R1charD_TugNutz Reviews

Walter (IV) (2019)

A Time Stopping Delight

[8/10 · 30 December 2022]

What a wild ride. The idea is fantastic and the sound design is wonderfully crafted for a sweet, short masterpiece in animation. The character is a joy to watch with his adorable feature and memorable hat. The environment makes you quench for thirst with great sound making glass rattling the lead in the story.

It's a wonderful expose in silent film with no words being spoken the entire time. Normally this would take away from an animated experience but in this film they embraced it. They use this as an opportunity to embrace nature in a way that's rarely heard. Silence and a reality that we are just along for the ride. All in all this was an awesome experience.

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (2015–2017)

A Diamond In The Rough

[8/10 · 29 December 2022]

Oh my goodness is this story good! This idea of the epic battle between the E. F. F. And Zeon is beautifully crafted in to a bloody, violent abuse on the senses with awesome animation and fantastic odes to the original series. I could write a review about the music score alone but I can't stress how great everything is.

The mobile suit battles are fantastically terrifying to watch as the memorable characters descend in to madness with each passing battle. The animation style is beautiful as well. All in all this is an amazing addition to the Gundam Franchise. A tale where there is no clear winner and it leaves you craving more Gundam goodness.

Top 5 Gundam entires for me of all time.

Gladiator (2000)

A Modern Day Classic

[8/10 · 19 December 2022]

This is easily one of my most viewed films that I've seen over the years. I recall good memories watching it with old friends in high school and family members alike. The story is written well enough where it keeps you inthralled and the fighting and action sequences have aged well for a movie that's over 20 years old.

The acting is really good. Characters are engaging and likable with the villain leaving a sour taste in your mouth. The CGI has aged a bit in some scenes but it's not not distracting enough to really take you out of the film. I recommend this film for anyone interested in gladiatorial history.

This Is the End (2013)

A Great Laugh

[7/10 · 19 December 2022]

Seth Rogan films hold a soft spot in my heart. Pineapple Express is a modern classic. Their comedy is witty, and original and This Is The End is no different. Yes, a lot of the comedy is immature but it's done well enough where the writing itself carries the slap stick to new heights.

I've always remembered the large amount of cameos that appear in the film and it always gets a chuckle out of me. Watching a list celebrities get picked off one by one in the first few minutes of the film is brilliantly funny. For a comedy the special effects are great as well. All in all it's a really good movie that aged well.

Spider-Man (2002)

A Good Movie At The Time

[6/10 · 17 December 2022]

When this film came out there wasn't much choice when it came to super hero films. I'd even argue that this movie helped the in the repulsive rise to mindbendingly boring super hero vomit we see today. With that said this film WAS good when it came out because of the lack of unimaginative superhero garbage flooding streaming services and movie theaters.

If you watch the movie again it's obvious that this is just as bad as any other marvel movie today. At it's best the action scenes are decent enough for you to shut your brain off for a few minutes at a time. At it's worst it's a story about a woman who tears a friendship apart and a young man who's stupid enough to sell out for said partnership.

21 Jump Street (2012)

Just Feels Weird.

[4/10 · 16 December 2022]

Something was off about this film. Maybe the fact that a cop ends up falling in love with a high school student or maybe it's because the hyper sexualization of women in the movie just made it seem uncomfortably forced. I've watched it before around the time it came out and I was much younger then but watching it a second time was boring. I will admit some of the interactions between the two main characters did get a chuckle out of me but it was very rare.

I'd like to think that this film is in the same vein as Pineapple Express and Superbad but it's just not executed as well. Stick to the two films mentioned above if you want to laugh your ass off.

Men in Black (1997)

A Fantastic Blast From The Past

[8/10 · 16 December 2022]

I've always had a soft spot for the Men In Black. I loved the movie when it first came out and admittedly had the soundtrack on cassette tape. I love the character designs, all the neat gadgets the MIB use and even as a kid I had a huge crush on Dr. Weaver. Even to this day the comedy is funny enough to get a chuckle out of me and the story holds up well enough.

