Project Hail Mary (2026) – sci-fi, rated PG-13

This movie was amaze amaze amaze! I saw it in the theatres with my younger sister, and wow, what an experience. Project Hail Mary is the story of Ryland Grace, an elementary-school science teacher who wakes up on a spaceship, having no idea who he is and what he is doing there. He slowly comes to realise that he is the only man left on a mission to save earth from a destructive force that’s causing the sun to die out. First a book by Andy Weir (which I read this year in preparation for the movie coming out), now a movie starring Ryan Gosling, Project Hail Mary has been widely talked about ever since it first hit theatres in March of this year, and for good reason. It is truly a fantastic film – laugh-out-loud funny, family-friendly, boasting visually-stunning cinematography and truly memorable characters, and with a hopeful and awe-filled tone that we don’t always get in space movies. Throughout the film, there is this sense of wonder, a wonder in seeing the galaxy and the intricacy of what’s beyond the earth that we live in, and this is made even more profound by the choral music in Daniel Pemberton’s score and a rich use of colour, even in the depths of outer space. It feels like we, as the audience, are being called to take in the stunning surrounds of the galaxy along with Grace and Rocky. It feels like we are also called to have courage, even in the face of something that seems impossible or like too much of a sacrifice, and to also believe that there is hope for the future. Maybe that sense of hope and resiliency is present in all space movies, but I found it especially in Project Hail Mary – earth faces what seems to be the most disastrous future, a world turned cold, millions killed by famine in the next thirty years, but a last-chance mission, a hail Mary, is sent out to space to find any possible solution. And (without giving any spoilers) by the time the film closes out, we do feel a sense that the world is going to be okay, that there is some hope to hold onto. And so this colourful and musical and humorous film is one that I’d recommend to anybody.

A Real Pain (2025) – drama/comedy, rated R

A Real Pain is an award-winning, ninety-minute film about the relationship between two cousins, David and Benji, who take a tour through Poland to honour their dead grandmother. David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) have been close since they were kids, but this trip causes old and new tensions to resurface. About 10 minutes into the film, I realised why it’s called what it’s called. Because Benji is a real pain. He swings from happy and charismatic to snarky and rude and without a single social grace, completely demeaning and manipulative to his cousin but still loved and favoured by everyone around him, and I want to punch Kieran Culkin in that perfect little face. But the film is also about more than just the irritating persona of Benji. It’s about pain, as a concept. How much pain do we carry? How much pain do we hide? How much pain are we, as society, willing to cover over, and how much pain do we choose to remember? Even amidst its humour, A Real Pain offered a poignant reflection on mental health and family history and how we remember the things of the past. It wasn’t a complex story, quite understated in its style and plot, but it offered us two complex characters who we still don’t quite understand by the end of the film.

And maybe that lack of understanding is this film’s weak point. Because despite the way the film examines real social issues, I did feel, by the end of it, that there was something missing. The end credits rolled and I didn’t really know what to do with them, because nothing really changed between Benji and David. There wasn’t really hope for change or some sort of apology or restored friendship. It was just… over. And maybe that’s the point, that Benji isn’t really going to change and their friendship can never be what it was when they were kids. But I would have loved to feel just a little more of something at the end, the barest glimpse of closure.

Jesse Eisenberg seems to often depict slightly awkward but lovable characters, and his acting of David was no different. I really felt for David, cringing along with him at all the issues his cousin brings to the tour group, standing on the outside with him and seeing how much Benji takes that spotlight. The inclusion of many Chopin pieces as the film’s central score was a lovely addition as well, and overall, I really enjoyed this short, punchy, and impactful movie (even if the impact could have been a little harder-hitting).

I watched a bunch of other great movies this month, but time fails me to write about them all. The Dark Knight Rises was a mind-blowing conclusion to Chris Nolan’s trilogy that, like Project Hail Mary, felt like such a ray of hope and resiliency against what feels like impossible odds - I already can’t wait to watch this series again! David Freyne’s Eternity (2025) was a conceptually unique film that I adored (I mean come on, making the protagonist choose between Miles Teller and Callum Turner - those are two of my celebrity crushes!). And, after a recommendation from , I watched Casino Royale, a James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig, and also really enjoyed it.

Can’t wait to see what I’ll watch in May! (I’ve been dying for a La La Land rewatch, so hopefully that’s coming soon.) Till then :)

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I was really hoping Project Hail Mary would get on here, but I haven’t had the chance to go see it in the theatre yet. I’m really hoping to do that soon, because I read the book and loved it, and I’ve heard many many good things about its adaptation. Besides, I’m trying to support going to the local cinema more - because isn’t that how movies are meant to be watched?

Anyways, here are three reviews for some movies I watched in March (not at the cinema, but on my couch at home. Still worth it though!).

