Movies: Month in Review {May 2020}

Dark Waters ● 2019

Technically, I probably only saw about half of this, all told.  But I still felt as though I'd gotten the full story, and I thought it was very good.  The last line made me feel a couple of #emotions, which I hadn't really planned on.  (And then the credit song was "I Won't Back Down," and Johnny Cash is just a solid idea in most situations, so, you know, I appreciated that.)

Instant Family ● 2018

Stronger language than you're expecting in a "family" movie like this, but it was cute and well-done and seemed less cliché than most of its kind.  Byrne and Wahlberg were excellent, as usual.  So were Octavia Spencer and Tig Notaro.

(Also, may I just say, the scene where the parents Go After the pedophilic janitor was very satisfying.)

Life as We Know It ● 2010

*SPOILERS (I guess? you don't really care)*  This bothered me because I felt like the doctor was objectively a better fit for Holly than Messer was.  And on multiple levels, too:  the two of them had already been interested in each other for a long time, their goals and interests were more congenial, AND the doctor wasn't a flippant jerk.  Soooooo . . . there's that.

[And I'm not just saying that because Messer was one of the flirty, reckless, bad-boy types.  Y'all know I love Han Solo and Killian Jones and multiple other Scalawags.  But those Scalawags are more or less "harmless" in their roguishness (yes I know Killian used to be an adulterous murderer but hush we're speaking of these guys in present not past tense here).  Messer, on the other hand, was Actively Problematic. 

His relationship with Sophie was cute, sure.  But is caring about a baby who has been 

placed in your guardianship really a virtue, or is it just the absence of a flaw?  

We're asking the real questions here at Rivendell. 😄

I didn't absolutely hate him; and he and Holly did have occasional cute moments.  But I maintain that Holly and the doctor would have been a BETTER couple.

(I may be saying that partially because the doctor is played by Josh Lucas, and we like Josh Lucas in this household.) 

(But mainly it's because his character was A Solid Guy All Around and Messer was not.)

(Glad I could clarify that for you.)]

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ● 2019

We love these three.

"YOU HAD ONE JOB, DISNEY.  ONE. JOB."

That's how I felt before I watched this one.  I've loved the first movie ever since its release, but I didn't really see the need for a sequel unless it would be to tie up tHE ONE LOOSE END OF THAT ONE RELATIONSHIP *ahem*.  

I'm actually going to be discussing that more in an upcoming post, but for now I will say that I was surprised by this movie.  It didn't do what I wanted it to do, but I found myself not really minding all that much.  The plot wasn't as engrossing as I'd hoped it would be, but at the same time, given that that was the case, I also liked it more than I expected I would.  The middle and end were stronger than the beginning, which was also a surprise. 

SO. COOL.

Random thoughts:

• Angelina Jolie.  Always.  (Her outfits in this one, y'all.)
  

• I loved Chiwetel Ejiofor's character and I wanted better for him. 😟
  

• All of the parts with the Dark Fae were visually fascinating.  I loved their world. 
• (Except for that bit where the one dude sniffed Maleficent.  That was weird.  Like, bro.  We don't stan that.)
  

• Phillip was, again, A Solid Guy All Around.  I liked how his and Aurora's relationship was developed:  trust, respect, no drama, good stuff. 

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ● 2019

I have mixed feelings on this one.  I'd already managed to effectually spoil almost everything for myself (well done, self *pats self on the back*), so nothing really shocked me.  

I guess the simplest way to summarize my thoughts is to say that: 1) I understand why the creators made most of the artistic choices they made, and 2) I just personally didn't like several of those artistic choices.  And there were a couple of loose ends that still bother me.  But it's okay.  I ain't losin' sleep over it. 😜

(OH BUT I FOR SURE HAVE THINGS TO SAY ABOUT CERTAIN COUPLE POSSIBILITIES.  You can bet your buttons I do. 😉  That, too, will be saved for the aforementioned upcoming post.)

The Hustle ● 2019

As I told a friend, this one had more "stupid" humor than I care for (i.e. pratfalls, other forms of physical humor, etc.).  But, at the same time, I love its commentary on social gender politics, and Hathaway and Wilson are wonderful together.  (I have said it before and I will say it again:  Anne Hathaway is my queen.)  

I think I'll watch it again.

What did you watch last month?