One special thing happened when I watched this today. My son showed interest in it and actually sat down to watch a movie with me. He giggled from beginning to end and if a movie doesn't make you have a good time with family is it any good? MIB rules.

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

An Entertaining Way To Spend a Couple Hours

[7/10 · 16 December 2022]

It's hard to believe that this movie is almost 15 years old. I vaguely remember seeing it in theaters when it first came out and I remember being impressed. RDJ does a great job as Sherlock. The score is spot on with a few odd tunes here and there that don't really fit but the action scenes are awesome. Especially the slow motion stuff.

The gritty industrialized London metropolis is expertly crafted with CGI and the costume designs are fantastic. All in all even after watching it all these years later it's still an enjoyable experience. It's great for most of the family as well making it a great film for a night in.

Star Trek (2009)

Hell Yea

[8/10 · 14 December 2022]

It's difficult for me to rate this movie. I feel as if i'd be criticized by the hard core Star Trek community for absolutely adoring this action adventure take on a fantastic franchise. But I just cant help it. This film is super fun to watch. The score and sound is superb. The acting is comedic and likable. It's a blockbuster fueled ode to classic sophisticated start trek.

I loved the design of the ships and the wildly lit sets. I thought the alien races were entertaining and original. The story was fun and engaging. All in all, this is a film I could watch multiple times and enjoy it every single time. Live long and prosper!

Rush Hour 2 (2001)

Expectedly Entertaining.

[6/10 · 13 December 2022]

If you compared this to the first film I'd say it's significantly better in many aspects. You can tell the CGI team got a big pull for this one and they did a great job. The action scenes were very entertaining to watch. The cop duo kept you on your toes from beginning to end. You can tell that Rush Hour 2 was a big budget film for it's time.

I'd argue that the best parts of this film are it's action scenes and they don't disappoint. The fighting scenes in particular are done really well. The first Rush Hour was a bit too harsh for me but this one had a bit more high brow humor in it and it was a breath of fresh air in comparison.

Pineapple Express (2008)

A Comedic Masterpiece That Withstands The Test Of Time

[8/10 · 12 December 2022]

This is one of the films I've watched several times over and even to this day I find something new that I missed last time I saw it. The dialog is spot on with hilarious moments of action and drama in between. The music score is spot on as well. From beginning to end you'll laugh at the hilarious banter between the two main characters as they stumble through their adventure.

The fun, mind numbing hilarity about how insane the legal system and US culture portrays weed is on full display here making it even more comical as the story unwinds in wildly hilarious outcomes. It's a damn funny movie stoned or sober.

City Slickers (1991)

A 90's Time capsule!

[6/10 · 9 December 2022]

This movie is a great representation of what films were like in the early 90s. It's witty, fun, and entertaining enough to keep you engaged. The acting isn't to bad, action sequences have no ridiculous CGI that take you out of reality and it hits a couple of real life problems on the head like infidelity and the idea of a man hitting a midlife crisis where he doesn't feel like he's wanted or needed.

The comedic dialogue is great and makes me yearn for friendly camaraderie that the main characters have. It was also nice to see New Mexico having some screen time in the early 90s. The backdrop was pretty. All in all an entertaining film but nothing special.

Bullet Train (2022)

Entertaining But Missing Something

[6/10 · 8 December 2022]

The movie was good but not great. The entire thing was being held up by strong performances during the narration and actual story telling. Action sequences were done well but boring. It felt like they had been done before and the visuals seemed so forced that I became uninterested.

The characters were great with Brian Tyree standing out with some brilliant acting. Surprisingly Brad Pitt seemed like the weaker member of the star studded cast. Maybe it would have been more fun in a movie theater but at home this didn't do it for me. I truthfully can't remember half of the movie because it didn't captivate me in any way.

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019)

A Solid Documentary About Jazz

[7/10 · 8 December 2022]

I've always been a fan of Jazz but never really listened to Miles Davis. I was always a fan of Mingus, Mose Alison, and Brubeck. I had nothing else to watch so I put this on and I was very glad I did. Miles's story is one for the ages.

