**** = Really good
*** = Worth seeing
** = A waste of time, but one or two good moments
* = Not worth your time
-0 = Less Than Zero: viewing this is likely to result in a dramatic loss of IQ points.
1. Dear Santa (2024) Y'know...this wasn't a very good movie, but Jack Black (as Santa / Satan / That Demon Guy) is always entertaining to watch, and there were at least a dozen or so laughs along the way, so this wasn't the worst way to start the New Year's viewing. ** That said, this was Joe's choice, not mine. And despite the fact that he is freaking out over a weather report that says we have major incoming snow, he pretty much paid attention and even laughed a few times. (Laughter is not all that common for my Joe.)
2. Wolf Hall (2015) ***** Superb show. Waiting For PBS to get around to broadcasting the long ago completed season two.
3. Bridge of Spies (2015) Great movie, ****. Tom Hanks was Tom Hanks, which is almost always good, but Mark Rylance, who played Thomas Cromwell to perfection in Wolf Hall, was fanfuckingtastic. Such an understated, nuanced portrayal of A Russian spy who really just wanted to paint.
4. The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) **** Always worth a rewatch.
5. Reacher Season 1 (2022) It took me a while to get interested in this one, but my sister liked it, and the guy from iZombie was in it, so I persisted. And? Well...***. Maybe enough to watch the next season. I don't really like the guy who plays the lead very much, though. I'm hoping that The rumors about him being the bext DCU Batman aren't true.
6. Deadpool and Wolverine (2024) *** U think I liked this more the second time through. Really funny, with lots of great in-jokes. Could've done without the gore, though. 1/8/24
7. Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (2025) Another heist movie. Some clever bits, but nothing "extra." 1/10/25
8. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024) *** Not the best W & G, but still fun and worth a viewing. 1/12/25
9. Reacher Season 2 (2024) Apparently the writers think that the way to attract a bigger audience is to up the ante on torture and cruelty. I'm out.
10. Moomin and Midsummer Madness (2013) You kniw, I like a fair dose of weirdness in my entertainment, but this suit was just stupid. 1/17/25
11. The Wheel of Time Season 1 (2021) Getting ready for Season 3. Enjoying the review enormously. So much so that I'm actually considering rereading the first book. 🤯 Oh, yeah: **** 1/24/25
12. This is 40 (2012) I wasn't expecting much from this, but I didn't even get that. It's of good actors, but to very little effect. I think I like Paul Rudd significantly less after this. (Plus it was pretty mean spirited.) 2/2/25
13. The Brutalist (2025) **** A long (3 1/2 hours) and strange movie, with a surprising amount of vivid sex. That's not what I enjoyed about it, though. But in terms of technique and story and acting, I thought this was just brilliant. Pretty close to a must see before you die. 2/8/25
14. The Wild Robot (2024) I'd heard a lot of good things about this one...including a personal recommendation from a loved one who told me that it made her cry. But I'm sorry to say it didn't do much for me. In fact, 30 minutes in I was checking to see how much longer it had to go. I think a large part of my dissatisfaction was that it was bad science fiction. But it was more than that, too. I mean...a fox who for no reason whatsoever stops being a predator to help a baby goose? Give me a REASon, at least. This was a ** for me. Maybe even a *. 3/1/25 P.S. 96% on Tomatometer? WTF.
15. Elevation (2024) ** Actually, a pretty exciting movie with some nice touches. Anthony Mackie did a good job as the devoted father and Morena Baccarin got to be a bad ass AND a scientist, instead of her usual, just a pretty girl roles. Unfortunately, this movie was also predictable at every single turn, and the Big Question (where'd the monsters come from) was left completely unresolved at the end. Perhaps they think there will be a sequel, but I sincerely doubt it, as this one lost almost $15 million at the box office.
