All right, gang. It’s time to talk about the movies I watched in October and November (I didn’t watch a single film in September). Blah, blah, blah, I’m bad at watching movies. I could never be a part of film Twitter. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Regardless, I managed to watch seven movies in two months and only one was a rewatch. I also got to see two of my most anticipated year-end movies. So I say I did pretty damn good. I could wait until the end of the year so I can include The Rise of Skywalker, but hopefully I’ll watch other films in December that I can talk about.
What do I think of the movies I saw? It’s a secret. Just kidding, it’s the point of this post. So without any further ado, let’s get into it!
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Jennifer’s Body
When small town high school student Jennifer is possessed by a hungry demon, she transitions from being high school evil gorgeous (and doesn’t she know it), stuck up and ultra-attitudinal to the real deal: evil/evil. The glittering beauty becomes a pale and sickly creature jonesing for a meaty snack, and guys who never stood a chance with the heartless babe, take on new luster in the light of her insatiable appetite. Meanwhile, Jennifer’s best friend, Needy, long relegated to living in Jennifers’ shadow, must step-up to protect the town’s young men, including her nerdy boyfriend Chip.
I wanted to watch a bunch of spooky movies for spooky season, but only managed to watch three. The good news is I picked this movie as one of those three. I’m glad I hadn’t watched this film until recently because I think I appreciated it more. It’s a dark comedy horror movie that’s also pretty gay. And it single-handedly made me fall in love with Megan Fox. It’s no wonder this movie has become a cult classic.
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American Psycho
Patrick Bateman is a Wall Street yuppie, obsessed with success, status and style, with a stunning fiancee. He is also a psychotic killer who rapes, murders and dismembers both strangers and acquaintances without provocation or purpose. Based on the controversial novel, the film offers a sharp satire to the dark side of yuppie culture in the ’80s, while setting forth a vision that is both terrifying and chilling.
This is another movie I watched for spooky season and I chose it solely because I saw a clip of the “Hip to be Square” scene and thought it was hilarious (and also because it was on Netflix). This movie manages to be both funny and horrifying in equal measures. I also appreciate how the ending is open to interpretation. I’ll probably never read the book because screw Bret Easton Ellis, but I’m glad I finally saw the film.
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It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Rewatch)
It’s Halloween and, for Linus, that can only mean one thing: the Great Pumpkin is flying over all the pumpkin patches searching for the most sincere one to reward with treats. Linus will wait in the cold, with Sally and his security blanket to keep him company, hoping the Great Pumpkin will pick his. But where’s Charlie Brown? He’s busy getting ready for a party with the kids and trying to make the perfect ghost costume — unfortunately, our favorite blockhead not only gets rocks in his trick-or-treat bag, but he resembles a pumpkin more than a ghost. At least he hasn’t gotten his costume dirty like Pig Pen, or been pestered by Lucy like Shroeder. Scary! Fear not, Snoopy is in on the fun too, his aviator goggles firmly in place.
It had been several years since I’d last watched this Peanuts Halloween special, despite saying I was going to watch it every year. This year I finally came through on that promise. The special is cute, but it’s not as good as the Christmas special. The one plus is the scene where Snoopy dances. He always steals the show.
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Booksmart
On the eve of their high school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.
I can’t even tell you how much this movie would’ve meant to me if I’d seen it when I was a teenager. Alas, I’m an adult and so it didn’t quite capture my soul and become a new favorite as I’d expected. That said, I’m so glad this movie exists for the teenage girls who need it. It was a cute, fun movie (and Billie Lourd was a gem). I’m just a little too old to fully appreciate it.
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Lady Bird
In 2002, an artistically inclined seventeen-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California.
This popular coming-of-age film was free on Amazon Prime, so I fired it up the second Booksmart ended. Being an indie movie, it has less of a traditional plot. It’s just a character study of a teenage girl trying to be somebody and find herself. Again, I see why young girls like this movie so much. It’s a reflection of their often flawed reality. So, I see the appeal but it’s not a film I’d watch again.
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Charlie’s Angels (2019)
When a systems engineer blows the whistle on a dangerous technology, Charlie’s Angels from across the globe are called into action, putting their lives on the line to protect society.
Despite bombing hard in the box office, this movie isn’t that bad. It’s your standard action movie, but with nostalgia. It’s not just a reboot, it’s a continuation of the franchise. In my opinion, this movie is average. It’s not great, but it’s not terrible either. I’d see if again if I was with someone who wanted to see it. And yeah, it would basically be for Kristen Stewart.
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Frozen II
Elsa the Snow Queen and her sister Anna embark on an adventure far away from the kingdom of Arendelle. They are joined by friends, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven.
I honestly think this movie is better than the first one. It has higher stakes and made me sob like a baby. Multiple times. Do you know how hard it is to get me to actually cry? I also appreciate how Anna and Elsa are both active participants in pushing the plot forward. In fact, I feel like we get to know Elsa better in this film. And the soundtrack? Fantastic! I wouldn’t be surprised if this movie makes my favorites list.
Have you seen any of these movies? What did you think? What movies have you seen lately? Do you have any recommendations? Tell me all that and more in the comments!
Strange Storyteller 