Manchester by the Sea (2016) – drama, rated R

This was a heavy movie, well worth watching. While definitely not your feel-good-movie of the year, Manchester by the Sea uses its 137 minutes well, pulling you into the life and grief of Lee Chandler until you feel every sorrow as deeply as he does. Lee (played by Casey Affleck), after finding out that his brother has died, moves to a seaside town to live with his teenage nephew, who has been left in his care. Our initial view of Lee is one of numbness, perhaps affectlessness, as he learns of his loss and leaves home for another place, but this transforms into a picture of a burdened, guilty man who has been carrying the weight of a dreadful secret for years. A unique use of classical music adds to the emotional depth of this film, playing over traumatic and life-altering scenes with sweeping grandiosity that makes it almost feel we’re in a trance as we watch the sorrows unfold. Amidst this utterly bleak film is the barest glimpse of hope, though you have to look closely to see it: the humour and care between Lee and his nephew, and the promise that even though Lee cannot seem to move past his grief, he will continue to love this boy who has been placed in his life, in whatever way he can. I fully enjoyed every minute of this poignant, heart-wrenching film.

Jaws (1975) – horror/adventure, rated PG

I can’t believe I had never watched this movie until now. Jaws is the film that made Stephen Spielberg famous, and I’m so glad I finally picked it up this month. It tells the story of a chief of police, a scientist, and a ship captain, on their quest to kill a massive great-white shark that has been terrorising the people of Amity Island. Hemingway-esque in its exploration of man versus nature and a journey to battle a great fish, Jaws is worth its high acclaim. Yes, the animatronic shark looks pretty fake, as does the spurting blood, but beneath the early-Spielberg plot and adventure is a story of resilience in the face of fear and a fierce love that will sacrifice anything to protect family.

Batman Begins (2005) – action, rated PG-13

Yet another movie I should have watched long ago, as a Christopher Nolan fan and a lover of superhero movies. Batman Begins, the story of Bruce Wayne and how he began the pursuit of justice through his hidden persona as Batman, is a superhero film like no other. Strong, impossible-to-miss orchestral music by Hans Zimmer, a convincing and powerful acting job by Christian Bale as Batman (seriously, those wings? Wow!!), and fast-paced action that keeps you guessing until the last moments, (like Nolan always delivers) have all made me count down the days until I can watch the next of the trilogy. I find there is something striking about a hero who doesn’t exhibit supernatural powers, their strength coming, rather, from their person, or the things they are able to create (Iron Man, from Marvel, is another example of this). It means these heroes’ decision to step up and begin to fight crime is one consciously made, rather than their being forced into a circumstance through a failed science experiment or spider bite. In the case of Batman, rather than having his powers thrust upon him, Bruce chooses to return to Gotham, where he knows his parents were killed and where corruption and injustice are running rampant, and become a figure of hope (some might say salvation) for the people of the city. More than just an action movie, Batman Begins explores the paralysing power of fear and the need to rise up from where you’ve fallen and fight for good, and Batman is a strong hero who epitomises just that.

To finish off, a couple of other good films I watched this month are:

• Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962) - another French film that I had to watch for class, and this was even better than Breathless! A stunning, black-and-white depiction of beauty and death.

• The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) - a great conclusion to the trilogy!

Thanks for reading!

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I’m also trying to get better at writing not just film reviews, but a little bit more analysis: why this movie matters, or what it shows us about the world (not really featured in this month’s post though 😂). As my movie taste develops (thanks to my sister and the Cinema class I’m part of this semester), I’m growing in my ability to appreciate not just Hollywood blockbusters but also the artistic films, and the ones that tell a story. I’ll try to write about that more here.

Anyways, that’s enough of my stream of consciousness thoughts on watching movies and writing about them. Here’s what I watched in February:

Train Dreams (2025) – drama, rated PG-13

I was not surprised in any way that this film was an Oscar Nominee for not just one, but three categories: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Train Dreams was a heartbreaking, stunning film, capturing the life of Robert Grainier (played by Joel Edgerton) as he works as a logger in early 20^th-century America. It is a film that makes you want to hold your breath until the very end. The cinematography, stunning down to the last shot, fully immerses you, making the setting feel like a character itself, and the editing is simple yet dramatic. Upon first watch, perhaps this movie doesn’t seem like it’s about much: there is limited action and dialogue, and the story moves fairly slowly through Robert’s experiences. But it is the slowness and sparseness of the film that is its strength. Yes, there is limited dialogue, but it still says so much. Yes, there is no rising and falling action, but that gentle pressure of a man’s existence, moving through work and love and loss, is what keeps you watching. The director manages to express, through a slow and contemplative story, the existence of one man in a vast and monumental period in America’s history. He manages to create a film that feels like a life.

I Still Believe (2020) – romance, rated PG

Now, before I begin, I know that Christian movies can get a bad rap for being cheesy, with bad acting and lame storylines, but this is not the case for I Still Believe. It’s honestly probably one of the best Christian movies I’ve seen, and gets a full 10 stars on IMDb from me (even though this is my third time watching it). I Still Believe tells the story of the Christian artist Jeremy Camp (played by KJ Apa), including his rise to fame and his relationship with his wife, Melissa. It is a heartbreaking and profound journey, depicting the deep love between Jeremy and Melissa and their struggle through Melissa’s illness. Emotional and raw, and made even more powerful by the rich presence of music throughout the film, featuring songs written by Jeremy Camp in this time, I Still Believe is a movie I feel right down to my core. Like I wrote about last week, there’s something about the grief and heartbreak of a film that makes it feel so vivid and real. But even more than that, the faith that Jeremy and Melissa cling to is the true heart of I Still Believe. Watching this movie, even though my life is so very different from Jeremy Camp’s, I feel like I can understand him, because I see the faith that gave him an anchor and a hope, even in the darkest of times. And that is a faith that I, by God’s grace, can live by too. “Even when I don’t see, I still believe.”

