Spikey Bodhi Says

  NETFLIX'S FATAL AFFAIR (2020) WAS FATALLY BAD BUT NONETHELESS ENTERTAINING MOVIE--THE KIND THAT WE MAY HAVE SEEN COUNTLESS TIMES SINCE FATAL ATTRACTION (1987). IN MOVIES LIKE THESE, A CHARACTER IS OBSESSED WITH ANOTHER MALE OR FEMALE CHARACTER AND UNDERGOES CHASING, FOLLOWING AND STALKING THEM. A MOVIE LIKE THIS IS SO PREDICTABLE YOU CAN SEE FROM MILES APART WHAT'S COMING YET THIS ONE WAS ENTERTAINING ONE. ITS BAD WITHOUT A DOUBT BUT WILL KEEP YOU ENGAGED THROUGHOUT.

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS (2014) IS THE KIND OF MOVIE THAT IS FRESH, BEAUTIFUL AND HOPEFUL EVEN AT MOST DEPRESSING TIMES. THE MOVIE TAKES ON THE JOURNEY OF TWO TEENAGERS HAZEL GRACE AND AUGUSTUS; BOTH TERMINALLY ILL CANCER PATIENTS. HOW THE TWO MEET UP BECOME FRIENDS AND START SHARING THEIR LIVES TOGETHER AND BEGINS TO FIND HOPE AND LOVE AT THE HARSHEST TIMES IS THE STORY. THE MOVIE DRAGS A LITTLE BIT TOWARDS THE END BUT CATCHES UP WITH ITS ENDING THAT IS BOTH OPTIMISTIC AND BEAUTIFUL. THIS IS THE KIND OF MOVIE THAT YOU CANT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF BECAUSE ITS SO SAD YET FRESH AND HOPEFUL AT THE SAME TIME. MOVIES LIKE THIS PROVE "LOVE CAN BLOSSOM IN THE FIELDS OF PAIN AND SUFFERING".

  CREED II (2018) IS A ROCK SOLID SEQUEL TO CREED (2015). THE MOVIE IS ABOUT CREED (SON OF APOLLO CREED) AND HIS JOURNEY TOWARDS BECOMING WORLD-CHAMPION. IT HAS NICELY CHOREOGRAPHED BOXING MATCHES IN IT. EVEN THOUGH THE MOVIE DRAGS ON BETWEEN THE BOXING MATCHES, IT BREATHES AND SETTLES DOWN. THE MOVIE IS BOTH FORMULAIC AND PREDICTABLE. DESPITE THAT IT IS STILL ENJOYABLE BECAUSE IT HAS EMOTIONAL WEIGHT TO IT. EITHER WINNING OR LOSING, THERE ARE EMOTIONAL STAKES ON BOTH SIDES (BOTH CONTENDERS). HENCE, IT HITS AN EMOTIONAL PUNCH AT THE RIGHT AMOUNT WHEN NEEDED. JORDAN GIVES ONE HELL OF A DEDICATED PERFORMANCE FROM SHAPING HIS BODY TO LOOK LIKE A REAL BOXER TO TRAINING LIKE A REAL ATHLETE IN TRAINING SCENES. HIS URGE TO WIN AND DENIAL TO LOSE TOWARDS THE END WILL GIVE GOOSEBUMPS AND TINGLES. SYLVESTER STALLONE ALSO GIVES A HEART-WARMING PERFORMANCE. IN THE END ITS ONE OF THE BEST OF ROCKY AND CREED MOVIES CHRONOLOGY.

HAYWIRE (2011) IS A GOOD ACTION-THRILLER FROM DIRECTOR OF OCEAN'S TRILOGY AND HAS A MAIN PROTAGONIST GINA CORANO EQUIVALENT TO FEMALE JASON BOURNE WHO CAN JUMP FROM WALLS RUN ON ROOFTOPS AND KICK LOTS OF ASSES WITH BARE-HANDS. IN THE MOVIE, A WEEK AGO GINA AND HER INTELLIGENCE PRIVATE COMPANY EXTRACT A CHINESE CITIZEN IN BARCELONA AND IN DUBLIN, GINA FINDS OUT SHE'S BEEN SETUP FOR THE MURDER OF THE CHINESE CITIZEN THEY EXTRACTED FEW DAYS AGO. SOON EVERY POLICE/ ARMY SHE SEES STARTS HUNTING HER. THE SOUNDTRACK PLAYED IN THE BACKGROUND PLAYED IS SIMILAR TO OCEAN'S TRILOGY AND IT SUITS TO SCENARIOS WHEN GINA RUNS DOOR TO DOOR OR JUMPS ROOFTOP TO ROOFTOP MAKING ESCAPES AFTER ESCAPES. THE ACTION SCENES ARE SUPERBLY CHOREOGRAPHED AND IT MAKES ONE HELL OF A GOOD ACTION THRILLER FROM START TO FINISH WITH A PROTAGONIST WHO IS A FIGHTER BUT AS WELL AS IS VULNERABLE FOR BEING MADE OF FLESH AND BLOOD.

