Django Unchained, 2012 – ★★★★½ (contains spoilers)

This review may contain spoilers.

While it may not be the definitive Magnum Opus of Tarintino, Django is the most rewatchable film in his filmography for me. It feels like a “guilty pleasure” film, even though it definitely is very well made so there’s nothing to be guilty over! The reason for this is because Django scratches many primal itches: revenge, self-growth, and simple power fantasy. It’s a lot like why many people read/watch Isekai stories even when they repeat the same story beats ad nauseum. I will never get sick of watching Django find success in the cruel world this film takes place in.

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Tenet, 2020 – ★★★½ (contains spoilers)

This review may contain spoilers.

I watched this out-of-theater with subtitles on so I didn’t have to experience the same issues that many found with this film at launch. I think that this film is a competent Nolan film with all of his Nolanisms cranked up to 10. The sound mixing is a mess for people without “optimal cinema setups”, the dialogue is hard to follow and some of the characters are not relatable or well developed at all. However, I don’t think the plot is as “nonsensical” as some make it out to be. I think the way the film handles “time-reversed” things make sense (at least in universe to the average audience member) and the logic stays consistent throughout the movie. The gimmick gives way for Nolan to do what he does best, make big spectacle to really WOW the audience. It definitely is not my favorite Nolan film, but in no way is it a film I failed to get enjoyment out of.
7/10

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The Raid, 2011 – ★★★★

I consider this a modern classic simply because of the fight choreography. This film has very little fluff in terms of story, but the action in this film surpasses anything in mainstream Hollywood. It’s one the most accessible foreign films of all time because the draw of this movie does not lie in the dialogue. Instead, a lot of the creativity is in liberties they took with fighting, and creating tension while the MC climbs the tower. By the end, the enemies get pretty ridiculous with some of the plot points that come up but Rama is just Spongebob climbing Karate Island man.

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Apocalypse Now, 1979 – ★★★★

I watched the Final Cut, which is thought to be inferior to the Theatrical version of this film. Consensus is the shorter the cut is, the better this movie becomes with it’s original theatrical release being regarded as the best. This movie still felt competent to me, with very engaging scenes/characters. I definitely think it’s a product of it’s time and became such a staple because of it’s commentary on the then recent Vietnam war. From a modern perspective, it never gave me the impression it did anything to warrant it’s “classic” status. Maybe the original cut would change my mind.
8/10

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21 Jump Street, 2012 – ★★★★½

21 Jump Street is a very self-aware modern comedy, and in my opinion Jonah Hill’s best comedy even over ‘Superbad’. Full of low-brow humor, this is a movie you can put on without having the gauge the taste of your friends much. Even while extremely accessible, it doesn’t feel like this is a throwaway comedy made by a bunch of out-of-touch execs. Jonah Hill is credited both as an executive producer and writer. He put a lot of effort into getting this film greenlit and completed and that effort shows; it definitely feels like a passion project rather than a cashgrab.
9/10

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12 Angry Men, 1957 – ★★★★★

Most likely because of it’s simplicity, this movie has aged beautifully and has a timelessness that many others films around its time do not. Even if you are not that into older movies(can’t say that I am), Twelve Angry Men will captivate you throughout. It shies away from revealing the ‘truth’ on whether the accused is guilty to the viewer and focuses more on the jury process. Being as in-the-dark as the jurors, it feels as if we were being convinced along with the characters throughout the film. Definitely a classic.

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Twelve Monkeys, 1995 – ★★★★★ (contains spoilers)

This review may contain spoilers.

Brad Pitt’s beginning of his serious roles and arguably still his best. In addition, this can be counted among Bruce Willis’s best films as well. Twelve Monkeys can scratch the mainstream blockbuster itch while still giving plenty of re-watchability and maintains it’s ability to follow it’s own self contained logic. It is definitely one of the best implementations of time travel logic in movies and is worth watching solely because of that. Regardless, it comes with an interesting plot with similarly interesting character dynamics. I give this a perfect score because, for what the movie is trying to be, I argue it accomplishes it perfectly.

Notable:
*Film gets great use of main actors Bruce Willis(hit or miss actor) and Brad Pitt(pivotal point in career)
*One of the best implementations of time travel logic ever in film and basically stays consistent throughout

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