Zootopia 2 (2025) – family, rated PG

I don’t have much to say about this movie except that it was a fantastic sequel! It finally feels like Disney is having fun with their movies again. The nearly 2-hour film was full of animal puns, Easter eggs and references to other movies, and fantastic, laugh-out-loud humour, but Zootopia 2 also moves beyond just a funny, light, kids’ movie. The friendship between Nick and Judy reaches a new depth in their tearjerking conversation, probably the best scene of the whole film, as they say that no one in the world matters to them more than the other. “You’re my pack,” says Nick to Judy – and this stubborn loyalty and fierce friendship plays out through the entire film. Definitely worth the watch!

To finish off, a few other good movies I saw in February are:

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) - I hated the book, but the movie was so well done! (Apart from some content issues, which was my problem with the novel too.)

• Murder on the Orient Express (2017) - a rewatch of a great Agatha Christie mystery

• Breathless (1960) - a unique and beautiful French film that I watched for class. Ask me about this, because it’s super intriguing!

Till next time!

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So, without further ado, the first movies of 2026:

tick, tick…BOOM! (2021) – musical, rated PG-13

Andrew Garfield can sing? What a delight! tick, tick…BOOM! is a musical biopic about the playwright Jonathan Larson and his navigation of love and the creative journey. As his 30^th birthday ticks closer and closer, New York City resident Jonathan struggles to write a truly great song for the musical he is working on. Garfield, who plays the protagonist, delivers an impeccable performance with some truly fantastic singing (apparently, he took vocal lessons for this movie!), and it was that music that was the definite strength of this film. I was so excited at the end to find out that this was based on a true story; all the songs were written by the real Jonathan Larson for what was initially a rock solo monologue. tick, tick…BOOM! was an accurate and powerful depiction of the struggle of being a writer amidst the changing nature of society, and while I could have done without the social-justice-for-the-gays undertones, I truly enjoyed this musical (and now I can’t stop listening to its soundtrack).

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) - action, rated PG

This was the first Marvel movie I ever watched, and honestly, it was probably what got me interested in that film universe to begin with. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a fresh, animated take on the classic Spider-Man story: a teen gets bitten by a radioactive spider and turns into the one and only Spider-Man, and he must quickly learn to use his newfound powers to save New York City from villainy. But in this movie, Miles Morales, the Brooklyn teenager who finds himself thrown into a new superhero role, is not the only Spider-Man. He realises there is a whole other multiverse of Spider-Men (-Persons? -Creatures?), and their very existence is being threatened. Cue an upbeat score, unique, comic-book style animation, and some mind-bendy multiple-universe plotlines that will scratch an itch in your brain, and you have Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. For me, watching this movie the second time around was even better than the first, because I knew and understood the Marvel references, the superhero tropes and Spider-Man motifs that were being repeated through this film, and I was able to appreciate this fantastic film even more.

Cinderella (2015) - fantasy, rated PG

This was one of my favourite movies as a young girl, and watching it again this month did not disappoint. Cinderella, the live-action adaptation of the fairytale we all know and love, is the story of the orphaned girl Cinderella (Lily James), her life with her stepmother and stepsisters, and, of course, her magical transformation and happily-ever-after with Prince Charming. From a gentle orchestral score to the absolutely stunning dress Cinderella wears to the ball, this film is nothing short of beautiful. More than just a light-hearted Disney story, Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella is full of emotional depth – the death of Cinderella’s father and her mistreatment by her stepmother is portrayed so poignantly, making the happy ending with Prince Charming that much more touching and (dare I say?) magical. This was Disney’s first major live-action adaptation of an animated princess film, and I’m not going to get into the debate about whether they should keep remaking these films right now (that’s a discussion for another time). But I will say this: though Cinderella could definitely have included the original songs to make it even more like Walt Disney intended his films to be, I think Branagh still captured the magic and romance of the original story. And for that, I will always recommend and love it.

To finish off, a couple of other movies I watched this month are:

• How To Train Your Dragon (2025) – the HTTYD films are not my top franchise, but this was a great live-action adaptation of the original! (Though I do still wonder why we needed this…)

• Catch Me If You Can (2002) – this was a fun, funny action-adjacent movie that I thoroughly enjoyed!

• Ant-Man (2015) – kind of had a wacky concept, but this was a great addition to the Marvel universe

Have you seen any of these? Liked them? Hated them? Let’s chat about it in the comments.

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Frankenstein (2025) – horror/sci-fi, rated R

After its recent release on Netflix and in cinemas, Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein has been a hot topic of conversation for many. Even for those who have never read Mary Shelley’s book, del Toro’s film was something highly anticipated and discussed. And now that it’s out and I’ve watched it, I certainly have thoughts.

