Monday, December 01, 2025
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Sunday, October 19, 2025
Monday, October 06, 2025
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
The Naked Gun 2025
The Naked Gun (2025)
A Refreshingly Silly Return to Police Squad
Liam Neeson proves the franchise is in safe, deadpan hands.
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Highest 2 Lowest
Highest 2 Lowest
A Spike Lee Joint with Many Layers
A soulful, New York-centric reimagining of a Kurosawa classic.
Monday, September 15, 2025
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
A wildly excessive hot mess that rewards die-hard fans but leaves others behind.
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Honey Don't!
Honey Don't!
A Solo Ethan Coen Caper That Almost Fits the Mold
A serviceable mystery that misses the "Joel filter" but keeps the quirk.
Wednesday, September 03, 2025
Monday, September 01, 2025
How To Train Your Dragon 2025
How to Train Your Dragon (2025)
A Painfully Accurate, Heartwarming Mirror
A stirring success for new generations, though a bit of "deja vu" for old fans.
Thursday, August 21, 2025
Fight or Flight
Fight or Flight
A High-Altitude, Looney Tunes Die Hard
An amusing, uncomplicated ride with John Wick-style combat.
A fun twist on the Die Hard model, Fight or Flight is an entertaining action yarn that thankfully doesn't take itself too seriously. Anchoring the film is a likable performance from Josh Hartnett. As an action star, Hartnett proves his mettle with excellent fight scenes mixed with laugh-out-loud humor.
"But this isn't a story kind of movie. Mostly this movie is an excuse to stage John Wick style combat and have some shits and giggles to pass the time. "— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director: Magnus Martens
- Starring: Josh Hartnett, Julianne Hough
- Key Dept: Stunts by James Young
The Vision
Director Magnus Martens uses a thin cyber-terrorist plot as an excuse to stage high-intensity combat. Clocking in at 1 hour and 41 minutes, it’s an amusing diversion with Jason Statham-level choreography. While it isn’t going to win awards, it’s a movie worthy of standing just a tier below the best action films of the year.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- Hartnett's Training: Josh Hartnett trained for three months in BJJ and Muay Thai, performing nearly 80% of his own stunts.
- The Wick Connection: The stunt team included veterans from the John Wick franchise.
- Limited Set: 90% of the film was shot on a single gimbal-mounted airplane set in London.
✅ Pros
- Josh Hartnett’s effortless transition into a modern action lead.
- Creative use of confined airplane space for combat.
- Fast-paced, breezy runtime.
❌ Cons
- Plot logic is thin and leans into "cartoonish" territory.
- Dialogue is mostly functional rather than memorable.
🏆 Final Verdict
Fight or Flight is exactly what it promises: a high-altitude adrenaline shot. It's a perfect Friday night watch for fans of tight choreography who don't want to overthink the details.
View on LetterboxdTuesday, August 19, 2025
Weapons
Weapons
A Self-Indulgent Horror Epic that Shoots for the Moon
A solid, unique thriller that overreaches with its own ambition.
Weapons is a memorable thriller that perhaps overreaches with its own self-indulgence. The movie has the patina of a serious story but ultimately dissolves into a bit of a silly affair. It joins the recent batch of "prestige horror" that attempts to combine dramatic social commentary with traditional thrills.
"I personally, just can't give in to the conventions of this world. I'm first to admit that this is a petty argument considering I'm able to believe in flying superheroes or living dinosaurs when watching certain movies. But if a movie is asking me to feel fear or tension in my bones and psyche there is a higher standard that the story has to live up to. "— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director/Writer: Zach Cregger
- Starring: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner
- Key Dept: Cinematography by Larkin Seiple
The Vision
Fresh off Barbarian, director Zach Cregger aspires to something innovative here, utilizing a non-linear, multi-perspective structure reminiscent of Magnolia. However, the story occasionally shoots itself in the foot by slowly ramping up tension only to diffuse it by shifting perspectives just as things get earned.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- The Recast: Originally set to star Pedro Pascal and Renate Reinsve before strike-related scheduling conflicts.
- Bidding War: Warner Bros./New Line won a massive bidding war, paying $38 million for the rights.
- The 2:17 Motif: The time 2:17 a.m. is a major plot point, tied to the central mass disappearance.
✅ Pros
- Ambitious, original approach to mainstream horror.
- Strong ensemble performances, particularly Julia Garner.
- Genuinely creepy atmosphere and sound design.
❌ Cons
- "Structural chicanery" often gets in the way of actual tension.
- Messaging borders on preachy in the final act.
🏆 Final Verdict
Weapons is a bold swing that doesn't quite connect as a home run. While it's worth seeing for the performances and atmosphere, its complex structure ultimately prevents it from reaching the primal heights of Cregger's previous work.
View on LetterboxdSunday, August 10, 2025
The Materialists
The Materialists
A Bleak Social Drama in a Rom-Com Wrapper
A literal warning about the cold, transactional nature of 2025 courtship.
