December 2021
All movies I saw in the cinema for first time during the month of December 2021 ranked from worst to best.
(SPOILER WARNING FOR ALL FILMS PICTURED!)
#6: House of Gucci
Much like 'People Just Do Nothing: Big In Japan' back in September, I waited several weeks into 'House of Gucci's theatrical run to watch it, compared to going opening week like with most films I see. Primary reason why, I just did not want to see it, did not interest me at all.
Also, the recent negative comments the film's director, Ridley Scott, made toward "millennials and their phones" were stupid and contradicting as most of modern film advertising/promotion comes from phones and social media posts.
The potentially only thing that made intrigued me to see 'House of Gucci' was Adam Driver, he was excellent in the beautifully mundane 'Paterson'. Where he played a small town bus driver, writing charming poems.
*
Wow, this was bad, immensly boring, I honestly thought it wasn't going to end. The Italian accents from each actor was very distracting and terrible.
The experience I was having at the screening definitely didn't help either. People who talk constantly and laugh obnoxiously (especially during unfunny parts) throughout a film's ENTIRE runtime are the bane of my movie-going enjoyment.
2/10
Also, the recent negative comments the film's director, Ridley Scott, made toward "millennials and their phones" were stupid and contradicting as most of modern film advertising/promotion comes from phones and social media posts.
The potentially only thing that made intrigued me to see 'House of Gucci' was Adam Driver, he was excellent in the beautifully mundane 'Paterson'. Where he played a small town bus driver, writing charming poems.
*
Wow, this was bad, immensly boring, I honestly thought it wasn't going to end. The Italian accents from each actor was very distracting and terrible.
The experience I was having at the screening definitely didn't help either. People who talk constantly and laugh obnoxiously (especially during unfunny parts) throughout a film's ENTIRE runtime are the bane of my movie-going enjoyment.
2/10
#5: Clifford The Big Red Dog
I first heard about this live-action adaptation back in late 2019/early 2020 when leaked screencaps or concept art surfaced online. I'm really glad they changed the design as the first mock-up image (where it's head was poking out of a door) looked borderline nightmare fuel, compared the adorable official one.
From the trailers, I got MAJOR 2021 'Tom and Jerry' vibes which is not a good sign as that film was quite dull.
*
This was okay, better than 'Tom & Jerry', but not by much.
It was a little weird and quite distracting how the puppy version of Clifford had the proportions similar to a older dog. I guess the SFX studio didn't want to render two different models.
The best part was probably the scene with SNL's Keenan Thompson.
3.5/10
From the trailers, I got MAJOR 2021 'Tom and Jerry' vibes which is not a good sign as that film was quite dull.
*
This was okay, better than 'Tom & Jerry', but not by much.
It was a little weird and quite distracting how the puppy version of Clifford had the proportions similar to a older dog. I guess the SFX studio didn't want to render two different models.
The best part was probably the scene with SNL's Keenan Thompson.
3.5/10
#4: The Matrix Resurrections
I saw this on Christmas Eve.
It is amazing how relevant The original Matrix trilogy is over 2 decades on. I like the 3rd one mainly, the final battle between Neo and Agent Smith is awesome.
When I was growing up, I was only interested in playing the cool 'Path of Neo' video game.
I thought the trailer to the 4th film had great visuals and the story (from what I could piece together) was pretty intriguing.
*
This was okay, I saw it more as a celebration of the franchise's history than anything else the reviewers and critics are making it out to be. The only problem I have is that movie-going audiences, including me, have been too accustomed to CGI blockbuster spectacles, that most of the set pieces in this did not feel new or awe-inspiring, besides the scene with Neil Patrick Harris' character moving at 24fps while Neo is in bullet-time.
Yahyah Abdul Manteen was amazing and my favourite part, I loved that he was playing his own version of Morpheus and wasn't just imitating Laurence Fishburne's mannerisms.
I didn't expect to see Christina Ricci in this, that was a total surprise to me.