  DOCTOR SLEEP (2019) IS A SEQUEL TO SHINING (1980) AND IS PART HORROR PART SUPERNATURAL THRILLER WITH TELEPATHY ABILITIES KNOWN AS "SHINING" IN THE MOVIE. THE MOVIE TAKES PLACE WHEN A GROUP OF CULT HUNT CHILDREN FOR THEIR "STEAM" OR "LIFE CHAKRAS". THERE IS A LITTLE TEENAGE GIRL WITH SAME TELEPATHY POWERS AS THE CULT HAS AND SHE NEEDS DESPERATE HELP OF DAN TORRENCE (EWAN MCGREGOR) BECAUSE THE CULT IS AWARE OF HER PRESENCE. THE MOVIE TRIES TO IMPRESS BOTH KING'S AND KUBRICK'S FANS AND SUCCEEDS IN DOING SO. THE GRAND OVERLOOK HOTEL FROM THE SHINING (1980) ALSO MAKES A GRAND APPEARANCE IN THE MOVIE AND ITS SO GREAT TO RE-VISIT THE HOTEL IN ITS DUSTY AND RUSTY STATE. THE CLIMAX IS BOTH HAUNTING AND EMOTIONAL THAT WOULD STICK IN THE HEADS LONG AFTER THE MOVIE IS OVER.

    INSURGENT (2015) IS A FUTURISTIC DYSTOPIAN MOVIE AND A SEQUEL TO DIVERGENT (2014). THE MOVIE IS BORING SINCE THE FIRST TAKE TILL THE 2ND ACT. ITS THE CLIMAX WHEN THINGS REALLY START TO HEAT UP AND CATCH UP AND THE CLIMAX SAVES THE MOVIE FROM RUINING INTO BECOMING A BLAND BORING MIDDLE CHAPTER OF THE CLIMAX. SHAILENE WOODLY PARTICULARLY SAVES THE MOVIE AND HENCE PUTS THE FRANCHISE BACK ON TRACK.

  NETFLIX'S PROJECT POWER (2020) IS AN ACTION THRILLER MOVIE STARRING JAMIE FOXX AND JOSEPH GORDON LEVITT. THE MOVIE REVOLVES AROUND A DRUG PILL THAT GIVES SUPERHUMAN POWERS TO THE USERS. JAMIE FOXX IS ON A MISSION TO SAVE HIS DAUGHTER WHILE JOSEPH IS A COP WHO IS ON TRIAL INVESTIGATION TO FIND THE CORPORATE OF THE DRUG LEADERS. THE MOVIE HAS A GOOD PREMISE BUT SOON STARTS TO STRUGGLE ON THE 2ND AND THE 3RD ACT. THE MOVIE BASICALLY BECOMES A SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION WHILE FIGHTING DRUG DEALERS ON THE WAY. THE PROBLEM IS SCRIPT HERE. THERE IS NOTHING INVENTIVE HERE BESIDES THE POWER DEMONSTRATION SHOWN BY THE DRUG/ PILLS USERS AND HENCE THE MOVIE LACKS CREATIVITY OR UNIQUENESS IN THE PROCESS.

  CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. WATCHED THE MOVIE IN THEATER IN 2016. HATED IT AT THAT TIME BUT ON RE-WATCH FEW DAYS AGO ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. THE MOVIE IS A SLOW-BURN AS IT TAKES SOMETIME TO FEEL ITS EFFECT. THE MOVIE STARTS WITH THE INTRODUCTORY ACTION SCENES THAT ENDS ON TRAGIC EXPLOSION OF BUILDINGS WITH HOSTAGES. DUE TO THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE EXPLOSION THAT KILLS BUNCH OF PEOPLE, THE AVENGERS ARE FORCED TO SIGN "THE SOVIET ACCORD" ACCORDING TO WHICH THE MEMBERS OF AVENGERS WILL GO PRO-CHECK AND WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY GO AGAINST THE RULES OF THE ACCORD. THE TITLE SUGGESTS "CIVIL WAR" BUT THERE IS NO ANY WAR OR WORLD WAR OR INTENSE WAR. ALL THERE IS IS "PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR" AS THE AVENGERS TEAM DIVIDE ON WHO WILL SIGN THE ACCORD AND WHO WON'T. AFTER A COUPLE OF DEBATES, THE MOVIE PICKS UP WHEN THE LEADER OF WAKANDA IS KILLED WITH BOMB-BLASTS. BUCKY THE WINTER SOLDIER IS FRAMED FOR THE MURDER AND THERE IS WAR BETWEEN WHO WANTS TO SAVE BUCKY AND W

  EXTRACTION was ACTION-PACKED/ HEAVY FUN N TRIES TO EXECUTE ACTION SCENES IN A SIMILAR FASHION TO JOHNWICK BUT WITHOUT TOPPING IT. THE ENDING WAS BIT BLUR AND EPIC FAN-FICTION/ FAN FAVORITE DREAMS ELSE EVERYTHING WAS ENGAGING AND GRIPPING.