The story is one that’s likely familiar to many: a mad scientist named Victor Frankenstein (that’s right, Frankenstein is the name of the scientist, not the monster!) brings a creature, pieced together from dead bodies, to life, and this creature begins to destroy Victor’s life. Oscar Isaac plays Victor Frankenstein in the film, and Jacob Elordi is cast as the creature, transforming him remarkably into an otherworldly monster.

If I had watched this movie, having never read the book, without the idea of it being an adaptation of classic literature, I probably would have loved it. From a purely cinematic standpoint, Frankenstein was good. A unique use of colour, including bright reds and deep greens, made certain characters stand out. The gothic aesthetic of the film was wonderfully done, with Frankenstein’s tower being one setting in particular that was visually stunning. The atmospheric mood of the whole movie was complemented with a haunting violin score by Alexandre Desplat. And Jacob Elordi, portraying the actor, was the strength of the film, as we witnessed the creature’s struggle through his introduction to the world, mistreatment by his maker, wonder at the many complexities of life, and eventually betrayal and anger towards the one who should have loved him most of all.

Yet despite all this, Frankenstein was disappointing. For all the stunning shots of the film, there were as many fake-looking snow landscapes, poorly animated animals, and weird camera angles. (And gore! So much gore!) For all Elordi’s wonderful acting, Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein left something to be desired. There was no nuance to his character, nothing that made me, as the viewer, feel sympathetic to him, as I did in the book. Instead of ambiguity, we got told, ‘Victor is the monster. Victor is the monster’, again and again. Indeed, many critics have criticized Frankenstein for this very reason: the lack of ambiguity. One of the best parts about Mary Shelley’s novel was how everything wasn’t clear right away. You had to do some digging, some thinking, to really understand the text. That is not what we get in del Toro’s film. The ending feels almost didactic in its message of forgiveness, a message that seems to come out of nowhere after we see Frankenstein’s vicious mistreatment of the creature throughout the movie. This suggests to me that del Toro lacked so much confidence in his ability to portray his messages and themes that he had to hit us over the head with it, just to make sure we didn’t miss it.

Because I am such a book lover, the fact that this was so inaccurate to the original text was a turn-off for me. A few plot changes here and there are okay, but I think del Toro changed the themes and meaning of the entire text, and to me, that means it has failed as an adaptation.

Back to the Future (1985) – sci-fi, rated PG

November is apparently the month to watch Back to the Future, and I was not going to pass up on the opportunity to rewatch one of my favourite classic movies, one that my twin sister and I have long been raving about.

In Back to the Future, Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) accidentally gets sent back to the 1950s in a time-travelling DeLorean, created by his mad scientist friend, Doctor Emmett Brown (yes, another mad scientist movie this month 😂). While in the ‘50s, Marty accidentally encounters younger versions of his parents and, in a bizarre and hilarious turn of events, must ensure the two still meet and fall in love, while also finding his way back to the future to save Doc Brown.

Zemecki’s way of using ‘50s and ‘80s pop culture to cleverly weave together a picture of the past and future is fantastic. With so many iconic and quotable scenes, and Marty’s riff at the Enchantment Under the Sea dance even inspiring John Mayer, Back to the Future is a classic that should not be missed. Most of all, though, this movie makes me howl with laughter, and that will forever be the reason why I love it so much.

To finish off, some other movies I watched this month that I won’t write a full review for are:

Annie (2014) – A sweet and funny version of the classic musical.

The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) – Again, not a great adaptation, but an enjoyable movie full of adventure and revenge.

Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011) - Objectively the best Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie…

Yes, I watched quite a range of different movies this month, and many rewatches, but ah well. November is tough, and we do what we can to get through it.

Till December, movie-lovers!

Dead Poets Society (1989) – drama, rated PG

This is one of my favourite movies of all time, and for good reason. Dead Poets Society is about a group of friends at a prestigious, all-boys school who are inspired by their new English teacher, Mr. Keating (played by the illustrious Robin Williams), to gain a passion for poetry and literature. Following in the footsteps of their teacher, they begin a ‘Dead Poets Society’, a club that meets secretly in a cave on the school property to read poetry and discuss life, love, and literature. This Dead Poets Society becomes their safe hub of artistic expression and the catalyst for their community, inciting them to appreciate the ‘greats’ of English poetry and to write and share their own.

This movie was actually recommended to me by my own English teacher in Grade 12, which seems fitting based on what it’s about. An exploration of literature, recommended by my literature teacher. And there is nothing I love more than a work, whether it be a book or a film, that celebrates reading.

There is so much to love about Dead Poets Society. The unmatched charm of films made in the nineties, set in a stunning autumn and winter in Vermont, makes every scene of this movie rich in colour and tone. There is a wonderful cast of intricately drawn characters whom you feel you get to know deeply after an only 2-hour movie. And Maurice Jarre’s unique and haunting score adds to the beauty and wonder of each scene.