The Materialists is billed as a romantic comedy, but the movie isn't comedic and is honestly not especially romantic. Directed by Celine Song, fresh from her critically acclaimed Past Lives, the film features an affable cast including Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. However, their natural charm is used to mask characters that are intentionally unlikable.
"The title is actually not a clever pun. It is a literal warning."— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director/Writer: Celine Song
- Starring: Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans
- Key Dept: Produced by A24
The Vision
Song is reflecting a cynical truth: the modern dating landscape is frankly not very appealing. She uses the aesthetic package of a cinematic rom-com to pull a bait-and-switch, making the film's social commentary on the transactional nature of dating more jarring and effective. It is less about love and more about the "warts" of romance characters.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- NYC Roots: Like Past Lives, the film is set against the high-stakes backdrop of the New York City elite.
- A24 Reunion: This marks Celine Song’s second high-profile collaboration with A24.
- The Casting: The leads were chosen specifically for their "charismatic charm" to heighten the impact of their characters' cynical behavior.
✅ Pros
- Soulful, if cold, social commentary on 2025 dating.
- Exceptional chemistry from a top-tier cast.
❌ Cons
- Deliberate "misdirect" in marketing may alienate audiences.
- Lacks the traditional warmth or humor expected of the genre.
🏆 Final Verdict
If you're looking for traditional romantic entertainment, run towards Notting Hill. But if you want a cynical, awkward, and cold autopsy of modern courtship, The Materialists is for you.
View on LetterboxdWednesday, August 06, 2025
Jurrasic World Rebirth
Jurassic World Rebirth
A Soulful Celebration of the Multitudes Within
A life-affirming work that proves there is still mileage left in these dinosaurs.
Decades after the franchise began with the original Jurassic Park, the latest installment, Jurassic World Rebirth, proves there is still life left in these films. Aided by an engaging cast led by Scarlett Johansson, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Rupert Friend, the special-effect-laden suspense and heart-stopping action continue with some new set pieces and fun ideas.
"Yes, there are still chase sequences and gory kills. So fans will still get that adrenaline rush. But it's nice to see there is still some mileage left in these dinosaurs."— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director: Gareth Edwards
- Writer: David Koepp
- Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey
- Cinematography: John Mathieson
The Vision
Director Gareth Edwards (Rogue One, The Creator) brings a grounded, visceral sense of scale to the dinosaurs. The plot concerns the need to attain dinosaur DNA to create a medical breakthrough, adding stakes to the standard survival story. It’s a nice touch that breathes much-needed life into the proceedings while maintaining the awe and wonder of the original.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- Original Bloodline: The script was written by David Koepp, who also wrote the original 1993 Jurassic Park.
- New Era: This film is described as a "complete reboot" that does not feature any returning cast members from previous trilogies.
- Shooting Locations: Filming took place in Thailand, Malta, and the UK to capture various tropical and industrial landscapes.
✅ Pros
- Fresh narrative stakes with the medical DNA subplot.
- Top-tier visual effects that make the creatures feel tangible.
- A star-led cast that anchors the high-concept action.
❌ Cons
- Needs to dig deeper to find truly "new" ground for the future.
🏆 Final Verdict
Jurassic World Rebirth is a successful return to form. While it follows the series' comfort-food formula, the technical execution and renewed stakes ensure these movies will continue to thrill audiences for generations to come.
View on LetterboxdTuesday, July 29, 2025
The Fantastic Four 2025
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
A Retro-Futuristic Homecoming for Marvel's First Family
A complete triumph of hope and wonder that finally does Galactus justice.
The FIRST superhero family of Marvel Comics finally comes home to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After several mediocre iterations, First Steps succeeds by leaning into a retro-futuristic alternate Earth. This aesthetic choice makes the optimistic, loving, and hope-filled nature of the family feel refreshing rather than old-fashioned.
"But now as a father, I admit to enjoying seeing the joy and wonder in my kids eyes while watching this hope filled optimistic film. Especially in these emotionally difficult times. So it's hard to be cynical about this film's effectiveness. "— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director: Matt Shakman
- Starring: Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm)
- Antagonists: Ralph Ineson (Galactus), Julia Garner (Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer)
- Music: Michael Giacchino
The Vision
Director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) creates a jaw-dropping production design reminiscent of a futuristic 1960s "Tomorrowland." The film is supported by an incredible, world-building score from Michael Giacchino that serves as a triumph for the genre. The special effects are top-notch, seamlessly integrating a comic-accurate Galactus and a breathtaking space-chase sequence.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- Musical Legacy: Michael Giacchino composed a "Fantastic Four Theme" well before filming began, which was used to set the tone for the production.
- The Thing's New Look: Ebon Moss-Bachrach's performance as Ben Grimm utilizes high-end performance capture to ensure he feels like a tangible, solid rock presence alongside his human teammates.
