Nolan_Baker_Ratings Reviews

Your Name. (2016)

Boasts a Good Message, but Overstuffed

[7/10 · 26 May 2023]

An overly complex story of love and longing with underdeveloped characters cause of all the time jumps. I love the ambition, art, and music, but the characters just get lost in translation with all these big ideas. The constant back and forth in the beginning of the film made it hard for me to wrap my head around and enter the world of Your Name. Finally, there is a grounded focus on Taki and his life, only for fantasy stuff to completely derail the story.

It may be my lack of understanding of Japanese culture that made me under appreciate the story, but I found the culture in the Tale of the Princess Kaguya remarkable.

I do admire the message about the human need for intimacy and love.

Overall, I felt the story was too complex and under focused.

Air (I) (2023)

A Fantastically Written Movie

[9/10 · 8 April 2023]

Yeah Ben Affleck does a great job bringing this movie to the screen, and I love Ben Affleck as a director, but Alex Convery's screenplay is FANTASTIC. This man will win the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 2024 Oscars. The screenplay is smart, funny, compelling, and thematically moving. He takes a business transaction and transcends it to a compelling drama.while mostly maintaining historical accuracy. I cannot wait to see Convery accept his Academy Award for this movie and watch all the future movies he will write.

As for the acting, while everyone does a good job, the standout performance was Jason Bateman. He was surprisingly sympathetic. I have always been a fan of his comedic tone, and loved to see the versatility he shows in this film. While I don't think he will be nominated for an Academy Award, he still does an excellent job.

Go see this movie, it is a relevant story in American history, funny, compelling, thematically-moving, and I see at least one Academy Award in its future.

The Fabelmans (2022)

Everyday Life Is Not That Interesting

[6/10 · 26 November 2022]

The movie starts with an amazing opening scene about a boy being inspired to make movies. Next is two hours and 15 minutes of everyday life that feels familiar and uninteresting. The movie bookends with a wonderful encounter between Spielberg and one of his hero's, but the film just lacks the flare that makes a movie great. There was no shark in the water or soldier to save. The movie was well-acted and I'm sure many of its characters (whom I walked out of the theater only remembering the name Sam) will receive Academy award nominations. Spielberg will get a best director nomination, and probably a Best Original Screenplay one too because the Academy loves Spielberg.

If you want a good Spielberg movie, don't watch The Fablemans and instead watch some of his older work.

Toy Story 3 (2010)

The Greatest Movie Ever Made

[10/10 · 15 July 2022]

The Greatest Movie Ever Made with the best villain and ending ever. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages. I cry every time I watch this movie. No movie will ever be better than Toy Story 3.

Finding Jesus (2020)

Finding Nemo but 5000000 times better

[10/10 · 3 July 2022]

This movie is simply phenomenal. It was an absolute snub for Best Picture at the 2021 Oscars. Finding Jesus>>>>>Nomadland

This movie is easily the greatest animated film ever made surpassing Toy Story 3 by a slim margin. Not only is it entertaining for the whole family, but the whole church!!!! If you haven't seen this movie, watch it.

I can't believe how emotional I got watching this film. I can't believe it isn't produced by a well known company. The journey Muggles goes on as he learns the gifts he has because of Jesus Christ is the most uplifting storyline I have ever witnessed. Not to mention how funny it is. I laughed almost as much as I cried because of the beautiful heart to laugh dynamic enforced by the screenwriter.

"Muggles" - Professor Shark The greatest quote in cinematic history from the greatest film in cinematic history. Watch this film.

Lightyear (2022)

This movie is no where near perfect, but you should enjoy it

[6/10 · 16 June 2022]

The Script: The script was a little messy and it dragged in the middle. I also thought the movie could of heavily benefitted from the opening scene being a successful mission by Alicia and Buzz to show what a hot shot Space Ranger Buzz was prior to the mistake. Adding this scene would have made it easier to observe Buzz's growth from the opening image to the final image. Aside from that, the script is very funny, has great characters, and is a good time.

The villain: I was a big fan of Zurg and the twist they did with him. Not gonna lie, I would love to see a sequel like Empire Strikes Back with a super strong Zurg trying to "Destroy Buzz Lightyear."

The moment I cried: The scene with Alicia's goodbye is heartbreaking and beautiful. The rapid increase in time makes me think of Ferris Bueller Days Off and the quote "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you might miss something."

Voices: I love Taika Watiti, Chris Evans is phenomenal and sounds like a human Buzz, and Peter Sohn is Sox. Sox could not be voiced by anyone better.

Conclusion: A story no where near the beauty of the Toy Story Trilogy, but still a good time. I want a sequel.

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

I do not like Mary Jane

[9/10 · 31 December 2021]

Everything is great, other than Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane. I hate Mary Jane and she is not good enough for Peter. Doc Ock is amazing, Peter's internal battle is amazing, just Mary Jane holds this movie back. When I rewatch, I skip the last scene because it pains me to see her and Peter in love. If Emma Stone's Gwen from TASM was in this movie, it would be perfect.