This film holds a fantastic depiction of male friendships, too. We see the growing bond between this group of seven boys, who all encourage each other in their pursuits to make their lives great. It is particularly the friendship between Neil, the protagonist (who, by the way, is played by one of my favourite actors and celebrity crushes, Robert Sean Leonard) and Todd (Ethan Hawke) that is so deeply moving. Both characters initially lack the confidence to do what they are truly passionate about – Neil to break free from his father’s expectations for him and act instead of going to medical school, and Todd to step out of his shyness and share his talents for writing – but through the course of the film, they find the courage to “seize the day” and do what they never dared to do.

One common interpretation of this movie sees Todd and Neil’s relationship as gay, and I despise that. It is such a twisting of what is simply beautiful and platonic, and it cheapens male friendship. Maybe the characters of this movie aren’t perceived as the most ‘masculine’ because they are readers and writers instead of athletes and weightlifters. Maybe their emotions, their interest in poetry and Latin and theatre, are seen as weaknesses by some, signs that make them less of a man. Even Neil’s own father shows this mindset, believing that Neil’s pursuit of acting will ruin his life.

But it is this devotion to literature, this passion for learning, that gives the boys their strength. As Neil quotes in one of their Dead Poets Society meetings,

“We are not now that strength which in old days

Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,

One equal temper of heroic hearts,

Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

-Alfred Lord Tennyson, Ulysses (1833)

The boys of the Dead Poets Society share a camaraderie, a fellowship, if you will, bound by their intellectual pursuits, spurred on by their wonderful teacher. These things are not incompatible with masculinity, but rather complementary to it. Their “equal temper of heroic hearts” is what unites them.

Perhaps to some, Dead Poets Society is just a romanticisation of autumn and academia and teenage boys. Perhaps to some, the moral of the story is simply to seize the day, to follow your dreams and break free from the norm. Yes, those things are all part of this movie, but Dead Poets Society is so much more than that.

It is a celebration of literature, of poetry, of the beauty in this world that can be found everywhere we look. It is a testimony to the power of friendship. It is a love letter to reading and learning and letting ourselves take joy in being a part of the human race, that human race that is filled with passion.

“What good amid these? … That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.”1

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Oppenheimer (2023) – historical/thriller, rated R

This one was on my watchlist for a long while, and finally getting to it this month, I feel confident it was worth the wait! Christopher Nolan’s epic biographical film about J. Robert Oppenheimer and his development of the atomic bomb during World War II is immersive, captivating, and stunning. It boasts an impressive orchestral score, a star-studded cast, and powerful cinematography, making this movie truly a masterpiece. Cillian Murphy captures the character of Oppenheimer so convincingly, his psychological unrest and his genius and his moral turmoil. There is a palpable tension created by the glimpses we see of Oppenheimer’s future, where the deadly and world-changing effects of his invention are challenged and examined. And the instant that the first nuclear explosion occurs feels monumental, not just as a moment in cinematic history, but as a watershed moment for the whole world. In Oppenheimer, Nolan created not only a historically accurate and gripping film, but a work of art.

Primal Fear (1996) – thriller, rated R

Primal Fear, a courtroom drama and thriller starring Richard Gere, was a captivating and frightening watch. Martin Vail, played by Gere, is a defence attorney who takes on the case of an altar boy accused of violently murdering the archbishop. A (very young) Edward Norton does a phenomenal job playing the part of the accused altar boy, fully embodying the role by capturing his unique, contrasting personality. Norton’s acting was probably the highlight of the whole movie, alongside the plot twists and suspenseful scenes that leave you on the edge of your seat. While I could have done without all the swearing, because there was a lot, Primal Fear was a highly enjoyable watch with a wonderful cast.

West Side Story (1961) – musical/romance, rated PG

The sounds of old Hollywood and the magic of a classic musical lit up one of my Friday nights this month. West Side Story, a modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet set in New York, tells of the rivalry between two gangs, the Sharks and the Jets, and their battle for control of the upper West Side of Manhattan. This conflict is only intensified when Tony, a Jet, falls in love with Maria, one of the Sharks’ sisters. Then follows a music- and drama-filled two and a half hours of romance, gang tension, and some pretty fantastic dance numbers. As with any Romeo and Juliet-esque story, I always find it hard to believe that these two characters can really be in love when all they’ve done is meet eyes across the room, and West Side Story was no different. It’s hard to see this as anything more than infatuation, but directors Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins do a fantastic job of pulling the viewers in and gaining sympathy for these star-crossed lovers, right up until the very Shakespearean tragic ending. So suspend belief a little bit: look past your modern-day cynicism and believe that there really is such a thing as love at first sight.

“Now it begins, now we start: one hand, one heart. Even death won’t part us now.”1

I’ll be back next month for more film reviews (hopefully will be watching the hugely famous K Pop Demon Hunters at some point soon, so stay tuned 😂). Till then!

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When I sat down to start writing this post, I realised how much I really had to say about Spider-Man, and superheroes in general. So my comments on the other movies I saw this month are going to be very minimal, and I’m going to focus on what I just can’t help but writing about: the power of a good superhero movie.