  NETFLIX's THE OLD GUARD QUICKLY BEGAN TO WEAR OFF AFTER IT STARTED WITH A COOL PREMISE OF SUPERNATURAL IMMORTALS. AFTER SUCH A PROMISING START, THE MOVIE INCLINES DOWNWARD HILL WITH BORING N UNINSPIRING SECOND N THIRD ACT. IT CLEARLY DESCENDS TO ITS MOTIVE OF SETTING UP A FRANCHISE N MORE SEQUELS IN ITS BAG TOWARDS THE END. WITH SUCH A HOPELESS FIRST MOVIE, WILL ITS FUTURE OF MORE SEQUELS BE BRIGHT, I WONDER.

  RISE OF SKYWALKER was FUN NO ALCOHOL REQUIRED. It TRIES ITS BEST TO CORRECT THE MISTAKE OF THE LAST JEDI as it TRIES TO CHANGE THE STORYLINE OF REY's PARENTS WHO WERE NARRATED AS NOBODY WHO SOLD THEIR DAUGHTER FOR A COUPLE OF DRINKS. The DIRECTOR's OBSESSION IN RE-TELLING/ RE-NARRATING THE BACKGROUND STORY OF REY'S PAST BACKGROUND IS EVERYWHERE FROM START TO FINISH AS THE MOVIE HINGES SOLELY ON THE BACKGROUND STORY OF REY'S. IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THE MOVIE WAS CRAMPED TOO MUCH OR DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THE MOVIE WAS MADE OF 10 DIFFERENT MOVIES (LIKE THE DARK KNIGHT RISES) AS SOME CRITICS AND VIEWERS SAID. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS ONE. DON'T THINK IT DESERVES THE "HATE" IT GOT DURING ITS RELEASE.

  NETFLIX's EUROVISION CONTEST: FIRE SAGA WAS FUN COMEDY, ONE OF WILL Ferrell's BETTER MOVIES AFTER HIS FEW YEARS HIATUS. THE PLOT REVOLVES AROUND WILL FERREL TRYING HIS HEART OUT TO WIN THE EUROVISION CONTEST WITHOUT BEING THE CENTER OF LAUGHTER FOR AUDIENCE. WILL FERREL IS BASICALLY BEING WILL FERREL N TRIES HIS BEST TO BRING HIS COMIC ACTING CHOPS LIKE HE DID IN "BLADES OF GLORY (2007)" N HE STUMBLES SOMETIMES AS ITS NOT FUNNY WHILE HE SUCCEEDS MORE THAN HALF OF THE TIME. DAN STEVEN (THE ACTOR FROM "THE GUEST") IS ANNOYING AT TIMES WITH HIS FAKE RUSSIAN ACCENT. THE MOVIE STRUGGLES IN THE MID-HALF AS IT STRUGGLES TO FIND LAUGH GAGS N JOKES. PIERCE BROSMAN AS WILL Ferrell's FATHER BRINGS SINCERE ACTING ON THE TABLE AND IS CONVINCING FOR THE LARGE PART AS A FATHER WHO THINKS HIS SON WOULD BE MATTER OF LAUGHTER ON THE SINGING CONTEST. ITS A NICE PIECE OF WORK SHOT IN A SMALL TOWN OF ICELAND N IS LOVABLE FOR THE MOST PART.

 SPIDERMAN 2 (2004) IS UP THERE IN THE CLASSIC STATUS IN MY OPINION N HAS AGED WELL OVER THE YEARS. THE VISUAL EFFECTS ARE STILL BETTER AND ON PAR WITH TODAY'S GENERATIONS DESPITE BEING RELEASED 16 YEARS AGO. THE MOVIE IS PART LOVE STORY N HAS VERY WELL DEVELOPED EMOTIONAL ROMANTIC STORY. IT ALSO IS EASILY ONE OF THE BEST SUPERHEROES AND PROVES "WHAT SUPERHERO MOVIE CAN BE IF ITS UNDER THE CARE OF EXPERT SCRIPT WRITING N DIRECTING".