16. Drowned Out (2002) ***** A heartbreaking story about people displaced and impoverished by a dam project. Arandhati Roy narrates. 3/7/25
17. The Pirates of Penzance (1983) ** Alas, this was a pretty wretched version of this operetta...but it's worth watching for Linda Ronstadt, who has one of the greatest voices of our times...and who is just so lovely.... 3/9/25
18. Paddington (2014) *** and maybe half of another *. A fun movie with more than a little bit of heart on it. Though the ear wax bit was pretty disgusting. 3/10/25
19. The Gorge (2025) * An absurd premise, and it just gets worse from there. Not worth your time...or mine, for that matter...though I have to admit there were a few good moments...as long as logic isn't too important to you. 3/11/25
20. The Last Supper (2025) ** Some nice bits here and some good acting, but poor writing sank this movie for me. Part if this was corny voice overs, part melodramatic scenes, and part the absurd rewriting of the Biblical story. Don't pay for this one. 3/15/25
21. Wicked Part 1 (2024) -0 Couldn't finish it...it was just so awful. Why do people like this?
22. A Brief History of Time Travel (2018) Hey, it's not great, but it's free and it's got some Ted Chiang bits. I call that a win. **
23. Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (2022) The 3rd or 4th time for this one. Still ***** for me.
24. Arrival (2016) 4th for this one. Still ***** Every time I watch this film it hits me how intelligent it is. There is no attempt to condescend to the lowest common denominator, even though some pretty heavy concepts are discussed. And those aliens...so much more alien than most O.S.M.s.
25. Warrior Nun Seaon One (2020) **** I love this show. Funny, I told one of my friends about it, and I only got to "Then they put the angel's halo into a dead girl's body to hide it from the bad guys" before he said "I'm out." Talk about things and nobody cares, wearing out things that nobody wears."
26. Jesus in India (2008) Verrry interesting. Another rabbit hole for me to climb into. 3/15/25
27. Warrior Nun Season 2 (2022) **** I love this show. Season 3, please.
28. Bull Durham (1989) **** Still works. 4/20/25
29. Strange occurences in a Small Irish Village (2018) **** This was interesting enough for me to look into the cost of making a little pilgrimage. (Cost more than I can afford.) 4/20/25
30. Nickel Boys (2024) **** I thought this was a stunning movie. So...
31. Nickel Boys (2024) I watched it again with my son...who "wasnt sorry" he'd seen it. Which makes me think I should watch It again. So I will.
32. Conclave (2024) * I pretty much hated this movie. The idea that a group of cardinals would elect a guy they'd never even seen or heard of before to be their Pope is just beyond ridiculous. And that's not even the least ridiculous thing that happened in this movie. Mary watched this with me. We both yelled "bullshit" at the end. 4/28/25
33. Nocturnal Animals (2016) * Another movie about how vicious and stupid human beings are? I really didn't need that. 4/29/25
34. Knuckleball! (2012) **** Excellent documentary about several knuckleball pitchers. Not too many familiar faces, but this really stoked my forgotten love for baseball. 5/1/25
35. Atlas Shrugged Part I (2011) * A terrible movie...but this is the second time I've watched it. And I fully intend to watch Part II tomorrow. Don't know why... just seems to have a pull.I sit here thinking about what stupidity I see on the screen.What bad acting I see. But there's still something....
5/2/25
36. Thunderbolts* (2025) Actually a very good movie. Like ****. Lots of good laughs, some exciting action, and even some touching stuff. 5/3/25
37. The Young and Prodigious T. S. Spivet (2013) ***** I love this movie by the guy who brought us Amelie. I should get around to reading the book soon.5/7/25
38. I Saw the TV Glow (2024) *** Interesting and creepy movie. 5/8/25
39. The Hurt Locker (2008) ***** The scene where the young guy is trying to clean the blood off the bullets and Jeremy Renner's character tells him that he will keep him safe? Priceless. 5/11/25
40. Color Out of Space (2019) * A truly terrible movie. I decided to check it out when I saw that (1) it was based on a Lovecraft story and (2) Nicholas Cage was in it. But (1) I doubt that this piece of shit has much to do with the story and (2) Nicholas Cage has made some horrible moves...and this is one of them. I looked it up on Wikipedia and it had a budget of "$6 to $12 million (?)" but a Box Office of $1 million. If you like seeing a woman cut her fingers off with a knife, a woman melt into her young son, and 5 or 6 alpacas melt together before they're shot to pieces...oh, and a cat transform into a hideous monster...this might be the movie for you. Not for me, though. 5/12/25
41. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) *** Holds up pretty well, actually.