So, here’s what I watched this month:

Minari (2020) - A beautiful drama about an immigrant family moving to America from Korea.

Wonder (2017) - Based on the middle-grade novel by RJ Palacio, this is a wonderful, heart-warming film about a boy with facial deformities finding his place in middle school. I can never watch this enough times!

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) - action, rated PG-13

Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America. Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman. The names of these heroes are so familiar to us, and it feels like every year, we get another movie about another superhero. The Marvel and DC universes have been filling our watchlists with film after film of action and excitement, villains and heroes, courage and evil. And for some reason, I tend not to write reviews on the Marvel movies I watch (I haven’t tackled any DC yet, but I will eventually!). I think I’m guilty of dismissing them a little, ‘just another superhero film’, just a part of a series. And I’m not the only one. People are getting tired of the superhero genre, of seeing (apparently) the same basic plotlines done over and over again. We might be past the age of superhero movies, people claim1.

And look, I’m still making my way through the chronological order of the Marvel universe. I can’t say that I love all the stuff Marvel is putting out lately, all the new heroes, the side-story TV shows. But I know that I do love some of the films I’ve been watching in this genre.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is the most recent one I’ve seen, and I know, I know, it’s a sequel; that’s already a reason for some people to discount it. But this movie was truly so good. We all know the story of Peter Parker, bitten by a radioactive spider and suddenly holding spider-like, super-human qualities.

In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker (played by Andrew Garfield) faces a new villain and tries to wrap his mind around who his parents were and why they left him as a child. I won’t give too much away about the plot (because I don’t want to spoil anything, and also you should just watch it!), but what I will say is this:

Not every superhero movie is ‘just another superhero movie’.

Yes, some of them are maybe a little more basic, following the classic storyline, packed full of action scenes. Even if this was the case with this film, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a movie following the archetypes of its genre. Good versus evil, the unlikely hero, the power of courage – these are all things we see again and again in the Marvel universe, and in most superhero movies. These are essential pieces of the genre, and probably what people love most about a good superhero movie. We watch the awkward high schooler become an initially fumbling, eventually almost unstoppable, hero, and we see the good guys win in the end. It’s Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey; it’s the good and evil dichotomy. And then when the movie is well-made on top of that, it becomes a film absolutely worth watching.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 hosts amazing visual effects – the villain controls electricity, and there is an incredible scene in Times Square that is so visually stunning and terrifying – as well as powerful acting and a vivid and real romance between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacey (played by Emma Stone).

And throughout the whole film, there is this recurring conversation, this word the characters keep coming back to. Hope.

“No matter how buried it gets, or how lost you feel, you must promise me that you will hold on to hope,” says Gwen in her graduation speech.2

This is what superheroes like Spider-Man, or Captain America or Batman or the Hulk, offer the world. Hope. And not just to characters in movies, but to the viewers too. They show us that there is good in the world, that evil won’t prevail.

And that kind of superhero movie is one that’s worth watching.

But here are May’s best movies:

Before Sunrise (1995) – romance, rated R (though I’m not sure why it got this rating?)

They don’t make romance movies like they used to. The 90s was the best era for this kind of movie, and Before Sunrise is really everything a romance should be. But I think it was more than a romance movie, too. A young American man, Jesse (played by Ethan Hawke), has a chance encounter with a Parisian young woman, Celine, on the train, and after a long conversation in the lunch car, invites her to come to Vienna with him until his flight leaves the next morning. What follows is the singular night they have together, exploring the city and talking for hours. The movie is very conversation-based, with little action or conflict. It was just two people getting to know each other, seeing the world through each other’s eyes. And there’s something so very real about it, something so vivid and life-like about their long conversations, the slow way they fell in love. Nothing needed to happen because the conversations and the characters were enough to drive the story forward, to pull the viewers in and make them ache with the sorrow that this night would eventually end. And (slight spoiler here) Jesse and Celine’s love story didn’t climax in a sexual encounter, like many modern romances do. That wasn’t the point of this film; it wasn’t about sex. Falling in love is not just the physical consummation of love, but learning about a person, loving not their body, but their heart. And Before Sunrise captured this impeccably.

Whiplash (2014) – drama, rated R

From the same director as La La Land comes this visually stunning film capturing the dangers of obsession. Andrew Nieman, played by Miles Teller, is an aspiring jazz drummer who is pushed to his limits by a hostile teacher. His passion for music quickly turns into near insanity because of the constant and ruthless pressures of J.K. Simmons’ character, the professor Fletcher. The acting in this movie is incredible, raising the tension between the teacher and the student and producing a psychological drama that is worth every minute of the watch. Add to this a grand jazz soundtrack by Justin Hurwitz and some incredible cinematography, Whiplash was a truly masterfully made film.