    ONCE UPON TIME IN HOLLYWOOD was TARANTINO's SLOWEST MOVIE TILL DATE. The PLOT BARELY MOVES MOST OF THE TIME. The MOVIE IS THE PRODUCT OF TARANTINO'S OBSESSION WITH HOLLYWOOD FILM-MAKING (COWBOYS N SPAGHETTI WESTERN), RICH N LAVISH HOLLYWOOD PARTIES LIKE PLAYBOY MANSION PARTIES N THE WHOLE ERA OF HOLLYWOOD CULTURE IN THE 1950's n 1960's. WAT THE HELL WAS MARGAROT ROBBIE DOING IN THE MOVIE, I HAVE NO IDEA. FOR THE MOST PART SHE WAS DANCING ATTENDING PARTIES N WATCHING HER OWN ACTED MOVIE IN A THEATER EXTENDING HER LEGS ON TOP OF THE VACANT SEAT. ROBBIE NEVER CROSSES HER PATH WITH THE 2 PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS LEONARDO N PITT I.E UNTIL THE END N SHE FEELS LIKE A CAMEO IN LEONARDO'S MOVIE IN THE END WHEN SHE FINALLY MEETS LEONARDO. BRAD PITT IS COOL AS HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN (LIKE IN OCEAN TRILOGY MOVIES) N LEONARDO IS STRESSED AS HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN MOVIES. AT THE END THE MOVIE FEELS NOTHING APART FROM TARANTINO'S LOVE LETTER N OBSESSION TO THE ERA OF HOLLYWOOD IN 1

  BIRDS OF PREY 2020 was LOADS OF FUN THAN I EXPECTED. The MOVIE FOLLOWS THE JOURNEY HARLEY QUINN AFTER HER (WHO CARES) BREAKUP WITH MR. J (JOKER) N HOW SHE INVOLVES IN A TANGLED WIRE BETWEEN GOTHAM CRIME BOSS LEADER BLACK MASK, A LADY COP N AN ASIAN CHILD WHO HAPPENS TO STEAL A DIAMOND JEWEL FROM A HENCHMEN OF BLACK MASK. WHAT LOOKS LIKE A SINGLE CHARACTER JOURNEY BECOMES A TEAM-GANG KILL THEM UP IN THE CLIMAX. BIRDS OF PREY TRIES TO BE WAY COOLER BUT IT IS COOL BECAUSE ITS PROTAGONIST/ ANTAGONIST HARLEY QUINN HERSELF IS A COOLER CHARACTER PLAYED NEATLY BY MARGOT ROBBIE. THE MOVIES SUCCEEDS IN NOTHING BUT BEING A COOL N FUN MOVIE ABOUT A COOL CENTRAL CHARACTER (HARLEY QUINN).

FURY (2014) IS A HEROIC TALE OF A TANK ARMY CONSISTING OF 5 SOLDIERS N HOW THEY END UP FIGHTING AN ENTIRE BATTALION OF 200/ 300 NAZI SOLDIERS DURING 2ND WORLD WAR. ITS SCOPE N SCALE IS MUCH SMALLER THAN MOVIES LIKE "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN". IT HAS A VERY SELF-CONTAINED STORY N IS SHOT IN A SMALL TOWN N IN BARREN FIELDS N ROADS. IT FEELS LIKE A JUST A FRACTION PIECE OF 2ND WORLD WAR THAN THE COMPLETE WORLD WAR STORY MADE US FEEL BY "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN". ITS LIMITED BUDGET N SMALL SCALE COMES AS A HINDERANCE FROM TELLING A FULL PICTURE WORLD WAR STORY. IT JUST FEELS TOO SMALL TO REMEMBER OR TAKE HOME THE MEMORY AFTER WATCHING THE MOVIE.

GEMINI MAN: GEMINI MAN RUNS OUT OF IDEAS IN THE 2ND N 3RD ACT N QUICKLY BECOMES FULL OF CLICHES N SUFFERS FROM DEEP SCRIPT PROBLEMS. WHAT LOOKS LIKE A GRAND IDEA TO START A MOVIE MAIN PROTAGONIST FIGHTING AGAINST HIS OWN CLONE TURNS ROTTEN AND BECOMES A WASTED OPPORTUNITY. THE MOVIE QUICKLY DRIES UP N RUNS OUT OF IDEAS AFTER THE SPECTACULAR MOTOR-BIKE CHASE SCENE. HOW DIRECTOR LIKE ANG-LEE NODDED HIS HEAD FOR SUCH A MEDIOCRE SCRIPT REMAINS A HUGE MYSTERY.

  8th POKEMON MOVIE "LUCARIO N THE MYSTERY OF MEW (2005)" IS A BEAUTIFULLY DRAWN VISUALLY IMPRESSIVE ANIME MOVIE FROM JAPAN. ITS NOT THE USUAL ASH SAVING THE WORLD N GETTING A PIGGY RIDE ON LEGENDARY POKEMON's BACK STORY BUT THE ONE WITH HEART AT ITS RIGHT PLACE. TAT MAKES IT TEAR JERKER AT THE END (I ALMOST CRIED) BUT ITS FINE N SATISFYING TALE OF ASH KETCHUM N PICKACHU'S JOURNEY.