The Films of 2026

[cdnchris]

I actually had no idea it wasn't being discussed! well here we go:

Spoiler

I don't have much of a groundbreaking comment I actually came to get some opinions on a certain stylistic choice in the movie that I'm not sure is bad or not. Throughout the entire film the use of music cues accents literal physical hits or to signal moments where Nikki manages to snap out of the entity's grasp. I could see this working if used 2-3 times but it's almost everytime. I however am still unsure about it. I don't dislike it but it's the most critical thing I have to say about the movie so far. Is it cheating the audience? is it overused? If you guys are confused by my dilemma I am too

Spoiler

I might need to watch it again (and I have to say this is the first film I've seen in a long while that I really want to see again in the theater, maybe since Zodiac, unless I'm forgetting one) but I don't recall it being that bad, and I seem to recall the music being effective in general, and kinda offbeat. I remember two music hits when Nikki was trying to get out of it (the make out scene and the one at the party), the one where she smashes the car window, and then another that I think was played for a laugh. Otherwise, I seem to remember it being generally low key. But I'd have to see it again. I seem to remember it being more atmosphere and not relying on jumps like that.

I think I got lucky seeing this before it took off, because I'm not sure how I would have felt about it after how much it"s been built up since. But I found it very effective. Not scary, really, but unsettling I guess? The last moments were quite good, with Nikki trying to change herself to what she thought Bear wanted (to a disturbing degree). It does a decent spin on the Monkey Paw/"careful what you wish for" trope. I was expecting a version of that Tales from the Crypt episode with Andrew McCarthy and Mariel Hemingway, and I guess it's that to an extent, but takes the idea in a more interesting direction with how it explores how Nikki's autonomy has been taken away, dependent/abusive relationships, and makes Bear something of an antagonist once he learns what's happened (a coward, too). I also liked that it didn't feel the need to explain what is actually happening and the lore around the One Wish thingy (I fear a sequel would feel the need to dig into that, which I think would ruin it). I did love there was a help line, which leads to a hilarious exchange. The trinket shop scenes were funny, too.

I don't know much about the director (a YouTuber according to my son and daughter) but I thought this was very well made; visually interesting without coming off showy. But I'm curious to revisit to see if its success is him or if Navarette is possibly carrying more of the weight than I first thought.

Also, speaking of YouTube directors, I watched 40 minutes of Shelby Oakes; what a fucking dumpster fire that film is, and what I'm fearing we'll get more of if Hollywood decides to pour more money into YT filmmakers following the huge success of this and Backrooms (which I still need to see).

[hanshotfirst1138]

The Furious has issues but the fight scenes are so good that in the moment I didn't care. The five way fight in the police station is a five star all timer where I can't even begin to comprehend how they made it happen without people getting hurt but even before then I already uttered Jesus Christ several times throughout the film.

The choreography is just unbelievable, and there is a sick gag involving a man frozen in a block of ice that made me laugh out loud. You'll know it when you see it. I hope they give Brian Le a film of his own to lead because he is the secret star of the film. You just can't keep this man down. Got big Sammo Hung vibes from him and the way he headbutts people as if they've been hit by a cannon is the chef's kiss.

Apart from the subplot involving timid and/or corrupt cops which takes some momentum out of the film, the film looks a bit drab. You could argue that's aiming for verisimilitude and is also budget driven but it's certainly a far cry from the lavish sets and lighting in the second to forth John Wicks.

In any case, this is a day one purchase on 4K or BD if Lionsgate don't botch the encode. Joe Taslim and Kenji Tanigaki are remaking The Man From Nowhere next and as much as I like the Korean original, I think the remake could be better still (I think Chad Stahelski is remaking it, too).

I honestly can't imagine anything beating The Furious this year for the adrenaline rush of its action scenes. The thought of what these guys could do on a bigger budget and a stronger story gives me goosebumps. Four out of five stars (or should that be sledgehammers?).

I saw this last night. It was beyond ridiculous and made The Raid look like a model of restraint. It got to be way too much at time even for an action junkie like me, especially when you had no way of knowing when someone was dead or how to kill them. It would have worked much better as a 90 minute movie. That said, there's some really stunning stuff in it, and that final fight has some long takes which would impress Chad Stahelski and John Woo. Incredible kudos to Meteor Chan and whoever the stedicam guy was, because they were dancing with the actors, its was insane, some 90 second+ takes where I was just flabbergasted. That was Chocolate's Jeeja Yanin in the opening sequence!