Inception (2010) – sci-fi, rated PG-13

Words fail me to describe how truly fantastic this movie is. I think Interstellar is still my favourite Christopher Nolan film, but this one has to be a very very close second. I would love to step inside the mind of Christopher Nolan, because he must be some form of genius. Inception is a masterpiece, a mind-bending thriller that twists your perceptions of dreams and reality, creating a highly unique film. The protagonist, Dom Cobb, is a thief with the ability to enter people’s dreams and steal things from their subconscious. But in Inception, he tackles a new challenge: he will plant an idea in someone’s mind. If he completes this successfully, he’ll be able to get home to his children after years of being on the run. And so begins the story, as Cobb and his team traverse dreams within dreams in order to establish this simple idea. And what a story it is. Fully captivating, with a sweeping Hans Zimmer score that ties together science-fiction and action with deep, emotional themes of grief and fatherhood, Inception is not a film you should miss.

Apart from these three spectacular movies, some other good ones I watched this month are:

• Mean Girls (2004) - a hilarious depiction of high school cliques, stereotypes, and bullying

• The Blind Side - a powerful and emotional film that’s about more than just football

• The Amazing Spider-Man - Andrew Garfield shines in this version of the classic superhero! Can’t wait to watch the sequel :)

Have you seen any of these and liked (or disliked) them? Let’s chat about it in the comments.

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So, without further ado, here is my month in movies:

Good Will Hunting (1997) – drama, rated R

This movie was an emotional masterpiece. I’m still floundering to find the words to express how much I loved it. Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon, works as a janitor at a Boston university and lives a tough life, landing himself in all sorts of trouble with the police. Upon discovering his genius, a professor at the university bails him out of jail on two conditions: Will must study math under his guidance, and he must start seeing a counsellor. We see Will’s sessions with his therapist, played by the excellent Robin Williams, and we see Will fall in love. We see him hurting, and we see hope for his healing too. The movie is a beautiful, raw portrayal of brokenness, of therapy, of regrets and the choices we make, and of love. My heart ached as I watched it, for this hurting boy and the people who try to help him. I highly recommend this emotionally powerful film.

Memento (2000) – thriller, rated R

Christopher Nolan is one of my favourite film directors to date, and my goal is to watch each one of his movies. Memento, one of his earliest films, did not disappoint. The protagonist, Leonard, has a strange memory condition: he can remember the details of his life before his accident, but not what has happened to him in the last fifteen minutes, making his goal, to hunt down and kill his wife’s murderer, much more difficult. In classic Nolan-style, this movie was twisty and mind-bending, making it a highly unique and enjoyable watching experience. We see scenes unfold through Leonard’s eyes, but in reverse, so we, as the audience, feel like our memory, too, is warped. We’re left guessing until the very end, as the twists and turns keep coming, and slowly, through short memories, a picture builds of what has really happened. Memento boasts the epitome of an unreliable narrator and a baffling, enigmatic plot, and I’m still mulling over it.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) – dystopia, rated PG-13

This was a fantastic adaptation of a fantastic book! Depicting the thrilling and captivating story of a young Coriolanus Snow, serving as a mentor to a District 12 Tribute, Lucy Gray, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was full of powerful acting, incredible music, and a character arc towards the dark side that captures who President Snow was, before he was President Snow. Though I'm against the new Snow White movie(😤), Rachel Zegler did amazing in this movie, especially singing the many Covey songs interspersed throughout. Suzanne Collins' gift for worldbuilding and story development is amazing, which also shone through in the movie.

"It's the things we love the most that destroy us.”

Now, to conclude, I’m not saying I would absolutely recommend each of these movies to every audience, nor am I condoning every choice made by the characters in these films. (Also, I promise I don’t only watch R-rated movies! But somehow these are the ones that I like the best?) But I thoroughly enjoyed them, and maybe you will too! Let’s chat about it in the comments.

(PS. If there are typos, this post was a little rushed, and also a day late, so please forgive me! Hopefully better next time.)

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So, without further ado, here are a few short reviews of films I watched in March.

Saving Private Ryan (1998) – war/action, rated R

A powerful war movie about a small troop of soldiers searching behind enemy lines for the missing Private Ryan. Their task: to bring him home safely to his mother, who has already lost her three sons in combat. Tom Hanks shines in this movie as the captain of the reluctant troop, his steady determination an example for the soldiers, and Matt Damon is Private Ryan. Though the movie is intense, gory at times, and conveying one of the bleakest times in mankind’s history, it is ultimately a story of redemption. It tells of camaraderie, courage, and honor, depicting a sacrificial journey of eight soldiers to rescue one. Steven Spielberg does it again.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt 1 and 2 (2014, 2015) – dystopia, rated PG-13

It was a perfect time to finish watching The Hunger Games trilogy, what with all the excitement around the release of Sunrise on the Reaping (which, as an aside, is FANTASTIC so far! Suzanne Collins has not disappointed.) Although the directors added and modified some elements of the book to stretch it into two movies, I still thoroughly enjoyed both films! After not having read the final book of the trilogy for several years, it shook me to dive back into Panem and witness the Hunger Games again. Katniss, Peeta, Finnick, Gale, Haymitch – they’re a vivid and unforgettable cast of characters who somehow find the courage to stand up to the villainy of President Snow and the Capitol. My heart broke so many times as I watched these movies, aching for the souls forever changed by a world bent on violence, on some convoluted form of justice. And I think the scariest part is that I can see all these things happening in our world.