I really enjoyed the first hour of this, but slowly lost interest toward the end.
5.5/10
It is amazing how relevant The original Matrix trilogy is over 2 decades on. I like the 3rd one mainly, the final battle between Neo and Agent Smith is awesome.
When I was growing up, I was only interested in playing the cool 'Path of Neo' video game.
I thought the trailer to the 4th film had great visuals and the story (from what I could piece together) was pretty intriguing.
*
This was okay, I saw it more as a celebration of the franchise's history than anything else the reviewers and critics are making it out to be. The only problem I have is that movie-going audiences, including me, have been too accustomed to CGI blockbuster spectacles, that most of the set pieces in this did not feel new or awe-inspiring, besides the scene with Neil Patrick Harris' character moving at 24fps while Neo is in bullet-time.
Yahyah Abdul Manteen was amazing and my favourite part, I loved that he was playing his own version of Morpheus and wasn't just imitating Laurence Fishburne's mannerisms.
I didn't expect to see Christina Ricci in this, that was a total surprise to me.
I really enjoyed the first hour of this, but slowly lost interest toward the end.
5.5/10
#3: Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City
This was my first cinema trip of December 2021.
Although, I've never played any of them, I'm really glad this film finally resembles the games to at least some extent, compared to the Paul W.S Anderson/Milla Jovovich movies which created their own universe contrasted to the video game series.
Since I've never played the games, I was honestly only interested in seeing this because of Kaya Scodelario and Hannah John-Kamen, who portrays Claire Redfield and Jill Valentine.
From the trailers, I seriously got fan made film vibes. I don't know whether that be because of the production, budget or anything else.
*
This was insanely bland, it overly prioritises jump scares over having a great story or action set pieces. If I have to use 2 hands to count the amount of jumpscares during less than half the runtime, I immediately know the film isn't going to be great or even okay.
Apart from Kaya/Hannah and the recreation of certain parts from the first games (like the front of the mansion), it was boring and immensely dull, I really struggled to stay invested in the film and awake for the just over 100+ minute runtime.
4/10
Although, I've never played any of them, I'm really glad this film finally resembles the games to at least some extent, compared to the Paul W.S Anderson/Milla Jovovich movies which created their own universe contrasted to the video game series.
Since I've never played the games, I was honestly only interested in seeing this because of Kaya Scodelario and Hannah John-Kamen, who portrays Claire Redfield and Jill Valentine.
From the trailers, I seriously got fan made film vibes. I don't know whether that be because of the production, budget or anything else.
*
This was insanely bland, it overly prioritises jump scares over having a great story or action set pieces. If I have to use 2 hands to count the amount of jumpscares during less than half the runtime, I immediately know the film isn't going to be great or even okay.
Apart from Kaya/Hannah and the recreation of certain parts from the first games (like the front of the mansion), it was boring and immensely dull, I really struggled to stay invested in the film and awake for the just over 100+ minute runtime.
4/10
#2: The King's Man
I saw this on Boxing Day and was also my final film/cinema trip of 2021.
Originally scheduled for a 2019 release and also became one of the first movies to get delayed because of the pandemic. I loved the first two films and was intrigued by this film, showcasing the origin of the spy agency during the events of WWI.
The 43% score on RT definitely seemed quite off-putting.
*
It doesn't beat the first two, but is still a welcome installment into the franchise.
Raph Fiennes carried the film elegantly. Seeing Stanley Tucci in this was cool, I'm surprised he wasn't already in the second one when they introduced The Statesman.
The wartime sequences in the trenches were brutal and hard-hitting. The night time fight was absolutely brilliant.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind a film during the '70s/'80s showing how Mark Strong's and Colin Firth's characters joined the Kingsman.
7/10
Originally scheduled for a 2019 release and also became one of the first movies to get delayed because of the pandemic. I loved the first two films and was intrigued by this film, showcasing the origin of the spy agency during the events of WWI.