42. Flight Risk (2025) Believe it or not, this was a **** for me. Director Mel Gibson did a great job with this thriller in the sky. Most of the action occurs in the cockpit of a very small plane, and all three of the principsls did excellent jobs. Mark Wahlberg was positively frightening (not to mention bald). Definitely worth the price. 5/22/25
43. Avengers: Endgame (2019) *** I'm not a fan of the gigantic battle scene, but the rest of this movie really works. 5/26/25
44. Karate Kid: Legends (2025) Believe it or not, this was a pretty good movie...say ***. The new Karate Kid was amazing. And it's always good to see Jackie Chan. 5/30/25
45. Il Barbiere di Siviglia (2025) **** Pretty funny stuff. 5/31/25
46. Ballerina (2025) ** Well, you know. It's a John Wick film, and that's not my cup of tea. 6/7/25
47. Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) *** A cartoon this time. And ultraviolent. But at least interesting. 6/7/25
48. The Amateur (2025) I love Rami Malik...and this movie was pre5intense and exciting...but way too much stupid stuff clogged up the pipes. ** 6/12/25
49. Ida (2013) A most excellent movie. **** and maybe *****. Black and white and subtitled all over. The story of a young orphan who is about to take her vows to become a nun. It's slow moving, meditative, and thoughtful. I'm going to watch it again soon.
50. A Complete Unknown (2025) *** Kind of portrays Dylan as a self-absorbed asshole, but had more than a few great moments. Ed Norton's portrayal of Pete Seeger was most impressive. 6/14/25
51. Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) **** A truly great documentary, even if you're not a big Led Head. 6/16/25
52. The Zero Theorem (2013) How did I miss a Terry Gilliam film?I don't know, but it popped up in a Newsfeed today, so obviously someone knows what I want. Thank you, someone.
53. Sing Sing (2023) ***** An amazing movie, with many of the parts played by the actual prisoners who were in the theater group. 6/21/25
54. Mary Magdalene (2018) ***** A superb movie. More later. 6/22/25
55. 28 Days Later (2002) ** I'm not a fan of horror movies, and I really don't know why I watched this one, but it was ok-ish. I think that The Walking Dead owes a huge debt to this movie...possibly literally in terms of a plagiarism settlement...but I also must add that I found TWD vastly superior to this movie. I don't think I need to see the sequels.
56. Castle Impossible (2025) I loved this show and am hoping we get another season of it. Watching this young couple, restore a chateau is refreshing... and not just because the woman is hot. (Although that doesn't hurt.) 7/5/25 .
57. Ballard (2025) Bosch spin off. Excellent show which left me wanting more. 7/12/25.
58. Superman (2025) I had high hopes...but this wasn't it for me. Liked the new guy, loved Guy Gardner and Krypto, but Lex Luther was chewing the fuck out of the scenery, and there was just too much, y'know? ** for me.
59. Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado (2025) -0 Stupidity from start to finish. 7/20/25
60. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2009) ***** Rough movie, but worth the turbulence.
61. Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold (2017) Heard an NPR interview with Griffin Dunne, the director of this documentary and nephew of Joan Didion. I really need to read some of her stuff.
62. Fantastic Four (2025) *** Had a good look, but I wasn't in love with the casting. Made a good move note to do another origin story, and there were some good moments, but...it just didn't pull me in.
63. Fantastic Four (2005) *** Far inferior to the latest remake...so why did I like it better? Jessica Alba and Chris Evans, I think.
64. Naked Lunch (1991) ***** A great movie. Weird as all hell.
65. Z for Zachariah (2015) Well...I started watching this because Margot Robie is such a beauty, but she really proved yourself to be a great actor in this. And Chris Pine is always welcome. This was actually a really good movie. Lots of nuances, emotional depth. Definitely worth the time. ****
66. Capitalism: A Love Story (2009) I'd forgotten how powerful this movie was. *****
67. Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) Horrifying, but necessarily so. I hate to admit that I'd forgotten how evil the Bush regime was. Even worse than Trump in some ways. *****
68. Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018) This wasn't a great movie by any means, but it was an important movie. It covers the beginning of the first Trump presidency, the Flint water crisis, and the Parkland shootings, all of which are vital topics. However...it felt like three different movies, none of whih were fully developed. Unfortunately, that dilutes the effect considerably. 8/27/25
