beckystodd Reviews

Wish (II) (2023)

Should Have Been Great

[6/10 · 28 November 2023]

Disney had a great story, with a beautiful message to share; Don't depend on anyone else to make your wishes and dreams come true, you can make them happen.

This premise alone beautifully encompasses Disney's origins. The talent was great and despite the complaints, the retro animation style was very well done. Unfortunately, these are the strongest aspects of this movie.

Most of the songs felt forced and weak, but that isn't what prevented this movie from being absolutely brilliant. The problem? Disney was so focused on paying homage to past movies, and inserting easter eggs throughout the movie, they forgot to take care of the story and give it the attention it deserves. Magnifico went bad way to quickly, and it felt the purpose of this was to emulate all the past villains. There were strange animal character inclusions whose sole purpose appeared to pay homage to past characters. There were character references inserted throughout that felt misplaced and actually interfered with the pace of the movie. The star also seemed a little misplaced at times; a little "TV cartoon" for a movie and was, at times, distracting.

They should have just told the story in the beautiful way Disney is known for. They final scene with Saba was all that was needed to pay homage to Walt's legacy and celebrate 100 years.

Did I like the movie? Yes. Did I love it? No, and that is a shame, because it should have been so easy to love.

Meg 2: The Trench (2023)

If You Hated it, You Probably Missed the Point of the Movie

[7/10 · 7 August 2023]

Anyone who watched this movie and is complaining about the ridiculousness of it, completely missed the point of this movie, which is to be ridiculous! It's like ordering a hamburger and then complaining that it contains beef. This movie is absolute over-the-top nonsense in the very best way. Everything about it is impossible and completely illogical.

This is what makes it so much fun to watch. I laughed out loud and was thoroughly entertained. The performances of the actors seemed to acknowledge this, without being self-conscience about it. At its worst, it was completely stupid; at its best, completely fun and engaging.

It's not the worst thing to spend two hours being mindlessly entertained.

65 (2023)

This is worth watching

[7/10 · 12 March 2023]

I don't know where all the hate is coming from. Maybe viewers are thinking this is a dinosaur movie, which it isn't. This is not Jurassic Park, so don't go into it expecting anything like that. What it is, is a science fiction, survival action story and it is worth seeing. The story is actually a pretty cool idea and it is refreshing to see something that isn't a remake or regurgitation. The acting is solid, the story doesn't drag thanks to the run time, and it kept me engaged for the entire movie. This movie isn't going to change your life, but it's a great way to spend an hour and a half of it with a bucket of popcorn.

Within (2016)

Disappointing Mishmash of Unoriginal Ideas

[2/10 · 21 October 2021]

Every stereotypical premise from every mediocre horror thriller pasted together with cringe-worthy dialog, obvious red herrings and bad acting. There are no original ideas here, so please do not waste your time.

Reminiscence (2021)

A good movie, just have realistic expectations

[7/10 · 26 August 2021]

This is not going to be the most exciting movie you have ever seen. It is definitely a quiet, thoughtful, slow burn of a movie. But it is absolutely worth watching. While viewing, I got essences of Blade Runner meets the Minority Report meets just a hint of Inception. Don't get me wrong; it is not nearly as good as any of these movies, but it takes you on a mind bending, dark, futuristic journey that has a resolution which worked for the overall feel of the story. I think the final scene was the weakest, being completely illogical and impossible. I think the build-up of some of the character's relationships were definitely rushed and felt incomplete, like some bad editing had stolen moments that would have allowed me to care more about the characters. There are also come completely unbelievable scenes which take away from the movie as a whole, but it is a futuristic fantasy, so who am I to judge? However, overall the movie is completely watchable, and entertaining in a quiet way and has some really beautiful scenes. If you go into it not expecting more than it is, you will enjoy it.

The Green Knight (2021)

WHAT?!!!

[2/10 · 1 August 2021]

Maybe no one else has the guts to say it, but what the hell? This was a convoluted, mess of an acid trip nightmare set against beautiful visuals. Dev Patel was great, but ended up being collateral damage. I started chuckling half way through at the absurdity of this movie. The trailers completely misrepresent the story, whatever that is supposed to be. While each "chapter" may provide a beautiful snippet of a story I would love to see, it never comes together as anything cohesive. If you want to take a wild trip down the rabbit hole, go ahead. Otherwise, don't say you were not warned.

The Tomorrow War (2021)

Too bad it is not in theaters

[7/10 · 6 July 2021]

This movie is the perfect summer escape; lots of action mixed with a little humor, plenty of explosions, all wrapped up in a slightly silly storyline. Don't overthink it, just enjoy the ride. It is just too bad that it wasn't released in theaters; explosions and tense scenes are so much more fun with a gigantic screen and excessive sound!

The Outpost (2018–2021)

Give it a Chance...

[6/10 · 30 July 2018]

Like many viewers, I almost stopped watching before the end of the first episode. It was extremely rough, and had the feel of a high school project. However, I never like to judge a series based solely on the first episode, so I persevered through it, and then watched the second episode. I am happy to say that it did get better. I know it is only the second episode, but I actually enjoyed it. Rather than the first episode, which I just wanted to get through, the second was more engaging and interesting. Now, I am not saying that this will ever be a masterpiece, and it still may go downhill from here. But, I will continue watching as long as it continues to interest me and entertain me. Just remember, this is not a big budget production and it is definitely designed for a niche audience. It may never be on your top 10 shows to watch, but if the story line or genre interests you, give it a try beyond the first episode.

Dirkie (1969)

Dirkie DVD

[13 January 2008]

You can find this at cvmc.net - I ordered one and it's an excellent copy. It's format 0 so it will work on most DVD players. It was $39.99 plus $5.00 s/h. It comes with a labeled case and is very professional looking. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the movie. I have been looking for this movie forever and this is the first professional copy I've found that works in U.S. players. I found a couple of people willing to make and send a copy but no one ever came through for me and the quality offered was questionable. I hope this helps everyone who loved this movie as a child and who has been looking for it. This was a great movie and I'm so happy that it's finally available.