- Retro-Future Brooklyn: The film's 1960s alternate-NYC was heavily inspired by the "Space Age" architecture and "World of Tomorrow" concepts of the era.
✅ Pros
- Arguably the best musical score ever for a superhero film.
- Breathtaking, comic-accurate execution of Galactus.
- Infectious, non-cynical optimism that lands perfectly for families.
❌ Cons
- Suffers slightly from proximity to other "optimistic misfit" projects like Thunderbolts and Superman.
🏆 Final Verdict
As a father, seeing the joy and wonder in my kids' eyes while watching this film makes it impossible to be cynical. First Steps is a hopeful, fantasy-filled journey that finally gives the Fantastic Four the MCU entry they deserve.
View on LetterboxdSunday, July 20, 2025
Black Bag
Black Bag
A Methodical Game of Spies and Deception
A refreshing, adult story that demands focus and pays off satisfyingly.
A slow burn thriller from Steven Soderbergh, Black Bag concerns a group of spies caught in a lethal game of truth, deception, and manipulation. It's a cerebral affair, so depending on one's mood and willingness to pay close attention, it will likely affect one's enjoyment of the film. But there is plenty of entertainment in seeing the verbal sparring and methodical unlayering of the suspenseful plot.
"The movie is a refreshing, adult story... once it clicks, the film really shifts into a fun gear."— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director: Steven Soderbergh
- Writer: David Koepp
- Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Regé-Jean Page
- Supporting: Marisa Tomei, Naomie Harris, Pierce Brosnan
The Vision
Soderbergh reunites with screenwriter David Koepp (Kimi, Jurassic Park) for this tight, 90-minute thriller that feels much larger due to its dense intrigue. The film avoids the usual genre retreads and popular IP tropes, focusing instead on high-stakes dialogue and psychological unspooling. It is a legitimately good entry that sits comfortably in the upper echelon of Soderbergh's prolific filmography.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- London Calling: The film was shot extensively on location in London throughout 2024, utilizing the city's sleek architecture to heighten the "cold" spy aesthetic.
- Secretive Script: The plot was kept so under wraps during production that even the casting calls used code names for the main characters.
- Quick Turnaround: In classic Soderbergh fashion, the film was shot and edited in a remarkably short window to maintain a sense of modern urgency.
✅ Pros
- Sharp verbal sparring between top-tier actors like Blanchett and Fassbender.
- Methodical, suspenseful unlayering of a complicated plot.
- A refreshing departure from generic action-heavy spy tropes.
❌ Cons
- Takes a bit of time to get your bearings initially.
- Perhaps a little too "trite" to be considered an all-time classic.
🏆 Final Verdict
Black Bag is a healthy recommendation for those tired of the usual cinema retreads. While it demands your full attention to untangle its web, the satisfying payoff makes it one of the more rewarding adult thrillers of the year.
View original review on LetterboxdTuesday, July 15, 2025
Superman 2025
Superman (2025)
A Refreshingly Original, Hope-Filled New Beginning
A storytelling and entertaining triumph that marks a remarkable first entry into a new DC universe.
After years of equal parts anticipation and skepticism, James Gunn finally delivers his version of the iconic Superman. This isn't a remake of the Donner years or a continuation of the Snyder era; it is an entirely new interpretation where superheroes have been part of civilization for centuries. The result is a comics-accurate, charming, and sentimental success.
"This is a world where civilians watch giant monsters with measured indifference, because they are comforted by the fact that Superman will shield them."— Ray Manukay
🎬 Cast & Crew
- Director/Writer: James Gunn
- Starring: David Corenswet (Clark Kent), Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Nicholas Hoult (Lex Luthor)
- Supporting: Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Edi Gathegi (Mr. Terrific)
The Vision
James Gunn brings his uniquely inventive hand to the material, creating a Metropolis that feels lived-in and comfortable with its metahumans. David Corenswet's Superman remains an alien with a pure heart and strong morals—sympathetic, affable, and grounded in a way that feels refreshingly original. The action is impressive and the storytelling engaging, free from the cynical lens of previous modern takes.
🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts
- Comic Roots: While an original story, Gunn cited All-Star Superman and Superman for All Seasons as primary tonal inspirations.
- The Score: Composer John Murphy worked to create a theme that balances the traditional majesty of the character with the new universe's unique energy.
- Practical Metropolis: Major sequences were filmed on location in Cleveland, Ohio, which served as the stand-in for Metropolis just as it did in some classic comic depictions.
✅ Pros
- Core concept of a "pure-hearted" Superman remains perfectly intact.
- Fascinating "lived-in" superhero world building.
- Effective balance of moving drama and high-stakes action.
❌ Cons
- May meet resistance from fans who prefer a more grounded, gritty tone.
🏆 Final Verdict
Superman is simply an entertaining triumph. If this is the first step in the new journey for Warner Bros. and DC, I can't wait to see what sights and ideas James Gunn explores next.
View original review on Letterboxd
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