69. Pets or Meat: The Return to Flint (1992) A short one, but a nice follow-up to Roger & Me.
70. Where to Invade Next (2015) Quite good, actually.
71. Sicko (2007) Superb. *****
72. Bowling for Columbine (2002) Still very hard to watch, but necessary. *****
73. Slacker Uprising (2008) Just a stand-up routine, really. Not worth your time. **
74. Michael Moore in TrumpLand (2016) Another stand-up. Even worse than the previous one. ** 8/29/25
75. Red Sonja (2025) Y'know, this wasn't a good movie, but it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it'd be. And it's the first time that Sonja's chain mail bikini ever made sense. (She was forced to wear it to humiliate her in the arena.) **...but make it *** for Matilda Lutz's very fine abdomen. 8/30/25
76. The Big One (1997) **** I really like this movie. It's funny, poignant, and still topical after all these years. I guess I'm in the minority, though, as the worldwide gross on this was only $720,074. Sad.
77. Weapons (2025) I'm not much for horror movies, but this had Josh Brolin (💟), an interesting structure (multiple points of view looping back on each other), and scared the bejesus out of me, so I'm calling it a ****. 8/31/25.
78. The Nun II (2023) A friend told me that St. Lucy was in this movie, so I felt compelled to see it. And considering it was a horror movie and I don't like horror movies, I actually thought it was pretty good. There were several visual moments that were quite inventive. Probably worth seeing.
79. The Dig (2021) ***** I loved this movie. Ralph Fiennes was masterful. According to IMDb, the worldwide box office gross was $693.00 . How is that even possible?
80. 9/11--Explosive Evidence: Experts Speak Out (2012) ***** It's been a long time since I took a deep delve into 9/11, and this awakened a lot of my old fascination with it. This was a very reasoned, scientific approach, and by the end of it I had to wonder how anyone could believe in the official story of what happened to the three WTC buildings on 9/11. 9/5/25
81. I.S.S. (2023) *** Not a great movie by any means, but quite a compelling story. And that's good enough for me! Pretty good special effects, too. I have no idea how they made all those weightless scenes look so real. Oh, and the music was cool, too. Very moody and tension-y. 9/15/25.
82. In Accord: Kronos Quartet
(2000) Visually, this was just a mess--trying way too hard to be cool with blurred images, bizarre lighting, random shots of scenes unrelated to the music. And some of the music was kind of bullshitty too, atonal and irritating. But some other stuff was so beautiful that I had to request two KQ cds from the library before the movie even ended. 9/23/25.
83. Superman (2025) ** I really wanted to like this movie, but the gaping plot holes, the scenery-chewing Lex Luthor...they just suck the joy out of it, despite a great new Superman and a very cool dog. 9/25/25
84. Roger & Me (1989) with commentary by Michael Moore ***** A truly great movie, and the MM commentary is a must hear item. Now I'm going to watch it again straight. 10/1/25
85. Roger & Me (1989) ***** A truly great movie. 10/2/25
86. Hannah Arendt (2012) ***** This is not the most exciting film you'll ever see, but it gives you much to think about and some profoundly moving moments. 10/8/25
87. Play Dirty (2025) -0 Bad special effects, bad story, and just mean. A waste of time. 10/11/26
88. Don't Look Up (2021) ** Some moments, but only in the first half of the movie.
89. A House of Dynamite (2025) * All buildup, then no climax. What? You can't aim a nuclear warhead at Chicago and then stop the story before it hits.
90. Predators: Badlands (2025) * An attempt to humanize the predators? That seems kind of silly, doesn't it? 11/8/25
91. Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) **** On the rewatch, I realized that there was a lot of stuff that I not only didn't remember, but that I'm pretty sure I hadn't seen...which can only mean that I fell asleep on it in the theater. (I'm sorry to say that this is not uncommon these days.) Which probably explains my lack of enthusiasm, because this was actually a pretty good movie, and well worth seeing. 11/8/25.
92. The Taming of the Shrew (2019) ** Kate is a guy, Petruchio is a gal. It goes from there. 11/10/25
93. Rental Family (2025) ** Well...failing actor is hired to play at being various different family members. Some touching moments, but really more sad than anything else.
94. The Life of Chuck (2024) *** Not as good as I wanted it to be, but Tom Hiddleston was great, as was the kid who played young Chuck. Mark Hammil not so much. 11/22/25
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