Her-Excellency

If you thought M3GAN (2023) was good, you'll definitely enjoy the high-tech horror, razor-sharp wit, and deliciously deranged fun of M3GAN 2.0. It's what happens when filmmakers really like the first film they made, and then find the ability and brilliance to crank up the dial on everything.

The sequel wastes no time reminding us why we liked M3GAN in the first place, but this time, it amps up her personality to the level of "I have to get one of these dolls!" - Lol! Right out of the gate, 2.0 is faster, funnier, and far more self-aware. Even its tone is much more confident, leaning heavily into both the fun and absurdity of a murderous AI doll with Meow/Hiss-level sass and Terminator-level efficiency. Her one-liners are sharper, her dance routines more elaborate (yes, there are new ones, and yes, they're iconic), and her kill scenes toe the line between horror and hilarity in the best way possible.

What makes M3GAN 2.0 especially fun is how it plays with audience expectations. It dives deeper into the ethics of AI, corporate greed, and our obsession with technology ... but never at the expense of the entertainment. The satire hits harder, and the horror-comedy balance is tighter, making the whole ride feel more purposeful and polished than its predecessor.

This is not just a better movie - it's a smarter, sleeker, and wildly more entertaining version of itself. It's the rare sequel that "upgrades" everything while staying true to what made the original special.

Long live the queen of killer androids! :)

8.2 / 10.

I love the Final Destination film franchise. While I heard a friend once describe these films as 'cheesy' (we're no longer friends) ;) they are entertaining and we must have watched each at least two or three times if not more.

Final Destination Bloodlines, while somewhat different than the other FD's, delivers - especially when you consider that most franchises can't even do a sequel well. With Final Destination, here we are at six films in, and it's going strong. We've watched it twice and enjoyed it both times. The gore is just right; the number of kills are okay, although who can't use more of those - lol; and the music and humor are on-point ... something which the other installments didn't really venture in, too much.

While all of the other five FD installments had a design to follow in terms of what the franchise is about, Final Destination Bloodlines plays with that just a bit, both adding to the blueprint and taking away. It verges somewhat (not too far, thankfully), while keeping true to the originals. In fact, embracing them.

On that last point, where do we go from here and what new possibilities are there? I definitely hope that this is not the end, and that we'll continue to enjoy new Final Destinations for a very long time. Personally, I'd love to get a standalone film about the bratty kid's (no spoiler) grown-up life and how he finally eats it (hopefully, something really, really gory and over the top)! :D

7/10 --------------------- RiP: Tony Todd (12/4/1954 - 11/6/2024)

I have no idea why this film gets such a bad rap and why it's rated so low on some of the more 'popular' movie rating sites. I mean, seldom do I go by what critics think, but just the fact that it is panned quite resoundingly, is such a bummer. I love this moooovieeee!

While the genre-mixing (apocalyptic horror, siege thriller, religious allegory, humor, action ...) seemed to not go over so well when first released, in my opinion, it's one of the films many strengths. It's unconventional, it's bold in taking on some of the religious aspects that it does, and it's just plain original. It's basically a supernatural Western! :)

Granted, the acting from quite a few of those involved isn't up there with Walken and Hopper in True Romance (I mean, how often do we have it THAT good?), but Paul Bettany really shines in this. He manages to convey both divine purpose and human empathy. It's a role that could've been cheesy, but Bettany manages to sell it well.

Beyond that, it's touching, fun, funny, has some really good fight scenes, it moves at a steady pace, there's no filler, and again, I have to go back to: originality.

No, Legion isn't PERFECT - it's messy in some places, and sometimes too ambitious for its own good. But that ambition, combined with it's unique premise is exactly what gives it cult status. It tried something different in a genre full of clones, and while it didn't hit with everyone, I think it resonates with those who crave something different than just jump scares.

7.5/10.