Here (2024) – drama, rated PG-13

You’ve probably never seen a movie like this before. A unique exploration of time and the spaces we live in, the entirety of Here is filmed from one angle. It stretches from the age of dinosaurs to the 21^st century, showing, over time, the building of a house in Pennsylvania and all the people who lived in it. It feels almost like watching a play, as actors come and go through the room and characters live their lives in this small space in front of you. Here is a piece of art, a masterfully crafted film that uses clever juxtaposition, split screens, and de-aging technology to form a thought-provoking, profound film about the passage of time and the simple beauty of life.

To finish off, a couple of other good movies I watched this month but am not going to write a full review on are:

• Mary Poppins Returns – felt just right after watching the original Mary Poppins in February!

• Thor: The Dark World – my younger sisters and I are working our way through the Marvel series and this movie did not disappoint

I’m not saying I would absolutely recommend each of these movies to every audience - I know that not everyone is a fan of war movies - nor am I condoning every choice made by the characters in these films. But I thoroughly enjoyed them, and maybe you will too! Let’s chat about it in the comments.

So without further ado, I’m here to write about some good movies I’ve watched this month. A lot of people do their books of the month, but I’m going to try out movies. Maybe this’ll be a regular thing, maybe not. I didn’t write a massive essay on each of them, nor did I give you a detailed plot synopsis; it’s just a little collection of my thoughts, what I loved and why I’ll remember them. A little film review for three select movies I watched this month. I hope you enjoy.

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I’m one hundred percent a film lover – watching a movie with my sisters is one of my favourite ways to spend a Friday evening, and my watchlist is forever growing (funny, so is my TBR). I love many genres, but some favourites are sci-fi, drama, action, and romance, and of course, a good classic Disney movie or musical is always great too. Film is an excellent medium, one that I enjoy not quite as much as literature, but it’s definitely up there!

There’s something so wonderful about watching a movie (far better than bingeing a show, in my opinion, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about). You get immersed in this story, visually, audibly, and emotionally. The way directors tie all these things together – lighting and mood and angle and music (oh, don’t get me started on the music – I am a Hans Zimmer and Howard Shore fanatic!) – to create a story. It’s an escape, but it’s also an art form. And film, quality film, can be something so memorable and so meaningful. It’s not just entertainment (although sometimes it is). It’s a story, crafted into something we can see and hear. Something we laugh and cry and gasp in. Something we think about, long after the last credits roll.

But, without further ado, here are some top films from February so far.

Mary Poppins (1964) – musical, rated G

I would be very shocked if you told me you haven’t watched this movie. Mary Poppins is a classic musical, based on a book by P.L. Travers, about a magical nanny who comes to stay with two young children in London. It is a joy, pure and simple. To me, Mary Poppins is a trip down memory lane. It’s a taste of my childhood, a nostalgic look into the past. There is something so warm and comforting about Bert singing on the rooftops of London, Mary Poppins tucking Jane and Michael into bed, Mr. Banks running out to fly a kite with his children. It’s a story of childhood, of father-children relationships, of imagination and magic. My heart felt full when this movie was over.

The Society of the Snow (2023) – thriller/adventure, rated R

The Society of the Snow tells the story of a plane crash in the Andes and its’ occupants’ terrifying struggle to stay alive. Though the movie is in Spanish, with English subtitles, that took nothing from my enjoyment. I was fully engrossed in this captivating and at times horrifying adventure. The atmospheric film captured so much humanity, the struggle of the boys on the plane to hold to hope, to find ways to survive in this brutal landscape, surrounded by snow. It is not your feel-good movie of the year. It was heartbreaking and terrifying and there were elements of it that made me feel sick to my stomach. But it was nothing less than amazing. A shattering and stunning story of survival.

A Complete Unknown (2024) – drama/biopic, rated R

I watched A Complete Unknown in the cinema and was blown away. It’s a biopic about the famous folk singer Bob Dylan, played by the very talented Timothee Chalamet. As a Bob Dylan fan, this movie was everything, fully capturing the life and music of a true icon. The cinematography, the music, and the plot line were all top tier, making it truly feel like I was watching a life pass by. But I think the movie was truly made by the acting, particularly of Timothee Chalamet, who portrayed Bob Dylan in such an accurate way. Sure, Bobby wasn’t always a likeable character; he made some bad choices and was a bit of a playboy, but he was real. The amount of work that went into this movie, including Chalamet learning to sing and play guitar and harmonica for Bob’s music, is incredible. Truly a masterfully made film.

To finish off, a couple of other good movies I watched this month:

• Despicable Me 4 – hear me out, it was honestly one of the best of the franchise!

• The Wild Robot – another children’s movie, but one full of heart

• 10 Things I Hate About You – a sweet rom-com for my Valentine’s Day

Thanks for sticking through to the end, guys! And take this article how you will – as a recommendation, or just as a little rant from one of your favourite Substack writers (just kidding! 😘). I’m not saying I would absolutely recommend each of these movies to every audience, nor am I condoning every choice made by the characters in these films. But I thoroughly enjoyed them, and maybe you did too! Let’s chat about it in the comments.