doze off instead of being at the edge of their seats. I fell asleep a couple of times during my viewing, so for me Monster kinda failed its purpose.
As a thriller, Monster failed to maintain its suspense throughout as the pacing was quite slow despite the fact that it clocked in less than 90 minutes. The scoring also didn't work for me, I just don't feel that it's thrilling enough to aid the pacing of the movie.
I don't mind the "no dialog" approach this movie took at all, I really just wish it were more suspenseful with faster pacing and more intense scoring perhaps?
Tarot (2024)
Just manage your expectations, you know what you're getting into
Imho people should really manage their expectations whenever deciding to spend their precious time watching these kinda movies. I believe they're simply meant for entertainment purposes only, the kinda movies you watch simply just to unwind & pass the time and don't have to utilize your brain power much. That's what Tarot is to me at least.
I'm fully aware that Tarot garnered mostly negative reviews left & right but I'm a sucker for horror/thriller and I almost always will be down for one. Not to mention my penchant for tarot/horoscopes IRL as well. Having said that, I'll have to agree that the story was really weak as in no clear rules whatsoever as to who will die & when, etc etc and filled with all the cliché horror tropes you can recall. The characters are also super bland and made uber stupid decisions.
TL, DR: go see this if you're a horror buff and don't mind a popcorn movie filled with stupid characters whose only purpose was to be death's fodder. Also if you're quite the adrenaline junkie, since you'll get enough rush from all the cheap jumpscares, at least if they still work for you.
Lahn mah (2024)
just like music, movies tend to be way way better when they resonate with the audience on a personal level
Fully aware coming in that it'll be a tearjerker still didn't prepare me for crying so badly that my glasses got foggy & my nose became stuffy.
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Lahn Mah) offers a simple slice of life story, but just like music, movies tend to be way way better when they resonate with the audience on a personal level. I guess this is why I cried so bad during my viewing in which I also brought my mom. Despite no longer having any grandparents, I still relate so much to the movie as there are so many things which feel like slaps to myself as I don't think I've been a very good son to my parents.
So I presume that those who see this movie will definitely enjoy it more if they could relate with the theme. Go see this movie with your elders, may them be parents or grandparents, hopefully it'll wake something within you.
Immaculate (2024)
a very decent viewing despite the majority of less than favorable reviews
Ok, The First Omen was better, let's get that out if the way 1st. That aside, it doesn't mean Immaculate was anything bad whatsoever. In fact I wonder why it didn't fare better in terms of reviews.
Recently found out that it's Sydney Sweeney's passion project that she actually auditioned for this role way back when she's 17 but the project never materialized so she kinda hold on to it to the point now when she can produce it herself she championed the movie herself from reaching out to the writer, getting a director, etc until the project finally bore into fruition.
Sorta being labelled as a bombshell, Sydney as a Scream Queen was something I didn't expect to see but she kinda "delivered" here, especially on that provocative ending scene. Nell Tiger Free might be more primal & have more physicalities during her "possessed" scene in The First Omen, but Sydney was quite visceral here too.
I also enjoyed the setting & tone of the movie very much, I think it was beautifully shot & the score was decent as well. My only concern was the cheap jumpscares the movie resorted to, thankfully there's just a few of them. I think the movie didn't need that at all, especially the dreaded "oh, it's just a dream" trope.
TLDR, I went into this with bare minimum expectations & I was pleasantly surprised that it was a very decent viewing despite the majority of less than favorable reviews.
Abigail (2024)
Kinda wished it'd be more thrilling
Despite liking Radio Silence's previous offerings, Ready or Not and the latest 2 Scream installments, I unfortunately can't say the same about Abigail. I kinda had high hopes for this one, especially since I also love the cast: Kathryn Newton, Kevin Durand, and Melissa Barrera. Imho, the buildup was too long and the payoff wasn't really worth it in the end. I also kinda wished it'd be more thrilling, perhaps more intense chases? I barely felt any tension during this one sadly. I don't mind humor in my horror movies, but the humor sadly also didn't really work for me in this. Long story short, it's a decent flick & I like to support my fave directors & actors so I didn't regret seeing this at all.
Civil War (2024)
Such a pleasant surprise!
Never been a fan of war movies so I initially have no plans to see this movie whatsoever despite the fact that it's an A24 film & we all know that A24 almost always delivers. Then the reviews started pouring in and as usual I was intrigued by the rave reviews. I finally bought myself a ticket to the nearest IMAX and oh boy, it was such a pleasant surprise!
Follows a road trip of our 4 central characters whom I ended up super invested in each & every 1 of them that I feared for their lives. Alex Garland scored a home run with this 1. Despite not being a horror movie, this film jumpscared the heck out of me the kinda jumpscare that made literally jumped out of my seat and the horror from the war just shooked me to the core. I felt so many emotions & it was so overwhelming that I cried a lot of times during my initial viewing.
My 1 and only concern was the song choices. The score was fine, but the songs I sadly didn't get except for that 1 powerful country song, Sturgill Simpson's Breakers Roar? Dang, it also played during 1 of the most heartwrenching yet beautiful scene in the movie.
TLDR, a very recommended movie, in fact I myself plan to go for seconds.
Challengers (2024)
C'MON!!
The non linear plot really leaves you no time to be just chilling while watching this, but with a story so intense I don't think you'll be chilling anyways.. It feels justl like overdosing on caffeine while you have nothing to do so you just sit there feeling so edgy and tense.. and not to mention the techno choice of score just seem to be adding more fuel to the tension..
During my viewing of this, I knocked over my soft drink and it spilled all over then I was bursting to pee but the story was super engaging that I can't afford a toilet break so I just hold off til the credits rolled.. C'MON!!
Siksa Kubur (2024)
Experience this in a theater setting!
At this stage I don't think Jokan has anything to prove to anyone anymore regarding his directing chops. The cinematography was beautiful, with so many easter eggs in regards to choice of color & tone and did I mention about the sound design? Oh my, 1 of the main reasons why you should experience this in a theater setting! All the eerie sounds surrounding you from every direction it's almost as if you were there in the movie yourself.
Though the story was a little but confusing, being a Jokan movie it successfully managed to spark many fan theories & discussions which I thoroughly enjoy. And as for the acting, with such star studded ensemble cast, I don't think we have anything to worry about.
Hokkyoku Hyakkaten no Concierge San (2023)
#COZY
I can't believe the average 6.7 rating here, geez, what's with people nowadays?? I really wonder why it got such low ratings here on IMDB.
It is indeed a simple story told within only 1 hour and 10 minutes, but this movie tugs my heartstrings in the all right places, making me cry happy tears of joy and content.
It is such a warm and heartfelt movie with beautiful color palette and amusing soundtrack as company.
It will make you smile, laugh, cry a little, but once the ending comes full circle and the credits start rolling, you will be left with such coziness it would be a challenge to leave the dept store.
Umma (2022)
mismarketed as horror
Imho you'd enjoy it more if you come to watch this movie with the mindset of it being a drama with just a sprinkle of PG13 horror thrown in rather than expecting a full on horror film. Watching the trailer was enough to inform me that this won't be scary at all & reading the reviews kinda justified it. I watched it with this knowledge & it didn't disappoint. See it if you like Sandra Oh or some mother-daughter drama, but skip it if your main reason to watch is to get scared cause it's really not scary at all.