The 43% score on RT definitely seemed quite off-putting.
*
It doesn't beat the first two, but is still a welcome installment into the franchise.
Raph Fiennes carried the film elegantly. Seeing Stanley Tucci in this was cool, I'm surprised he wasn't already in the second one when they introduced The Statesman.
The wartime sequences in the trenches were brutal and hard-hitting. The night time fight was absolutely brilliant.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind a film during the '70s/'80s showing how Mark Strong's and Colin Firth's characters joined the Kingsman.
7/10
#1: Spider-Man: No Way Home
This has been one of my most anticipated movies ever since the chills inducing mid-credits scene to 'Far From Home' ended on opening night, nearly 3 years ago.
Last year, when it was announced that Jamie Foxx would be returning as Electro, there was one thing I wanted more than ever, that being ofcourse my favourite live action Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield to finally reprise the role of the wall crawler.
I was immensely upset when images and videos leaked back in August of him in the suit during the NWH filming as I wanted my first glimpse of his version of Spider-Man in literally over half a decade to be when I saw the movie in the cinema.
*
It's really hard for me to not be biased, as a life-long Spider-Fan.
HOLY SHIT! THIS WAS INCREDIBLE!
Even after all the leaks, I was not emotionally ready to see Andrew in the suit again after 6 LONG years. I was an absolute wreck when him and also Tobey stepped through their portals. Every scene with all three of them interacting with each other was mindblowing.
This was the type of Spider-Man film I wanted to see from Tom's iteration, amazing action and hardhitting emotional moments. Also, one thing that I've always wanted in any Spider-Man film finally happened. Seeing him swinging through a snowy New York, with a god damn BRAND NEW SUIT nonetheless (it's so beautiful) had me really emotional. Spider-Man being in a snowy New York is an amazing visual, in my opinion, I don't even know why. There's just something so comforting about it.
The incorporation of previous villains was excellent, I got chills when I heard 'My Enemy' from the ASM 2 score again. Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe and Jamie Foxx were great. I was disappointed that Rhys Ifans and Thomas Hayden Church didn't properly reprise their roles, they were mainly CGI and as archival footage from TASM 1/Spider-Man 3.
Michael Giachino done a brilliant job with the soundtrack.
I REALLY can not wait to see what the college trilogy will bring.
10/10
Last year, when it was announced that Jamie Foxx would be returning as Electro, there was one thing I wanted more than ever, that being ofcourse my favourite live action Spider-Man actor Andrew Garfield to finally reprise the role of the wall crawler.
I was immensely upset when images and videos leaked back in August of him in the suit during the NWH filming as I wanted my first glimpse of his version of Spider-Man in literally over half a decade to be when I saw the movie in the cinema.
*
It's really hard for me to not be biased, as a life-long Spider-Fan.
HOLY SHIT! THIS WAS INCREDIBLE!
Even after all the leaks, I was not emotionally ready to see Andrew in the suit again after 6 LONG years. I was an absolute wreck when him and also Tobey stepped through their portals. Every scene with all three of them interacting with each other was mindblowing.
This was the type of Spider-Man film I wanted to see from Tom's iteration, amazing action and hardhitting emotional moments. Also, one thing that I've always wanted in any Spider-Man film finally happened. Seeing him swinging through a snowy New York, with a god damn BRAND NEW SUIT nonetheless (it's so beautiful) had me really emotional. Spider-Man being in a snowy New York is an amazing visual, in my opinion, I don't even know why. There's just something so comforting about it.
The incorporation of previous villains was excellent, I got chills when I heard 'My Enemy' from the ASM 2 score again. Alfred Molina, Willem Dafoe and Jamie Foxx were great. I was disappointed that Rhys Ifans and Thomas Hayden Church didn't properly reprise their roles, they were mainly CGI and as archival footage from TASM 1/Spider-Man 3.
Michael Giachino done a brilliant job with the soundtrack.
I REALLY can not wait to see what the college trilogy will bring.
10/10
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