Before going in to the documentary I knew very little about Miles Davis. I knew he was a Jazz musician and I knew that he had a troubled life constantly fighting addiction. The documentary tells his story wonderfully and makes me want to grab a couple Miles Davis records this weekend and jam out. If you like Jazz, documentaries or music history this one is for you.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Still Gets A Chuckle Out Of Me

[8/10 · 6 December 2022]

The movie is a great way of entertaining yourself before bed or if you have nothing better to do and just want to relax and laugh a bit. I've watched this movie for years and every time I watch it again I'm happy I did. The characters are hilarious and the writing is classic slap stick comedy. The music is also a real gem.

I like many people feel that the ending was a little soft but the movie doesn't suffer because of it. The journey is what's fantastically written in this film. Not the ending. Characters banter will constantly keep a smile on your face from beginning to end. I treat it like a holiday movie at this point. It's a must watch every year.

Our Universe (2022– )

A Fun, Relaxing Way To Get Ready For Bed.

[7/10 · 2 December 2022]

I mean that in a good way. The episodes keep you entertained while you lay in bed. It's a great, relaxing way to chill out. Morgan Freeman killed it. I wish they went in to more detail here and there but it was still pretty good.

I remember documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough and these are a great ode to them. I also reminds me of The Cosmos as well. The wildlife shots are really good and the space stuff is even better. They do a great job showing how chaotic the universe is and explaining how it helps life on earth. It also goes in to the history of the universe and I found it really fascinating.

I'm happy I watched it.

Area 88 (1985– )

A Shining Example Of Anime As Art

[9/10 · 22 November 2022]

What a wildly great example of stunning animation, A brilliant 80's soundtrack, and a wonderfully written story. The western audiences have heard of Akira, Cowboy Beebop, Gundam and many many other great anime stories but this classic has aged like fine wine. I'd like to think I have a keen eye for good anime but this one flew under the radar my entire life. I urge you to check out this awesome series.

It feels like the animators just had a beer one night and said "You know what would be cool? A fighter jet anime." and they put their heads down to prove that they could make the best one possible.

Bravo.

Rush Hour (1998)

It's A One And Done Type Of Film.

[6/10 · 16 November 2022]

I wanted to give it one or two more stars but it just wasn't doing it for me. A solid hour and thirty minute buddy cop genre. It's exactly what you'd expect and nothing more. The fighting scenes were decent enough, the story was predictable but not in a bad way and the comedy aged a little poorly.

1998 me would have laughed till I cried. 2022 me didn't care for it as much but that's okay. I've never watched the other Rush Hour films but I may give them a shot since this was a good foundation. I'd even argue that the gag reel at the end was better than the film itself. With that said it's a good little time capsule of what action films were in the late 90s.

Fight Club (1999)

Aged Like Fine Wine!

[8/10 · 15 November 2022]

This movie is great. I'll admit this was my first time ever watching it and its 2022. It always popped up in my what to watch section of different apps over the years but I never got around to seeing it. Trust me when I say that the overall theme of the film has aged in to something that stands the test of time. Without ruining it the film has this great way of making you feel like you relate to some of the issues that the main character deals with.

Men being seen as disposable really hit home for me. The inability to cope with that without the need to get something physical for a dopamine rush is spot on. I'm glad that I watched this film in today's environment. Hug the important men in your life folks!

Wangan Midnight (2007–2008)

An Entertaining Thing To Watch Before Bed

[7/10 · 9 November 2022]

A wonderful anime about the street racing scene in Tokyo around 2007. The music ruled, the car battles were fun and the characters are decent enough. It's no Initial D but it's pretty darn close. Seeing a different mix of cars from different countries was a nice touch. If you don't know anything about cars the dialogue could be a bit dry for you.

All of the car battles were done well. Great noise, great modeling and a cool backdrop but what made this anime for me was the soundtrack. Every song was done really well and some of them have been added to my daily rotation of music.

If you are bored in bed looking for something to watch give it a shot!